Category: Uncategorized

by Nancy Casey

Sometimes we imagine the past as if it were a ribbon that always trails behind us.

What if that ribbon was a highway? What would it be like? Imagine that and give it some thought as you set up your page to write.

Draw a line at the top of the page where your title will go. Set aside some space for illustration if you like. You can always draw or doodle while you wait for a writing idea to come to mind.

Don’t rush the page set-up. Give yourself time to think about what it would be like if the past were a highway you could travel on.

Some questions you could ask yourself:

• What kind of highway would this be? Narrow? Wide? Straight? Winding? All of the above and more?
• How does one travel this highway? In a vehicle? On foot? Riding a drone that hovers just above the surface?
• Are there other travelers on this highway—or parts of it?
• What is the surface made of? Pavement? Dirt and gravel? Potholes? Stars or roses? Do different parts have different surfaces? Are there places that need repair?
• What are the sights along the way?
• Imagine some of the different things you can do along a highway: visit a scenic overlook, take detours, slow down for road construction, have a picnic, sing songs, turn around, speed up, slow down, ignore the signs, camp out for the night … The list is quite endless. What would you see and do if you were traveling a highway through the past?

Fill up a page with your highway thoughts. When you have finished, look back over your work. Add illustration or decoration if you like.

Do your ideas form any kind of a pattern? Do they seem to be about a bigger idea that you hadn’t really planned on writing about? If they do, maybe you can use that insight to think up a title. If they don’t, make up some kind of a title anyway and write it at the top of the page.

Put your initials or a signature on the page, too. And write the date on it. 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.

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Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like some help or encouragement with any kind of writing project, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Center.

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Raised by God: The Autobiography of Patricia Clayton is a new book that grew out of the Write For You program at LRC. It is the story of a person making herself new after years of trauma and addiction.

by Nancy Casey

Every day is a good day to marvel at the world and appreciate how interesting it is. Consider elbows, for instance. Have you ever paid attention to how amazing they are? Write about that today.

Think about elbows and notice what your own elbows do as you set up your page to write. Draw a line at the top of the page where your title will go. Set aside some space for illustration if you like. You can always draw or doodle while you wait for a writing idea to come to mind. You can draw or trace your elbow.

How does an elbow figure into your daily routine? Imagine all the things that you do in the first hour of the day. Is a functioning elbow necessary to the tasks and activities you take on?

Try immobilizing an elbow for 10 or 15 minutes as you go about a few tasks. What is that like?

What if you already have an elbow or two that doesn’t bend or straighten? You could write about some of the people, devices, or strategies that have helped you to accomplish what others accomplish by bending and straightening their arms.

What can elbows do besides bend and straighten? What is elbow room? Is elbow grease greasy? How many elbows do you need to elbow your way into a room or a conversation?

When you have filled up the page with elbow ideas, look back over your work. Add illustration or decoration if you like.

Do your ideas form any kind of a pattern? Do they seem to be about a bigger idea that you hadn’t really planned on writing about? If they do, maybe you can use that insight to think up a title. If they don’t, make up some kind of a title anyway and write it at the top of the page.

Put your initials or a signature on the page, too. And write the date on it. 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.

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Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like some help or encouragement with any kind of writing project, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Center.

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Raised by God: The Autobiography of Patricia Clayton is a new book that grew out of the Write For You program at LRC. It is the story of a person making herself new after years of addiction and trauma.

by Nancy Casey

Have you crossed any finish lines lately? It can be hard to remember all the things that we finish day to day, because once we finish something, we often forget about it. Today when you write, you will start with the words,

“I finished…”

Arrange your stuff in a way that looks pleasing to you. Take a breath or two. Wiggle around a little to loosen yourself up. As you do that, brainstorm with yourself about the idea of finishing something and the kinds of things you have finished lately.

Draw a line at the top of the page where your title will go. Set aside some space for illustration if you like. Start drawing or doodling in it if it helps your mind focus. If your mind feels empty of ideas, doodling, drawing, or even just scribbling, relaxes your mind so ideas can get in.

Write down the words, “I finished…” and complete the sentence by describing something that, for you, is “all done.” Comment on it if you like. If it reminds you of anything you haven’t finished, don’t write about that.

At work, in school, or running a household, all sorts of things get finished—job duties, assignments, laundry, meals, and all sorts of tasks like those.

You could think about how your day tends to be ordered. What “parts” does your day seem to have? What is finished when you go from one part to the next?

Are some things that you finish more satisfying that others?

When you have filled up the page, look back over your work. Add illustration or decoration if you like.

Do your ideas form any kind of a pattern? Do they seem to be about a bigger idea that you hadn’t really planned on writing about? If they do, maybe you can use that insight to think up a title. If they don’t, make up some kind of a title anyway and write it at the top of the page.

Put your initials or a signature on the page, too. And write the date on it. 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.

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Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like some help or encouragement with any kind of writing project, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Center.