What grows? Whatever isn't growing might have been growing once. Or it might start growing soon. Tangible and intangible things can grow. Until they stop. What never stops growing? Set up a page that leaves room for a title and some doodling or illustration space. Then write about things that grow. What makes them start to grow?What makes them stop? Use the word "grow." … [Read more...] about It Grows Until It Doesn’t
Observation
What Sunshine Does
The sun. Whether it is rising, setting, or going behind a cloud, the sun is always shining. Without sunlight, there wouldn't be much life-as-we-know-it here on earth. Write sentences that begin... When the sun shines on... Name something that the sun might shine upon. Tell what happens when it does. Work your way down the page with sentences that have that form, … [Read more...] about What Sunshine Does
It’s About Tuesday
Set up the page first. Draw a line at the top where you will write the title. Off to one side, draw a box a couple of inches tall and a couple of inches wide. You'll be putting an illustration there. Begin writing by describing what you do on Tuesdays. You can include things that happen on other days as well, as long as they also happen on Tuesdays. About half-way down … [Read more...] about It’s About Tuesday
Rituals and Rhythms
Rituals are acts that we perform again and again. For some reason. Because they are reliably repetitive, we benefit from their rhythms. Some rituals are idiosyncratic and private. We carry them out alone. They keep us healthy and sane. Other rituals are formal and public. Think of rituals associated with religions and governments. Sports teams have rituals. Families … [Read more...] about Rituals and Rhythms
Not You
Invent a character by making a list of details that describe someone who would not or could not be you. Make the list by taking note of details about yourself, twisting them into something unrecognizable, and applying that detail to your character. What are you wearing? Who do you look like? What's on your mind? What don't you remember? Use what you know about yourself to … [Read more...] about Not You