The Notebooking Daily 2020 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.
#19
We Mean Anaphora—Repetition Files 2#19
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which focuses on repetition. In this instance we will work with anaphora. It's a handy little bit of poetic craft that goes a little something like this:
Bonus Writing Sprint Exercise: For the following exercise don't be afraid to write from narrators that are not yourself. Each sentence can be a new person if you'd like. Follow the following steps.
the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines to create a sonic effect.Take a moment and read the Poetry Foundation article, even if you know the term. For even more fun check out this longer article called Adventures in Anaphora.
"By ____ we mean..."
There are a number of ways you could approach this bit of anaphora. You can explain specialized jargon from a profession or a hobby and
. Or do something completely different. Just be sure that the repeated phrase earns its worth in your piece. It should be necessary.
. Or do something completely different. Just be sure that the repeated phrase earns its worth in your piece. It should be necessary.
Bonus Writing Sprint Exercise: For the following exercise don't be afraid to write from narrators that are not yourself. Each sentence can be a new person if you'd like. Follow the following steps.
- Write 5 sentences which are eight words or fewer where the ____ is "Family". Write another 5 (same length) where the ____ is "Loyalty". Now write another 5 sentences (same length) where the ____ is "Home".
- Write 2 new sentences each "Family" "Loyalty" and "Home" which are at least 15 words.
- Pick your favorite sentence. Whichever word that one uses, write ten more sentences using that word.
- Now use that sentence bank to put together your piece, filling in the connective tissue where it needs it, using only parts of sentences sometimes (use two or more of the shorter sentences paratactically in the same section by removing the anaphoric phrase (as in, "By home we mean where the bunk bed is, the frayed blankie, both the painful and the best memories.")
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try Mozart: Great Mass in C minor, K. 427
