At the moment I’m working on a longer story inspired by something many people enjoyed at one point or another, the love of exploring old buildings. I certainly loved doing this as a child with family and friends and still do!
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Curious Jane a couple of months ago. A story for all ages to bring out your inner child. It is a nod to The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and my childhood favourite Enid Blyton. I eagerly wrote it after getting delightfully lost in the 1993 film on Netflix.
The new setting is loosely based on the now demolished Bangour General hospital complex which was built in the early 1900s. The General section of the complex where the featured mortuary is was located upon a hill behind Bangour Village, a psychiatric institution used by the War Office as a temporary military hospital. It was located in Dechmont in West Lothian, Scotland. Very haunted too!
I recall the general hospital’s long corridors and black rubber crash doors as we visited dad when he had his first heart attack and mastoid cavity surgery. He had his cleft palate repaired there in the 1960s and those heavy, clumsy doors had made a few generations jump as they were rammed through them on a stretcher.
At the entry to the complex was the very obvious mortuary. A small single story building clearly sign posted with no attempt at discretion. A place now hidden from the public eye was then bold, almost proud. And so, my curiosity about death was further fueled.
The mortuary layout in my upcoming story is based upon where I used to work at The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust in Chelsea, London, including the skeleton in a carrier bag incident. Yes, you read right! One of my greatest finds ever had to be included.
I’m a complete novice and still learning punctuation, layout, etc. but the most important thing for me, and anyone else delving into new projects, is to simply enjoy the experience.
Further reading:
Curious Jane
© Copyright: Sharon Lawson™
Sharon Unfiltered 
Absolutely agree that the number one thing is to enjoy the experience. Punctuation is a nightmare and takes an age to learn. The way I use it is when there is a natural break in our words mid-sentence, lob in a comma and everything works out just fine. The beauty of writing is that there is ultimately no right or wrong. We just find a way that works for us and build from that. As for the story, great premise. I too love to explore old, dilapidated buildings and there is so much scope there for a delicious work of fiction. If Curious Jane is anything to go by, I’m microwaving the popcorn in advance.
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I was always urged to use less commas at school. “But teacher, I have a stammer!” should have been my response. Thank you for the hints and I’ll enjoy this next story. Exploring my memories and using them as fiction will be fun!
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