The Notebooking Daily 2020 Writing Series is here! These are 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.
#121
Title Mania Plus "Iceland" 18
For today's writing exercise you will write a piece of poetry or prose which uses one of the following as its title. For a bonus challenge use the additional exercise of five random constraints.Title Mania Plus "Iceland" 18
Today's titles all come from the poem "How to Summer (Without Alcohol) in Iceland" by Samuel Wright Fairbanks from Mortar Magazine Issue 4.
Titles:
- Exfoliate Yourself
- Forget Stars
- Midnight in a Viking Graveyard
- Just Wrong Enough
- Prone to Disappear
- Road Sign Typeface
Bonus Exercise: 5 Random Constraints
(I recommend picking any required words or lines before writing with a little surplus for options, but with your chosen title in mind)
(I recommend picking any required words or lines before writing with a little surplus for options, but with your chosen title in mind)
- The first or second word of your piece must start with a "V".
- You must include at least five words which rhyme with "Mope".
- You must include someone lighting a candle or fire.
- You must include the words "Frightened" "Delete" "Wine" "Key" and "Carotid".
- You must include in your piece at least one cartoon character's name.
If you'd like some synthy background music to write to, try this video of cellist Jeff Bradetich playing Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite No. 2
