By the time this post is published I’ll be touring the North Island of New Zealand. While I write this, I’m thinking about packing. My mother-in-law kept all her packing lists from family camping trips to Europe and only disposed of them when she moved into a care home. The lists included food items such as Cornflakes and Angel Delight. She famously took her pressure cooker and prepared meals on single-burner camping stove. The kitchen table went on the roof rack along with the tent. My husband remembers one four-week journey when he was allowed to pack just one change of clothes. There wasn’t much room in the Austin Maxi.
A few years ago, I attended a flash fiction workshop delivered by Vanessa Gebbie and Tania Hershman. They suggested writing very short fiction with unusual structures such as lists, instructions and recipes. I followed their advice and two pieces found their way into my flash fiction collection Paisley Shirt. Here’s one of them:
As I muse about this writing life, I wonder whether packing my bags for New Zealand will generate new creative output. Do you find packing a source of inspiration?
Gail, I’m just back from a 3-week holiday and have just about got things back where they belong. No, unfortunately, I do not find packing inspiring. Or unpacking either. What is inspiring is the anticipation of a grand journey with all its possibilities for adventure and meeting new people. It is just that you have to pack to get there!