Write for You: Make Something!

by Nancy Casey

Before you write today, spend about 20 minutes making something. Then write about making it.

What should you make? Anything, of course.

You can use any tools or materials that you want. You can pile up random things and call it a sculpture. You can fix something or make someone a present. You can make something frivolous or practical. Just set a timer for 20 minutes and get going. If you work longer than 20 minutes, that’s great. Make sure to set aside enough time so that you can write a page about what you did.

Maybe you already have some kind of a project going, something you are already making. Go work on it for a while, and write about what you did.

Perhaps you are too busy right now to go make something, or maybe you don’t consider yourself the “making” type. No worries, people make all kinds of things during the course of a normal day. People make their beds and their lunches. They make piles of dishes and laundry, clean and dirty. People make order—in drawers and closets, on desks and shelves.

Instead of setting out to make a certain thing, you can consider the “making” that’s involved in things that you ordinarily do. Then do one of those things, and write about it.

What should you write? Anything, of course.

Look at what you made. Or take a picture of it. Write about what you see and what it reminds you of.

You can describe what you made and how you made it. You can write about the things you used or touched to make it. You can tell what it is and why it’s useful—or not. You can explain why you made it and whether or not it came out the way you intended.

Another way to “write” about what you made is to draw it. You can do some combination of both if that seems like a good idea.

After you have filled up a page, give your work a title. Make sure the date is on it somewhere, too. Look it over carefully, and add things if you want. You can add words, or color, or decoration. Here is an example of what a person could write.

You can share your work by posting it as a comment below. You can type it in. Or post a picture of it.

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. Sometimes she teaches writing classes at the Recovery Center. You can find more of her work here. She offers (free!) writing help to anyone in recovery. This can be for any kind of writing project—resumes, letters, stories novels—email latahrecoverycenter@gmail.com for more information.