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.
#81
Ekphrastic Quarantine 8
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 2020 image called "Quarantined" by French-American illustrator Pascal Campion.
No handholding today. Like the subject of this painting and other social distancers, you're on your own. In this case, what else is going on with these people? What's the difference in the saxaphone's story and the violinist's? The guitarist's? What are their struggles? How long into quarantine are they? What type of music are they play? Are all of the neighbors into it? Who's pissed? Who's the best/worst player? Do they know? Lots to work with. You got this.
---
If you'd like background writing music try experimental Chicagoan artist Addison Flux's 2019 album "Slumflowers".
