Post by Gemma Conway and Xiaoxia Chen

The new Level 4 group are now well and truly settled in to their studies, Creative Writing student Floransa Ratkoceri tells us. She describes what they have been working on this year and how she has been finding it:

“So far I’ve loved the creative writing modules, it’s good in terms of allowing students to explore writing styles that they may have never tried before. Each class and lecturer challenge us with writing exercises and some of the work produced is stuff all the students use including myself.

This year we’ve been focusing on writing the city stand which is writing that’s inspired by the beautiful city of London. This module has a few different lecturers who give us new ways of looking at types of writing. Most recently we were looking at experimental writing, which was inspired by Eley Williams book, Attrib.

We’ve also been looking at ways of writing strand which takes a look at the genres of writing. From poetry, lyrics, short stories and non-fiction novels and this has really helped as they both link. 

In our reflective writing, this is time we get feedback on our journals and we have guest speakers who come in and either do some reading, and we get to ask questions and get advice. As young writings just starting out these are key questions and ideal people to go to for advice.”

During their excursion to the gallery, Floransa found herself inspired by one painting in particular: Werner Schramm’s Portrait of a Lady in front of The Ponts des Arts, 1930. Anybody with a special interest in Paris, “the city of love”, will already know the history of The Ponts des Arts that straddles the River Seine, now more popularly known as ‘love lock’ bridge. For a decade now, lovers from all over the world come to declare their love by attaching a padlock to its rails and throwing the key into the river. Schramm’s painting exudes a mysterious romantic energy, which Floransa captures perfectly in this short piece inspired by the Portrait of a Lady in front of The Ponts des Arts:

Madame Céleste by Floransa Ratkoceri

Madam Céleste wasn’t your typical French girl. Although she looked average, she was not. Like many of the French, Céleste was pale, and her make up would make her look just the slightest bit paler, making her dark features standing out against her fair skin. Her hair black and long as this is the only way her mother would let her keep it. Her natural waves astonished anyone who asked. Her eyes dark, her eyebrows thick and natural, yet arched. Making her seem surprised most of the time. Then there were her red lips. Red lipstick was her signature. If she gave you a kiss, it would leave her mark. The love letters she exchanged with men, sealing them with her kiss, always leaving them to want more. Céleste came from a family of new money. Her father Etienne inherited his families wealth when his only living parent left all his money to them.

Yes, Céleste seemed ordinary but she was not. She craved and longed for love. A love that she knew would never find her but tried her best to find. Every winters night Céleste would look out of her window as the snow began to stick and would tell herself, my love will be waiting for me. Céleste would wait by Port des Arts. She would look through her wardrobe filled with new money belongings, her mothers wishes that every person in Paris would know that they were wealthy. Céleste would find her most expensive fur coat. All black with a brown inside. The collar of the coat acting like a scarf, the arms protected by the many layers of fur. The coat was long and warm enough to tackle the winters rough and brutal mood.

She went to her desk. Gloves, necklaces, rings all laid out in front of her. She picked up the white leather gloves with frills at the wrist. Blue lacing and buttons to add the sense of wealth. The new leather smell. She picked up a black cloche hat that had blue diamonds on the left side. Her mother had made sure to teach her the value of matching accessories. Applying her signature red lipstick she fetched her black and red clutch and walked to Port des Arts.

The water turning into ice, the lamps exposing the fog, Céleste looked at all the couples walking arm in arm and hoped tonight she would find her love. Every night at the same time she waited. She waited for hours knowing he may never come. That did not stop Céleste, despite the many failed nights without anyone by her side, she waited. Many men would pass and smile, they would admire her scent, her red lips catching their attention, but yet they never stopped for her. Clenching onto her fur protected wrists, she looked across the water. She hoped her love would be gazing out for her the way she gazed for him. Sadly Céleste did not see anyone across the bridge. She gazed across one last time, and noticed a man. A man she had not crossed paths with before. Could this be him? Is this the man Céleste has been dreaming of?

As he looked up and caught her gaze time stood still for her. The world suddenly stopped. Céleste felt it all over her body, like a struck of lightning jolting through her veins. He looked as though he was smiling, but she could not tell. Céleste looked down at herself, brushed off any snow that had left traces on her fur coat and just as she looked up, a figure began running toward the man. A woman, dressed similar to her, but with long, red hair. Like fire, in the cold to warm the soul. He looked away from Céleste and turned to this red haired beauty, and gave each other a warm embrace, followed by true loves kiss. Céleste couldn’t believe that her love, her lightning already had a flame, keeping him warm.

As the couple walked past Céleste the man gazed into her soul once again, with sad dark eyes. She wondered why he was this sad, could it be that the red haired beauty was not his true love? Could Céleste bring herself to say anything to this gentleman? As the couple drew further away from her, he turned back to look at Céleste one last time. The final goodbye. The love of her life, had passed her by and she knew she would never be the red haired beauty.

Gemma Conway Xiaoxia Chen, 16 November 2018