The Notebooking Daily Fall Writing Series is a daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to keep your creative mind stretched and ready to go—fresh for your other writing endeavors. The writing prompts take the impetus—that initial crystal of creation—out of your hands (for the most part) and changes your writing creation into creative problem solving. Instead of being preoccupied with the question "What do I write" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.
These exercises are not meant to be a standard writing session. They are meant to be productive and to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive. It's like taking a 5 minute breather in the middle of a spin class—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink them, you will be able to complete all of the exercises in under 30 minutes.
#81
Ekphrastic Forest
Ekphrastic Forest
For today, we're going to write a poem or prose piece inspired by another piece of art or an ekphrastic piece. The piece of art in question is this photo by Reddit user MuonicDecay
If nothing right off strikes you try the following exercises along with the image.
- Tell the story of the planting of this forest from the perspective of a teacher chaperone. At some point envision this image, but also having their hands full trying to keep the rambunctious kids in line.
- Write a narrative from the perspective of one of the tree planting fifth grade class of 1994 about returning to this forest as an adult. Do you walk through it, or is the change too much, resulting in 'you' only getting to the parking lot then leaving.
- Write a piece in which this picture is taken shortly before a forest fire, and ruminate on the destruction of that forest and the passing of time transmogrifying the children into adults.
- Write a piece in which a child runs by this sign into the forest for some reason—whether chased, exploring, playing a game, whatever you want. But he runs by the sign and catches a glimpse of it.
If you'd like background writing music try the album Love for Chet by Stéphane Belmondo.
