30 Day Writing Challenge: Exhale, Enter, Enjoy

Exhale.

I breathed in the cold air. I was stood outside of the pub, hesitant about going in. I knew you'd be there. I knew how I'd feel when I saw you. I knew that my stomach would knot itself up like it usually did around you. You'd come over, ask how i was, place your arm around my shoulders and buy me a drink. And all of that terrified me. Such a familiar feeling for me but I was terrified that one day I wouldn't be able to control it. Fear that you'd see all of the emotions that are whizzing around my body paralysed me for seconds.

Enter.

Ten seconds later, I'm in the pub. The warmth of the room caresses my body and surely enough, there you are, As predicted, you walk over, the smell of whisky catches my nostrils. "How are you? Can I get you a drink?", I know you so well. Surely enough, you buy me a rose. "Cheers" a clink of our glasses. I take a sip of my wine... Sip... Ahh.. I have arrived.

Now to enjoy the evening.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Broken/Fear

Broken promises lead to broken hearts, 

Broken hearts can lead to broken guitar strings..

There is a fear that resides in all of us. We all fear being broken. A broken heart, broken promises, broken bones. For once we are broken we are ultimately, never to be the same again. Sure, we'll look the same on the outside, but our inner soul and spirit will be cracked, scarred, different. The stunning art of Kintsukuroi shows us that we are more beautiful for being broken, The cracks are filled with gold or silver laquor, leaving shiny, beautiful wounds. It is with these wounds and the lessons we've learned from being broken that leave us more stunning on the inside. 

Being broken does not have to be final. 

30 Day Writing Challenge: To Know You're Alive

30 Day Writing Challenge: Catching Up With An Old Friend

30 Day Writing Challenge: Witchcraft

Inspired by the song Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra.

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Song That's Been In Your Head All Day

30 Day Writing Challenge: Daily Thought

30 Day Writing Challenge: "I Can See It In Your Eyes, Whats Wrong?"

30 Day Writing Challenge: Rock and Roll

30 Day Writing Challenge: Sex

 So I thought I'd make this one simple!

30 Day Writing Challenge: Turn To Page 51

Risk. Relief. Repeat.
And so I jumped.
I jumped into the unknown.

Water swelled around me.
Cooling against skin, bubbles caressing me.
The noise was different yet peaceful.
Underwater is surreal.

I returned to the surface and swam to the side.
Climbing up the ladder again.
The view below, less scary now.
Less unknown, more comforting.
And so I jumped.
I jumped into my new 'home'.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Haiku

Squirrels race up trees
to watch the world below while
young boys play in mud.

30 Day Writing Challenge: "I Never Stood A Chance, Did I?"

Okay, so I actually really struggled with this one and I'm still not overly proud of the work! However, I'm doing this challenge with the idea, that it's a challenge and hopefully I'll end out with some bits and bobs that I can edit and expand on to make better work! :)

30 Day Writing Challenge: Write a Love Letter

30 Day Writing Challenge: What Are You Afraid Of?

I enjoyed this one a lot! And so did my Instagram followers! 

30 Day Writing Challenge: Take A Risk, Do Something Writing-wise You've Never Done Before

So for this challenge, I decided to try my hand at a palindrome. Trust me, they are hard! But it was so much fun and it is definitely something I want to try more of! For those that aren't sure; a palindrome is something that reads the same one way as it does another.. For instance, the name Hannah, the word Madam.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Escapism

Escapism. At times many people just want to escape certain things in life and everyone does it differently. Some people use substances, some people run away to somewhere comforting and some people throw themselves into something creative. I'm the kind of person who throws myself into writing. I love the idea of escaping into another world, with different people and new adventures. Sometimes it's just nice to dream of an alternate reality. With writing I can also challenge myself, like this writing challenge! And attached is a photo of a bird... they're like the epitome of escapism.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Take a Photo

So this photo was taken when I went to the park with my friend Sarah and her beautiful little boy. I'm pretty proud of this photo, but i know I've got a long way to go in continuing my self teaching of photography. I've been asked to do some photos at a wedding too! :) So I might be 'not too shabby' with a camera, but to be honest, the world is a beautiful place and people should take more photos. BUT! Don't live your life through a screen, I mean, savour those memory photos too. There are images i remember that i never took photos of at the time, but i can recall them like they were yesterday! 

Things such as strolling through Barcelona streets at 1am! The sunset in Croatia. The vibrant colours of Santa Monica and the greeny blue hues of Lake Bled, Slovenia. All absolutely stunning and I did take photos! But i also experienced it, in 4d! The sights, sounds, smells and I will use the photos i took to take me back there whenever I need. Thats what photos were meant for.  

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Journey

We're all on a journey. A journey through life; learning new skills, seeing new places. You are all witnessing my writing journey from novice, to professional novice! :)

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Yearbook

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Race

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Drive

30 Day Writing Challenge: The Hangover

Sleepless nights, trouble concentrating, dry mouth, hyper excitability and anxiety.

Are we drunk-in-love or hungover?

30 Day Writing Challenge: What If?

What if you went right instead of left?
What if you went instead of stopping?
What if you turned around instead of going onward?

The road ahead is littered with bumps, twists, turns and crossroads.

What if you cut that out of your life?
What if you let that in?
What if you'd closed the door on that opportunity?

There are many doors to open and close in your life.

