I love yoghurt, especially the creamy and smooth kind. I can’t be doing with the plain, natural yoghurts. There has to be something in it: fruit, specifically and not stuck at the bottom, that’s lazy; why isn’t it mixed up? On the side in a fiddly tray? Nope, but I do love stirring, watching the colours swirl and the sweet taste of delicious fruits – nature’s saccharine.

What’s this got to do with writing or inspiration?

I often find I’m starting with that plain yoghurt. A basic, flavourless offering. Give it a stir, add some colour, texture and flavour, and it starts to improve, come alive. The more exotic the better. It isn’t about throwing in the adverbs or adjectives, it’s the challenge, and the fun, which out of the box thinking brings. I mean, yoghurt has been around forever, rather like cheese, if you’re the savoury kind of person, so each time you open a pot,  you have to make something different. A new kind of blend, an unusual fruit. Tweaking the packaging helps, but ultimately first appearances aren’t everything. It’s the overall mash-up.

Pick six random words, I’ve seen it done on a kid’s show, and tell a short story.

Mix up genres; An alien visits ancient Rome.

Different point of views – ever tried second person, it takes practice.

Throw in present tense, rather than past, or may be where the action happens.

Change. Step out of the comfort zone.

I’m off for a little fruits of the forest, or maybe pear and guava, or banana and sharon fruit… I love sharon fruit.

Today’s book:

Ed McBain – Hail, Hail, The Gang’s All Here.