Writing Prompt: Busy Life
Everyday life often happens in layers. We build moments on top of moments to distract ourselves from the big, important stuff. Or, we build these moments so closely together so we may make time to think and react to the big, important stuff. Often, writers choose to write about these small moments over greater themes. Or, use small moments to refer to greater moments.
Take note of your busiest day. If you have no time for note taking or post-its, try documenting a few key images you will go back to later. Remember the color of the fire hydrants or the way your arms felt carrying the groceries up the stairs. However you choose to keep track of these moments, keep these questions in mind: What are you doing? How do you feel as you work on a project? What things are motivating you? How are you concentrating on all of this? Try to step outside yourself. How does the air smell around you? What color are the leaves? Who is with you? How does the sky change as you move from house, to car, to work and back to car?
Now, in a your quiet moment, begin a poem “in media res” or “in the middle of things.” You could start somewhere in the middle of your busiest day. You could start it in the middle of an argument between two characters. You could even start in the middle of a baseball game you went to. However you work it, begin the poem in a place where half the action has already taken place, and most of the reaction is about to happen.
As you create the poem, remember how hectic you felt on your busiest day and use that energy to create tension through action within the poem. Spend the rest of the poem slowly revealing what is really going on, both in real time and with the “big, important stuff.”
Take note of your busiest day. If you have no time for note taking or post-its, try documenting a few key images you will go back to later. Remember the color of the fire hydrants or the way your arms felt carrying the groceries up the stairs. However you choose to keep track of these moments, keep these questions in mind: What are you doing? How do you feel as you work on a project? What things are motivating you? How are you concentrating on all of this? Try to step outside yourself. How does the air smell around you? What color are the leaves? Who is with you? How does the sky change as you move from house, to car, to work and back to car?
Now, in a your quiet moment, begin a poem “in media res” or “in the middle of things.” You could start somewhere in the middle of your busiest day. You could start it in the middle of an argument between two characters. You could even start in the middle of a baseball game you went to. However you work it, begin the poem in a place where half the action has already taken place, and most of the reaction is about to happen.
As you create the poem, remember how hectic you felt on your busiest day and use that energy to create tension through action within the poem. Spend the rest of the poem slowly revealing what is really going on, both in real time and with the “big, important stuff.”
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