Each month around the midpoint of the month I’ll be delivering a writing prompt to your inbox. These prompts are for writers of any genre and any experience level. Maybe you’ll make a poem, or start an essay, or launch the next chapter of a novel. These prompts are also appropriate for artists of any medium. Painters, musicians, dancers — all are welcome.
Before we work with prompts, especially if we are working alone outside of the classroom, we should take time to prepare. This pre-writing process is important because it sets the stage for the writing you're going to do. It communicates to your body that you're ready to write and that this writing is important and just for you. You are taking care with your writing.
Here are four things to consider:
1) Time and place: Do some thinking about when and where you want to complete this prompt. Do you like working in a busy café surrounded by people, or does your quiet desk at home make you feel more comfortable? Make an effort to work within your own rhythms. If you're a morning person, make your favorite morning beverage and get started. If you work best at night after everyone has gone to bed, make some space for your writing then. Maybe there’s a particular point in the week where you feel creative. Personally I’m always creative after a walk or a brainstorm session with other writers. Start to notice your own creative rhythms if you haven’t already. This is not just a writing prompt. This is an opportunity to get to know yourself better as a writer.
2) Materials: Don’t you love those baking videos where the chef has all the ingredients already sitting in the tiny clear Pyrex measuring cups, with the pan all buttered and ready for the batter? It makes baking look so easy. So let’s do the same with our writing and set ourselves up for ease. Start by making sure you have your preferred writing utensil. Is it a pencil? A pen? Do you have a particular journal designated for your creative writing? Do you like to write on a computer? What’s comfortable and easy? What makes you feel prepared? What can let your brain know that it’s time to create? Don’t overlook this part of the process. This. Stuff. Matters. Find a place to write and take note of your surroundings. Is your chair comfortable? Is your table the correct height? Writing is a physical activity, you are doing it with your body. Your hand on the page. Your fingers touching the keyboard. You want to make sure there are no distractions so you can focus on the words and the ritual without thinking about your chair being squeaky or your table being too rough or your hand cramping up because the pen you're using isn't comfortable.