Start Writing Fiction - Week 1 Revisited (Oct 2016)

Review the notes you’ve collected in your notebook to find a character to develop further.Write a short character sketch – no more than 200 words – in which you concentrate on appearance and any particular mannerisms you noted.

The Girl on the Train
She had an attractive, youthful, chubby face. Her honey blonde curls tumbled in a pleasant disarray. Perhaps a student? Probably late teens. She had a small, gold ring in the left nostril (almost apologetic rather than defiant). By her side was a large, well stuffed rucksack. She was careful not to make eye contact with anyone else in the carriage, keeping her gaze down - her earbuds delivering the soundtrack to her morning. She suddenly became aware that the train had stopped and jerked her gaze round, anxiously looking for a station name on the platform. A throng of people obscured the signs.
‘Do you know what station this is?’ she asked in a slight panic.
‘Friedrichstrasse’ I replied.
She sprang up immediately, grabbed her rucksack and rushed towards the door. Something fell onto the floor – her purse I think. I bent down to assist but she quickly scooped it up herself and dashed out – just in time. 
On the platform, as the train slowly pulled away, she looked up, smiled and gave a tiny wave of thanks. I smiled back. A nice moment.
(edited)

Start Writing Fiction - Week 1 (revisiting the course) Oct 2016

Write a paragraph (50 to 100 words) containing three facts and one fictitious element.
You can write about yourself, about your interests, about history – about anything you like.

The questions are always the same.
‘Date of birth?’
‘Are you currently taking any medication?’
‘Have you had plenty of fluids today?’
And then, just before the needle pierces the finger for that first drop of blood, ‘is there anything you’d like to ask me?’
I pause for a moment, then I respond -
‘What’s the capital of Venezuela?’
(she didn’t know – it is of course Santiago)