The 2022 Writing Series is a series of daily writing exercises for both prose writers and poets to spark their creative mind and to spur production of new pieces. 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 about" you are instead pondering "How do I make this work?" And in the process you are producing new writing.
This is not a standard writing session. This is pure production—to keep your brain thinking about using language to solve simple or complex problems. The worst thing you can do is sit there inactive—the point is to push, to produce something, however imperfect. If you don't overthink it, you will be able to complete all of the series' exercises in under 30 minutes.
The Timer Method
If you're going with the timer method (which is certainly not required) I recommend setting four timers (these markers are if you're doing a 30 minute session): The First Timer for 5 minutes for a pre-writing reminder, if you do any planning or thinking on how those things can fit together or how to structure what you're doing, or to revisit your writer's notebook to remind yourself of anything you might have noted to write about 'in the future'. But mostly, to remind you not to overthink, not to delay the actual writing process. You should think at least a little about what the point of the piece will be (more in the third timer section) The Second Timer for 15 minutes which is the main writing time. Remember, don't overthink during this section. You're knocking out the piece. When this timer goes off it's not the end, but a signal that you'll be trying to wrap it up soon. The Third Timer for 5 minutes which is time to wrap up what you're writing. This is where you're making sure that you're tucking in any 'loose narrative threads' and getting to your conclusions. Remember, pieces should have some takeaway or 'point'. Some 'why'—a thing that the reader can point to if they're asking themselves "why did I read this?". The Fourth Timer for 5 minutes which is time for editing, for going back over the piece and giving it a 'once over' for typos. I highly suggest reading it aloud once at the beginning of the five minutes (or prior to starting the last timer). Then you'll use the time to fix things early on that you later changed, and to sprinkle in 'crumbs' which foreshadow or work well with later metaphors so that the piece feels more united.
For today's writing exercise you will write a few micro-poems or micro-fictions. These will be either poems under 20 lines or stories under 250 words.
For inspiration go read some micro or hint fiction in this Buzzfeed article, at Microfiction Monday, Alba, Molecule, 50 Word Stories and Nanoism. Or also this Barnstorm blog post "How Microfiction Could Transform Social Media".
Check out all of the prompts and pick a couple to write. Once you've done that, focusing on one at a time, read the full prompt twice before you start writing because you're looking to keep it minimal, so have ideas. If your first draft is longer don't fret. Hone it down. And the piece will be what it is. I've started out with a goal of 100 words but hit on something and had to cull the end result from 1350 to 1200 for a contest because I loved the result. So each story will be its own beast, but we're ideally aiming for 20 lines or 100-250 words with these. And if they grow into something much larger, hey, you've got something longer!
Micro Exercise 1: Rain Storms 1. Write a short piece in which at least 4 people separately leave a house in a dangerous rain storm from the perspective of someone who does not leave the house.
Micro Exercise 2: Rain Storms 2. Tell that same story but from the perspective of the last person to leave that house in the storm.
Micro Exercise 3: Before the Party 1. Write a micro piece in which your character is shopping for party and they spot a friend who they could have sworn had died. Explore that feeling, the thought of seeing someone you thought was dead and having a conversation with them, is it a resurrection or an ominous reminder of memory's fallibility? Or something else entirely?
Micro Exercise 4: Before the Party 2. Write a micro piece in which someone is setting up a house party with very sparse decorations and snacks. They should think about the reason we celebrate (as a society) and there should be something of an ominous mood despite the happy occasion. Show us some bright colors.
Micro Exercise 5: Rain Storms 3. Write a very short piece where people at a party recall short strange stories they have about crazy or dangerous storms. There should be at least 3 mini-stories related, getting darker in tone as they progress. Contrast the darkness of tone with the bright decorations and excessive electric lighting.
Micro Exercise 6: Listing 1. Write a piece which is under 150 words that lists things associated with a summer picnic beginning with small things, touch on 'perfect weather' descriptions which are unique and expand into 'life' or 'emotional wellness' or some larger effect happiness has upon a person. End with one thing that might be seen as ominous or hinting at future darkness.
Micro Exercise 7: Listing 2. Write a piece which is under 100 words that lists things associated with a rain storm which is divided into two parts each at least 20 words. The first section should be from the perspective of a child who is in awe of the storm. The second section should be from the perspective of an adult who is somewhat scared of how powerful storms can become (hinting strongly at that feeling is from multiple experiences with very dangerous storms).
Bonus Prompt: Now put all of those micros together into one regular length piece! Write another hundred words or so to connect the sections in a way which seems most effective. Maybe put the lists within the first Rain Storms prompt at intervals, maybe use them to transition, but here is one particular way that I think it would work well:
1) Before the Party 1
2) Before the Party 2
3) Rain Storms 3
4) Listing 1
5) Rain Storms 1
6) Rain Storms 2
7) Listing 2
8) New micro tying together themes from the first pieces and giving some resolution. Don't just summarize. Don't tie it up tooooo neatly, leave a little room for ambiguity. Even if it's tiny.
----
If you'd like some ambient background writing music, try this: Sounds of the Dawn on NTS 1 Radio Show #55 April 27th 2019 from background music friends of the blog, Sounds of the Dawn.
