One really cool program we have at Fighting Words is Write Quest. This fall, participants ages 13-18 completed a series of creative writing sessions, which culminated in a Story Slam in Dublin. This project was designed to foster cross-community collaboration between the North and South of Ireland, so young writers from Fighting Words Dublin and Fighting Words NI connected creatively: brainstorming, sharing ideas, devising prompts for each other (such as– write a story from an unexpected perspective), and swapping their writing for feedback. Halfway through the sessions, the Dublin writers came up to Belfast to meet their NI counterparts. They trash-talked each other’s Tayto (a popular brand of chips that has slightly different recipes in the North and South) and remarked excitedly that the price of Monster energy drinks is lower in NI. The cultural exchange was animated, lively, and invigorating for our young writers, and they had lots of fun thinking, talking, and writing together. After completing the rest of the sessions and putting the finishing touches on their writing, the Belfast writers traveled down to Dublin for the Story Slam, where they read their work aloud to an audience. I went as a chaperone, and enjoyed watching the familiarity and friendliness between the two groups as they prepared for the Slam. Before the big show, we had a practice round where the young people shared short clips of their work to get warmed up for the full audience. They cheered each other on and calmed each other down, counteracting nerves with positivity and supportive comments. By the time the Slam came around, they were amped to go. One of our writers wanted to share a script, so another chaperone and I read as the characters in the scene. We gave it our all, getting fully into character for the dark and intense scene. I could tell it meant a lot to the young playwright that we took his work seriously, and I was glad we got to participate in such a unique way. We are now waiting for our Oscars. After we got back from the trip to Dublin, I reflected with the other leaders about how encouraging it is to see the massive amounts of talent in the up and coming generation. They’re so creative, thoughtful, earnest, and hilarious, and they bravely shared that with an audience of total strangers. I am inspired by the vulnerability required to create good art– it is wonderful to give your all to something and then put it out there for others to enjoy.
My last weeks in the office were full of fun, Christmas-y things like a used book exchange, plenty of tea and cake breaks, some very silly storymaking workshops, and a lovely staff party at a nearby brewery. The office is closed for a few weeks around Christmas, so I’ve been enjoying a proper break. I kicked it off with some crafts and Christmas movies, did some Christmas Boxercise, taste-tested the fare at the Belfast Christmas market, performed in my women’s choir’s Christmas concert, then finished my time in Belfast with a lovely potluck dinner with friends. Then, I flew back to America for Christmas! I’ve been enjoying the comforts of home: reunions with good friends, Olipop, Mexican food, CheezIts, family walks, driving my car and belting to my favorite songs, watching the National Mullet Competition on cable TV, milling about in Target, basking in the glow of our Christmas tree, and playing the piano in my living room. It’s nice to be home, but I’m already missing Belfast! I am officially ⅓ of the way through my time there, and I am looking forward to all the fun and learning that lie ahead. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Eleri x