To begin your work today, select an object in your living space to use in your writing. A thing. You don’t have to be able to see it or touch it. You just have to know it is there.
When you write, you will write from the point of view of that object, that is, you will write as if the object is talking.
As you write, have the object tell something about its life. Maybe its entire history. Maybe a story from before it came into your life. Or something you did together. Maybe it has plans, emotions, or grudges. You can have the object “say“ anything. It can “talk” however you want to make it talk.
As the object “speaks” it must say at least one thing about you. It might mention you once in passing. Or it could also turn out that the object has lots to say about you. That’s up to you, of course, because you are the one who decides what this object will say.
Not only can you be creative by pretending you are a talking object, you can be creative with the object’s voice. It can talk baby talk or like a gangster. Will its voice be dreamy, authoritative, or harsh? Maybe the perfect voice for a talking object will come into your mind gradually as you write.
Think about these things as you set up a page. Draw a line across the top where your title will go. You can also draw a box or blob that you’ll use for illustration.
Then pick an object and go. You don’t have to know what the object will “say” before you start writing. Thoughts will come to you. And if they don’t, doodle a bit until they do. One idea will lead to another one.
When you feel like you’ve written enough, stop. If there’s still room on the page, fill it with drawing or decoration. When the page is completely full, look it over carefully and make small changes if you like. When a title idea floats to the surface of your mind, write it at the top of the page.
Write the date on the page too, along with a signature or your initials.
Here is an example of what someone could write.
You can share your work by posting it as a comment below. You can type it in, or take a photo of it and upload the image.
If you would like to make a page like this in the company of other people, join us at the Latah Recovery Center from 4-5 PM on Tuesdays. After we’ve made a page together, we do other exercises, and (optionally) share our work. For a calm and supportive time that will ease you into the evening, join us at 4:00, and then stick around for the art class that begins at 5:00.
Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like some help with your writing, or just some encouragement, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Center.
Latah Recovery Community Center, Inc. 