Trees don't grow to the sky
Some writers get the story down before they start to figure out what it’s all about. Others need their theme in hand – but may have trouble simplifying a philosophy. If you’re flailing about for a universal truth to get your writerly jaw into, a good place to seek inspiration is a list of proverbs. A proverb is usually a metaphor and often encapsulates in simple terms, a lesson from the common experience of humanity. Sit down and have a think about the specific meaning of the following and then go freewrite a story illustrating this philosophy. I’d love to hear how you get on!
Graveyards are full of indispensable people.
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
The belly has no ears.
Trees don’t grow to the sky.
A dumb priest never got a parish.
The only free cheese is in the mousetrap.
Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
Got any you’d care to share?
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About suehealy
Literary Manager at the Finborough Theatre and associate lecturer in playwriting at the universities of Lincoln and Portsmouth, Irish playwright Sue Healy has a PhD in modern theatre history. Her most recent stage play Imaginationship (2018) recently enjoyed a sell-out, extended run at the Finborough Theatre and is headed to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in August. Cow (2017) was staged at the Etcetera Theatre and Brazen (2016) ran at the King’s Head, funded by Arts Council England. Her work has been performed at the Criterion, Hackney Attic, Claremorris Festival (New Writing Award winner), Brighton Festival (the Sussex Playwrights’ Award Winner) and Sterts Theatre and has been developed by the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and support by the Peggy Ramsay Award. Her nine radio-plays have broadcast on BBC Radio 4 (Opening Lines winner), WLRfm and KCLR96fm. She has won prizes for her prose including the Molly Keane and HISSAC Awards and the Escalator Prize. A UEA Creative Writing MA alumna, Sue spent eleven years in Budapest editing Hungary A.M. Sue also tutors Creative Writing at CityLit.
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August 25th, 2011 at 20:21
I love this idea! I’m going to have to give it a try this evening. 🙂 Thanks for the post!
August 25th, 2011 at 20:26
Delighted you like it, I love it too. I’ve worked four really good stories out of proverbs. Best of luck with it and thanks for commenting!
September 6th, 2011 at 15:43
The squeaky hinge gets the oil
September 6th, 2011 at 17:07
That’s a great one! Mind buzzing on it already…