I recently re-read The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey; it’s a quirky and delightful little book about the process of writing and publishing a novel. Near the end of the book, the protagonist, Mr. Earbrass, has finally seen his latest book in print and is drained. He stands on his terrace and random words flow through his head — some quite esoteric but others rather inspiring. So I thought it might be fun to use Mr. Earbrass’s eclectic musings to inspire other writers this week. Pick three to five of the following words and use them in a story, scene or poem.
“ANGUISH TURNIPS CONJUNCTIONS ILLNESS DEFEAT STRING PARTIES NO PARTIES URNS DESUETUDE DISAFFECTION CLAWS LOSS TREBIZOND NAPKINS SHAME STONES DISTANCE FEVER ANTIPODES MUSH GLACIERS INCOHERENCE LABELS MIASMA AMPUTATION TIDES DECEIT MOURNING ELSEWARDS” (from The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey, copyright 1953, copyright renewed 1981)
