One certainty in our unavoidable relationships with non-living things: when they are difficult, we are the ones who end up doing all the work. Write about a difficult relationship that you have with something that is not alive. A physical object, perhaps. Something mechanical? An ugly-but-comfortable couch? Some intractable piece of technology? The weather? You can … [Read more...] about Oh the Difficulties!
Observation
A Letter from the Grand Hotel
Imagine that you are staying in a splendid vacation spot. Someplace with the best amenities and services. Imagine also that you have a friend who didn't want to come with you. Write a letter to that friend telling them how wonderful this Grand Hotel is. Make it sound so wonderful that they will be sorry they didn't accompany you. The only constraint: every detail that you … [Read more...] about A Letter from the Grand Hotel
Listen!
Drawing is writing. When you draw, your thoughts move with the tip of the pen as the ink flows onto the page. Drawing uses a different part of your mind than talking does. Drawing without talking can improve your ability to listen. Try it! Set up your page by marking off a very small space for writing. Just enough room for a sentence or two. Then fill the rest of the … [Read more...] about Listen!
What It’s Not
Write about something by writing about what it isn't. You can choose to write about an object you can see or remember. You can write about an action or activity. You could write about a concept such as faith, confusion, or resentment. Pick one thing for a topic. Then fill a page by describing what it's not. As you begin, your thoughts might feel tangled. That's because … [Read more...] about What It’s Not
Temporary and Permanent
Begin by drawing a shape in the middle of the page. It will be your illustration space. You can make it circle, a square, an amorphous blob, whatever size you like. The draw two lines running from opposite sides of the shape to the edge of the page so that your page is roughly divided in half. On one side of the page, write about what's unlikely to change in your … [Read more...] about Temporary and Permanent