A PLACE WHERE THINGS MIGHT HAPPEN

This week's on-the-spot ten-minute exercise was base on the prompt "A place where things might happen".

In building a story, I thought we might identify a place, then populate it, throw a spanner in the works then resolve it. My own suggestions for such a place were the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock and our own dear Harbour Arts Center. Both loations host a variety of cultural events, are staffed by fascinating people, and are open to the public.

(I told the story of the curator in the Dick Institute who set up his own imaginary exhibition just to annoy his bosses.)

The idea of using it as a writing exercise rather than just asking people to name somewhere came from the notion that in having to find the word to describe something, we often find new words and unexpected ideas.

It was a small group, but we managed to fill the two hours easily. It was only when we finished that I realized we had worked right through break time!

So... there's your challenge, if you weren't there and fancy giving it a go. Basing it on a real location might add authentic detail but allow plenty of scope for imagination. Feel free to mix and match elements. But - in ten minutes - write up "a place where things might happen".