Donal Doherty – Naturally Capturing Life + Love

Last night my creative writing class focussed on poetry. I was trepidacious and thought for sure it wasn’t going to be for me, but I actually really enjoyed the class.

In previous weeks we’ve had an opportunity to write and each week a few of those in the class have read out their work. I thought I was a good writer until I heard how eloquent the others were with their work and definately had a feeling of inadequacy. How would I ever read out something I had written?

Well last night I wrote a poem in ten minutes and I thought, ‘you know what I’m going to read it out’ – and I did. While my poem is super simple, reading it out wasn’t so bad after all and I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.

The Camera

I watch, I see, record that’s me

Happy, sad, indifferent, glad

Moments captured, times had

Smile a while, you’ll not regret

When it hangs on the wall for a while yet

Snap, flash, caught you dash

In Movember that silly tash

With speed, with grace, your funny face

Now on Facebook for the human race

A like, a comment, a poke, wee wee

I just capture what I see

I love to learn new skills and used to try and learn something new every year.

In 2006 it was a photography summer class, then a night-class (that worked out well I think!), a year later it was the guitar (still a lot to learn – I can do one strum), then a couple of years ago I learnt how to ride a motorbike (as of yet I don’t have a bike but have passed my test).

I recently signed up for a creative writing course at North West Regional College (NWRC) taken by Liam Campbell.

It’s an hour on a Monday night dedicated to celebrating great writing and to developing skills as a writer. I have found it fascinating and some of the short and long stories we’ve discussed so far are really great. ‘Bullet in the Brain’ and ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ being two of my favourite’s we’ve discussed.

Next week we’re onto poetry and while I’ve read a bit of Seamus Heaney at school, I don’t have much experience with the medium, but am looking forward to being introduced to more great work next week.

I would love to write a book someday and perhaps this course could be the inspiration I need…watch this space!