WRITERS’ CIRCLES
Record breakers
Julie Phillips invites writing group members to go for world records – in these exercises, of course
We live in a world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and this month, to inspire writing, your writing group are going to dive into the world of records. If you are of a certain age, you will remember Roy Castle’s show Record Breakers, devoted to showcasing people performing amazing feats and an entry into the record books. The annual the Guinness World Records book is also an excellent source for weird and wonderful record attempts.
For the first activity, ask the group to research some peculiar, unusual or downright wacky world records and read them out. Ask them to consider what drives people to attempt such records as they are going to be harnessing those drivers later to motivate their own writing and their characters’ journeys. Why does someone want to be the best at shoving as many straws as possible into their mouths? What motivates someone to try to crush as many apples with their biceps as they can? Literary records include: a 16.4 by 26.44 foot book weighing 3,306 pounds, and the fastest-selling fiction book. Why build a massive book? We all want to be the fastest and bestselling authors, of course!