Countdown - 10 Days to the 12th of May

We’re feeling excited and a little anxious about the impending 12^th – after months of plotting and planning, workshops and visiting groups to talk about our project, we’ve really got no idea what to expect on the 12^th. But, however many diaries find their way to us, we have to say, it's been fabulous working with groups, schools and meeting so many ‘lapsed’ diary writers out there, and hearing about the interesting and often surprising ways people intend to record their days on the 12th.  We ran a workshop at Silverdale Academy, where some lovely children and parents surprised us with their very descriptive diaries. Horizons Community Learning are doing a 'one thing I learnt today' wall. Sussex Coast College have got onboard in a major way with the ‘secret postcard diary’ wall. We’ve run diary writing workshops around Hastings and St Leonards, which taught us a lot about ways people use diaries – not to mention the unforgettable breakfast routine one participant wrote up in the style of romantic novel – I haven’t been able to eat cornflakes since!

Anyway, being nosy kind of folk, we can’t wait to find out what you’ve been up to, and what, (if any) themes start to emerge about life in Hastings in 2016.

If you haven’t put pen to paper yet, and are looking for inspiration, how about:

                                                                                                                             

1.    Five words, three words, one word a day – that sums up your day – try mixing them together using Wordle or word clouds (http://worditout.com)

2.    Five Minute Diary – Just write for five minutes without stopping.

3.    Write about one thing/something you did today, take your time.

4.    Take an object or a photograph of something you connect with...write a line about why you like it/hate it/connect.

5.    Top 10s - Make a list of what you love/hate/desire/lost/found etc

6.    A conversation – recap on a chat you had with your friend/Mum/overheard at the bus-stop

7.    Be a social scientist. Sit in one spot for an hour. Observe what happens.

8.    Be a travel writer – take a walk and report on your journey

9.    Make a sound recording of your day

10. Interview someone about their day

11. Comparisons – what were you doing on this day last year? What do you want to be doing next year?

12. Write it as a news story/police report/study of animal behaviour

13. Pretend to be someone else – a dog/chef/burglar/seagull

14. Upload a post it of your thoughts or a picture/image of your day to Instagram #HastingsSpeaks

15. Do a nano diary on Twitter - @HastingsSpeaks

16. Explore a theme – love/shoes/news/health etc

We will be in Priory Meadow on Saturday 7^th of May and in the town centre on May 12^th – from 2pm, come and say hello.