I went to see one of my favourite comedians, Lawrence Leung, at the National Young Writers Festival this weekend. He ran a great workshop about creative practice. Above is a picture of me being awkwardly star struck. I asked him what I should do after my 365 Day Challenge. His answer was simple, elegant and embarrassingly obvious for me. “Ask your followers.”
Suddenly I was aware that everything I have built during this challenge was my own doing (my connections, my skills and you guys reading!) I won’t lose it once it’s over. I’m not alone. So to anyone who follows this blog- please let me know if you have an idea for my next project or where I should take my writing next.
Here’s my story:
Fenlan made the jagged rocks of the mountain her home for a year. People came from all around to learn to be fine warriors. Most came from warring villages but learnt side by side, for peace is always kept amongst the clouds.
Fenlan was the Queen’s daughter and when she came of age, she would have to fight off the evil spirits who terrorised the region. It was said only a royal daughter was strong enough to defeat them. Unfortunately no daughter had ever managed the task.
She had become a strong agile fighter, but her greatest strength had been making friends. She had even brought some of the feuding warriors together.
On the last night she cried. The thought of fighting the spirits alone scared her. She was used to fighting with her fellow warriors and couldn’t bear the thought of them going back to their homes only to fight with each other.
The next morning, on her birthday, she realised she didn’t have to face the spirits alone, it was always just assumed. So she rallied the warriors. It wasn’t easy convincing them to work together, but even the master agreed.
“I have been waiting for a daughter like you, one who realises their true strength,” she told Fenlan.
So they marched from the mountain. Many people laughed when they saw Fenlan wasn’t alone.
“Only a daughter can defeat the spirits!” they shouted.
Fenlan blocked them out as the spirits came swiftly, gnashing their teeth.
“What do you want? We have killed many daughters like you, what makes you think you special?”
Fenlan introduced herself and the other warriors.
“We have found you a new home in the mountains where peace is always kept,” she said, “and if you do not go, you will face us all.”
“Those warriors are from feuding villages,” the spirits said, “does that mean you are united?”
“Yes,” the warriors answered.
“We are happy to accept,” said the spirits. “We are spirits of war, only when the villages are united can we rest. Thank you.”
The mountains are now home to the spirits and it is no longer a training camp, for there is no need for warriors.
freyawrightbrough 