Notes From an Amateur Writer #12 - The Time I Won a Lego Competition

This is day 13 for me in @dragosroua's 30 day writing challenge.

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THE TIME I WON A LEGO COMPETITION

Reflecting back - as I did in my post yesterday - over childhood experiences, and if any lessons could be derived from them - lead to me remembering another early scenario I found myself in. It was a little bit later in my childhood, perhaps I was around 12 at the time. Our family used to holiday several times per year at an inland regional city called Bendigo. It is a beautiful old town, with many buildings still standing from the early gold rush period of the 1850's.

I used to like spending the holidays there. It was a small enough place that there was plenty of bush land around our accommodation for a kid to explore and make his own fun. Perhaps that place helped develop my love of the uniquely Australian landscape.

As a young child I also had another way of having fun, and losing myself within a self created landscape. At that time I was crazy about Lego. I had been for many years prior to that also. I spent most of my meagre paper-round earnings on it.

VENTURING INTO NEW TERRITORIES

One time we went into the centre of Bendigo where one of the major department stores was running a Lego competition. It was purely coincidental that I was there that day. If I remember correctly it was a competition for kids, up to about 15, or thereabouts. They supplied the Lego, and the competitor's job was to build something. The best construction won a prize, and moved up to the next level.

Never having won anything in my life, let alone even entered a competition such as this, I decided to give it a go. My family were with me, and watching whilst I stood around the table that held a vast array of different Lego blocks. There were about a dozen others also having a go.

I got to work constructing something out of Lego. I say 'something' as I don't think I gave it any thought, and just went to work building and putting the pieces together. I went into a 'Lego zone' and forgot my surroundings and just had fun. The buzzer to signal 'no more time' went off, and suprised me. Perhaps I had forgotten I was in a competition, and not at home just messing about. The judge went around all the kids inquiring about their piece and what it is they had constructed. I watched this procession make its way towards me before I realised I didn't know what I had built. I just put Lego pieces together. In a way that amused and entertained me. Wasn't that enough?

I looked at my own construction. It did resemble something. That was good. What it was I don't remember. It must have been good because I won that round. The judge listened to my explanation of what I had built, and then he made his announcement. I went away with a small box of Lego, and a sense of pride for having won. And to be honest, a sense of confusion, because I don't know how I managed it.

I was given the details for the second round which was taking place in just a few days. When that time arrived we all made our way back to the location, and I took my place around the table again. I had a buzz, and was still feeling happy about having won already. This time all the competitors were winners, having placed first in their round. Still I went into it like I had in round one – with absolutety no plan and no thought given to what it was I was about to build.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

I just got blinded by all the Lego, and forgot myself. I went into the fun zone again. The buzzer went to signal the end, and it struck me. I looked at what I had built, and knowing I would have to explain what it was realised I actually had no idea what I had built. It was a mishmash of blocks and piles of blocks, and Lego figures, all put together by the kid with no plan.

"Ah, um, it's a futuristic junkyard," I said sounding unconvincing, but managing to amuse the judge. What the hell is a futuristic junkyard I thought? Perhaps everybody was thinking the same thing. Needless to say I didn't win round two. Interestingly enough the kid who did win it was someone who lost to me the first time. The rules did stipulate you get one entry and can't try out any more times. He had, which didn't bother me. I just looked at him, and then it struck me – he had a plan. He thought it all through. From the second attempt, to the piece he had built.

I was busy having fun. Following my dream. And I think these are important. I touched on this in yesterday's post. Dream, and don't lose sight of your dream. But a little planning may come in handy as you pursue your dream.

As child I was certainly not given any lessons in these matters. I had to learn them all myself. Which means I had to learn by doing. And messing up, usually. And now looking back and seeing what lessons can be derived from those experiences.

DREAMS AND REALITIES

Dream, absolutely. But put some planning in place. Give the matter some thought. Right brain and left brain working as a team. This is similar to what I was discussing in the post on Story Structure. Part of me just wants to write. But to succeed as a writer one needs both the dream, and the planning to help bring that dream into reality. With regards to writing, learning about structure is part of that plan. There is a lot more to it than just that, but that is certainly a key element. Dream, but also plan. This is what I learned from my brush with Lego fame and glory.

If I had a plan then maybe I could have made it to the final round. Perhaps I could have won the grand prize. Still I did win one round. And it was a lot of fun.

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Images sourced from unsplash.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it then please like, comment, and follow.

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Notes From an Amateur Writer blog series:

Notes From an Amateur Writer #1 - The Search For Inspiration
Notes From an Amateur Writer #2 - A Call to Action: Interacting With the World Outside of Me
Notes From an Amateur Writer #3 - Facing the Challenge
Notes From an Amateur Writer #4 - The Soundtrack to Grief and Loss
Notes From an Amateur Writer #5 - Music as a Catalyst for Imagination: Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing
Notes From an Amateur Writer #6 - The Stories All Around Us
Notes From an Amateur Writer #7 - Introducing Nomad [A Cyberpunk Mystery in the Making]
Notes From an Amateur Writer #8 - The House at the Edge of the World
Notes From an Amateur Writer #9 - Making Peace With My Kindle
Notes From an Amateur Writer #10 - Learning the Craft of Story Structure
Notes From an Amateur Writer #11 - Adults Sit at the Big Table, Children Sit at the Small Table

Short Fiction:

Bang Bang You're Dead
I Have No Name and I Must Scream
The Last Book Store
The Judge