Creative Writing (42nd Street)

For the 42nd Street brief I also have to write scripts for podcasts. They have to be 5 minute sound bites. I've never really done any writing before, my tutor tasked me with looking up some Manchester based poetry (Tony Walsh: This is the place).

Honestly I had no idea how to start writing, I was completely blank. I kinda tapped into my own experiences with anxiety and depression and just started writing. As I said I've never done any creative writing, So I only managed a short poem. I put on some beats on the iMac and started writing an inspirational slow rap. I wanted it to sound like a quick commercial you'd hear on a radio. Here's what I came up with..

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mental health

mental health is no joke

when you're feeling down and there's no hope

it'll make you feel distant, non-existent

but stay consistent because there will be a resistance

it's like a typhoon of emotion crashing into your spirit

but time heals all wounds, don't let it top your limit

aim high, don't let the sky be a barrier

break walls, make calls, you will become happier

depression is an aggression to be fought

that doesn't mean it's a good enough reason to be distraught

just remember, when you're in situations as bad as them

you'll always get back up again

As I said this was an inspiring short commercial kind of thing, I also had to present it in front of the entire class.. and some year 2 Graphics students. I preformed the poem slow rap thing and got some feedback: "Would love to hear more" "Impact-full" "Short but powerful" and "Well structured". I'm really happy with what I came up with, though I definitely could of made it longer because...

After I wrote this I instantly started writing another one, I went on a massive ramble about what depression and anxiety means to me personally. Though it ended up way to dark and depressing (in my opinion) to be read out, although after hearing other people's work it probably would of fit in. Anyway here goes:

Depression

depression is a black hole.

a black hole so big, that it sucks up all the light and joy in your life and destroys it.

I live for those brief pockets of forget where everything is okay for a while.

then isolation hits me again.

one hit, two hit, this time anxiety has come alongside it.

I can’t deal with it.

can I get some pills for it?

I want to find the spark in my life, just some light, I’d kill for it.

If this is what life is meant to be like, then why am I in it?

I can’t speak to anyone without getting a patronising “you’ll be okay” or “learn to deal with it”

The light inside me had disappeared, probably forever.

I try to do things to mask it, but nothing works.

I’m trapped.

two weeks later

I’ve forgotten about everything that has ever worried or upset me.

am I free?

have I finally pulled my way out of the “black hole” that consumes me?

I’m finally happy!

but then I remember something.

something completely irrelevant to anything.

It all comes flooding in.

the shit storm of hurt that encapsulates me has showed its ugly face again.

Anxiety

my anxiety is killing me, fulfilling me, controlling everything I want to be.

mama said you’ll be okay, but mama time is running out

and you’re everything that means anything to me.

they said take pills, yeah that’ll stop the anxiety,

but doc I’m too scared to take the pills you give me.

I just want to be free.

I want the light that guides so many to pick me.

maybe this is the life that god made for me.

or is this the trial that my mind has claimed to be?

don’t you cry for me,

because when I die, I’ll finally be at rest.

you see?

Cover image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-art-conceptual-dark-278312/