Fictional Characterisation – Burnside Writers Group

Jean Stewart: Double Trouble

He watched the group of tearaways move stealthily along the supermarket aisles. The retired policeman in him was sorely tempted to act. It was not hard for an experienced eye to spot their pilfering. Perhaps a creative outlet was needed for these kids. Surely some community program would be out there? Maybe he should becomeContinue reading “Jean Stewart: Double Trouble”

Jean Stewart: Monkey on Her Back

No-one could say she’d not tried to tame her struggle early. After that devastating evening when she’d lost $1,000 in an hour, and continued playing her favourite machine into the night, she knew something was wrong. Those nights after her husband’s death had been so excruciatingly lonely. Their much-loved pub was around the corner fromContinue reading “Jean Stewart: Monkey on Her Back”

Karen Agutter: An Accident on the Stairs

I sat, transfixed, barely aware of the tread of the stair, the polished wood, cold and hard against my thighs. Bizarrely fascinated, I examined the scene below. Surely the angles were all wrong. Did legs really bend that way? Where was his left arm? And the blood. So much blood. Spreading slowly across the floorboards,Continue reading “Karen Agutter: An Accident on the Stairs”

Anne Mckenzie: Ghosts

‘Do you believe in ghosts, Anne?’ Jan says. We’ve just seen a rerun of the ‘Ghostbusters’ movie at our local theatre so it’s not a wholly unexpected segue. ‘You do?’ I say. ‘Well, not so much ghosts but rather spirits. Yes, I do. For instance, I believe my mother is still very much with meContinue reading “Anne Mckenzie: Ghosts”

Lawrie Stanford: Conversations with Mary—When the chips are down

I eyed the bowl of chips carefully and selected the smallest, crispiest chip. Hmmmm, I thought, just how I like them—the crunchy feel, the fluffy cooked potato, the tang of salt and the moist, smoothness of cooking oil. I dived in for another. ‘When did you order them!’ Mary exclaimed, ‘You must have done itContinue reading “Lawrie Stanford: Conversations with Mary—When the chips are down”

Lawrie Stanford: Timeless Tales Told in Verse—The Pirate

I went down to the pub one day, at the bar there was a pirate— at least he had the gear I’d say, so I asked him, had he hired it. ‘Oi’m a pirate, aye me ‘earty, that oi be—aye, well and truly, oi’m not dress’d up for no party, oi be a pirate—quite unruly.’Continue reading “Lawrie Stanford: Timeless Tales Told in Verse—The Pirate”

Nell Holland: Shadow Man

You Think You Know Me? No-one really knows me, including Camille. My wife, the diplomat’s daughter, erroneously believes I’m something like her successful father. She absorbed the training in her mother’s milk to become the perfect wife and hostess for me. I’m fortunate. And so is she. We entertain often with an eclectic mix ofContinue reading “Nell Holland: Shadow Man”