Occasionally, a few random events occur and life slots together nicely.
I've been hitting the second hand vintage stores recently. We need would like a few extra bits and bobs for the new house. Cruising the nearby furniture stores is Ultimate Organisation Procrastination. I feel like I am doing something. I am checking out writing bureaus when I should be unpacking the last few boxes. It's like buying notebooks instead of writing. Or cleaning your room when you have a uni assignment. We all have our own tricks for delaying the inevitable.
Then, I discovered the above trunk. It's a metal lined Pine Sea Chest. It was love at first sight. But the final selling point, for me, was the original labels. The passenger name and voyage details are still visible (just) on the lid and side. The trunk, made sometime in the 1880s, came here on a sea voyage from HONG KONG in the 1940s and belonged to a N.PULLEN.
With these little snippets of information and a touch of imagination, there is a story behind this trunk.
As I write, the trunk is holding my linen and acting as a lounge room coffee table. But it has somehow also weaved it's way into my NaNoWriMo story line. I signed up for NaNo on a whim. I didn't have a plot, a character or a single theme.
But on November 1st, National Novel Writing Month kicked off and I found myself writing about the trunk. A few days in and a story is evolving. I guess that is the beauty of NaNoWriMo. It helps people to unlock the stories from their vaults.
Or trunks.
Or trunks.
Where have you found unexpected inspiration?
Gill x
10 comments:
Love your trunk. I was hoping for names and dates! We have several trunks in our house, and I love the labels, the stickers that give a little peak into the history of the person and place the trunk belonged to. It drives me crazy when people declutter and go crazy throwing things out because it's like they're erasing the trace of themselves from history. We need to leave the stickers, the tiny marks and imperfections behind that tell little pieces of our stories.
I recently cleaned out a trunk in my office and it had a bolt of fabric covering the bottom from its previous owner. I washed the fabric but it still smells like someone else, it's kind of freaky but also strangely familiar.
Great fodder for NaNo. Keep rocking those words Gill! x
Gorgeous trunk :) I'm jealous. Sounds like great inspiration for a novel. I'm getting inspiration from my kids :)
Thanks, Mel and Karen.
Yep, Karen, I do like to de-clutter but there are certain things I keep. Things that I will never throw away. Many of these things tell a story, sometimes my story, depending upon where the item came from. I have jewelry and clothes from my Mum and Nanas and I love the stories behind these items.
And couldn't agree more on kids providing inspiration, Mel.
Good luck with your own writing, ladies!
Wow, that trunk is amazing! When you've got a beautiful piece of furniture with a history like that, how could you NOT be inspired by it?
What great inspiration.
I'm doing NaNo but I'm running a bit behind on my word count. I'm enjoying the experience and I hope everyone is doing well.
Sounds very intriguing! I hope we get to read it.
I've avoided the whole NNWMo biz as I can't stand that silly name. Silly me, really, but there you go! x
Beautiful trunk and perfect timing. My own NaNoWriMo story is surprising me with its twists and turns but I'm a little behind on the word count - have earmarked this weekend to catch up!
@flowersinmywords - love the idea of earmarking the weekend. I would too but I have a Hens Night and I think it will cancel out some writing time!
@E - I was running behind too. Hit 10 200 words on Sunday, which I was very pleased with. But then, yesterday I didn't write a word. I find it comes in ups and downs so just keep on swimming...
@Maxabella - Isn't it a silly name? I thought so too. Wasn't sure about the idea behind it at first either. But it's working well for me. I think it is the Obsessive Compulsive inside of me
What a wonderful find. Like you, I love it when little snippets of the past are present, because you just KNOW there are stories there...
I love that you have woven it into your NaNoWriMo challenge: I hope to read it some day!
I can imagine the stories behind the chest... just waiting to be told. And what perfect serendipity that the chest came to beautiful storyteller like yourself!
Post a Comment