Write for You: Take a Seat

by Nancy Casey

Sometimes we sit to rest. Sometimes we sit and work. We sit on things and under them. We sit beside people and other living things. We sit straight. We slouch. Today, write about some of the places or situations you can imagine yourself sitting.

Set up your page first. Draw a line at the top where the title will go. Set aside some space for an illustration—even if you don’t consider yourself an “artist.” Drawing or doodling will offer an opportunity for your mind to relax and make the most of the ideas that rustle around in your mind while you are writing—even the ideas you never write down.

Chances are you are sitting down to do your writing. You could begin by describing where and how you are sitting right now. Or you can imagine other places you could be sitting. Where do you like to sit?

Can you imagine yourself sitting with someone? A friend? A character from a book? A person who no longer walks the earth?

How do you like to sit? Do you curl one or both legs under you? Plant your feet on the floor? Cross your ankles? Lean back into pillows or a soft chair? Would you rather sit on the floor? Would you rather sit outside or inside?

If you could sit anywhere, real or imagined, where would that place be? What would you see from that spot—buildings, bicycles, flowers, frying pans, someone you know? What would you hear? What would you be wearing?

Where have you sat in the past? Is there a place where you used to sit often? Is there anywhere you will never sit again? What do you remember about sitting in these places?

Write anything at all about your sitting self. You can write the full truth as you remember it, or you can write something entirely made up.

Maybe your writing will come out like a list, or series of sentences that begin something like, “I would sit…” Perhaps you will have so much to say about one particular place to sit that you will fill up the whole page describing it.

However your writing comes out, add some kind of doodle or illustration to the page. Often, while you are drawing, a good title will occur to you. Make sure the date is on the page somewhere, too. Here is an example of what a person could write.

You can share what you have written by posting it as a comment below. You can type in your work. 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.