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.
#9
Driven from Anaphora—Repetition Files 1#9
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 Exercise: Also include include the following five words "Stripped" "Harp" "Reagent" "Flourish" and "Wax".
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. And if you're feeling like you want a little extra inspiration read Phillip Levine's wonderful anaphoric poem "They Feed They Lion".
"Driven from..."
There is always the obvious: Uber/Taxi/Black Cab driver. Or Limo driver. CIA black ops driver, serial killer that picks up hitchhikers whatever—the literal being driven around in a vehicle. But there's also being driven from as in shooed, propelled or motivated to do something, in this case leave somewhere—likely in a hurry. Or it could be a smaller scale with pest control. Or police/soldiers raiding a village for a wanted man. Or do something completely different. Just be sure that the repeated phrase earns its worth in your piece. It should be necessary.
Bonus Exercise: Also include include the following five words "Stripped" "Harp" "Reagent" "Flourish" and "Wax".
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If you'd like some background music to write to, try Heitor Villa-Lobos "Suite Popular Brasileña" by South American guitarist Pablo De Giusto. It's only 22 minutes long, but great background music, not too complex and a little repetitive, so when you hit the end you can just start it over and enjoy the whole thing again. I couldn't find much into on the artist but his Youtube channel has just a few short videos and this. If anyone knows more about the artist I'd love to hear about him!