What if you sent that letter?
What if she read it?
What if she knew.

What if it was all out in the open?

What if the rain stopped and the sun shone through?
What if the heartache was gone?
What if the happy ending was within reach?

30 Day Writing Challenge: Intoxication/Poison

Why do I drink? I drink to have fun, to feel euphoria and to forget, even just for a few hours. In the club with the music so loud you can't hear yourself think... That's the best. I don't need to be inside my mind, it's full of bad decisions. Idyllic intoxication. Escapism. 

"I'll pass on the rose". You know why. You know what it does to me. It's a poison. Turns me into an intoxicated incubus. And if you were there? Well who knows what would happen. I've tried so damn hard to evade those feelings but I cant. The truth serum. My poison of choice to fall in love. I become a victim of the beverage and I will take someone with me. Spiralling into a whirlwind of desire. It was wise that I said no. You knew why I said no. We giggled about it... But we know the truth... We know the desire that hides behind a sauvignon smile and a whiskey wink. Rosé. The beginning of the ending of our tale. Had I noticed sooner and not been so damn stubborn, perhaps we could have made it. But that's what I always do. Hide behind a cloud of confidence. A defence mechanism found at the bottom of the bottle.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Games

When we were younger, we used to play games all the time. No we still play games, but the stakes are higher. Used to be competitive collections of trading cards, now it seems to be the controversial collections and trading of hearts. However, I can’t complain… I was pretty good at it! I always won the game, unfortunatly. Why unfortunately I hear you ask? Well the prize was always pain. Pain for me and pain for them. They’d fall for me. Heaven knows why. But they’d fall hard. I’d regretfully enjoy the chase. I was younger then. At least that was my excuse anyway. But here I am 23 years old still playing the same old games. It was childish and the worst thing was that I knew the outcome. I suppose the thrill comes from wanting to win. It’s a childish endeavour that we seem to never kick. Winning makes you feel as though you’re good at something, even if the game sucks. Winning gives you power, even if its for a few moments. But how long before the game gets tiresome. The game i played involved juggling the hearts of the fools who loved me. I’d knowingly flirt with them, despite having no real feelings for them, it was almost a challenge to see how far i could go. One day it went too far. It all stemmed from just that human nature need to feel wanted. I was sick. Or at least I know I was now. Couldn’t see it at the time. Thought I was normal… I needed help and the help came in the form of a married man. I saw the challenge, I played the game and I won. I won the pain. I shared my prize with my partner. The mans wife got a share too. That was the last time I played. I realised there is a time where you grow up. There is usually a need for that one final game though. I learned that as an adult, you don’t stop playing games, but the games get harder, more real. But there’s more at stake. Same game, different rules. Different outcomes. No more scuffed knees and ice cream. This time its broken hearts and well… perhaps there is still ice cream… but a fuck tonne more is needed now.

30 Day Writing Challenge

Hey everybody!!! :) So as you're probably aware, my friend's and I are doing a 30 Day Writing Challenge. And safe to say it's going REALLY WELL! I thought I'd give you an opportunity to join in, or see whats coming up! :)

So here is the challenge, so give it a go or just get excited about some of the prompts! :)

Much Love  J x

30 Day Writing Challenge: Mirrors

I looked in the mirror. All it was was metal and glass and yet we almost let it define us. Would we get ready without it? No. Would we even take a selfie without it? Not anymore. We show the world a photo of our reflection because even we aren't happy with the real thing. Think about that: we show the world a "mirror image" that's gone through 2 mirrors and a computer screen before we feel comfortable. The irony is that the idea of having 2 mirrors on you seems intrusive. Makes you feel vulnerable right? As a kid, my nan had one of those wardrobes that had the mirrors on the front. I used to open the doors so they faced each other and then I'd stand in the middle... The reflection would work so there would be an infinite number of me. Scary thought now though. I got into my car after deciding my reflection looked okay. Let's be honest I've never actually seen myself in any other form apart from 'reflection'. I've never seen what other people saw. I drove to his house and parked up. I could see his house in my mirror. Cars have that rear view mirror. That's quite fascinating actually.. you can see what's behind yet sometimes you can get blinded by what you see in the rearview. Mirrors now you can just click and it will reduce the glare. Can't do that with life. You're better off just looking forward. I see him. He's smartly dressed, but isn't he always! I bet he's happy with his reflection. I can see through the window that he's not alone. He's with someone; a girl. He kisses her softly on the lips. I should have learned... don't spend too much time looking in the rearview.

Damn.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Lust

Do you remember the night we met? The sun blazed through the windows on a hot summer's afternoon. We're close to each other, getting closer despite the rising temperatures. Our eyes meet. You tell me my eyes are enticing. I invite you in. Our lips touch, the tantalising taste of rosè stains your tongue. I stop. Draw breath. Take a moment. Stop. Think. Hesitate. You ask what I'm thinking about. You're not even next to me. You never have been. It was all a dream. A lovelorn lust for something that's never been real.

30 Day Writing Challenge: Home

Home Offers Memories Everyday.

Home isn't just a house, or a flat, or a caravan. It's a place where memories are made. Where love happens, where tears are shed. It's where creation happens (make of that what you will!) It should be the place where you feel most comfortable; a sanctuary. Mine may be a small town apartment, but it had everything I needed. It was mine.

I drove