In the News

by Nancy Casey

As you set up your page today, think about some of the different things you could write.

What kinds of ideas have been rumbling around in your mind lately? Maybe you could write about them. Maybe you would rather tell a story–from this morning, or from a long time ago. It could be the story of an event you witnessed, an account you heard from someone else, something you have made up, or some blend of all of these. Maybe you would prefer to describe your surroundings right at this moment. You can decide not to write “about” anything at all and freewrite. That is, write down any old thing at all without hardly paying attention to what you are saying.

As your mind wanders over the possibilities for writing, draw a line across the top of the page where the title will go. (Don’t write the title until the very end.)

Then draw some circles on the page. You could draw 10 circles that are about the size of a quarter, or maybe only five of them if you make them larger than that. Spread the circles out so none are exactly touching each other. Arrange them in a way that’s pleasing to you.

Inside each circle, draw a letter. Any letter. All the letters in the circles can spell out a word if you like, but they don’t have to. It’s okay to repeat letters.

Then make each circle and its letter look very decorative. Doodle away inside the circles until you decide it’s time to start writing.

Write about whatever you want. The only requirement is that when you arrive at one of the circles, you have to use that letter next. It might be the first letter of a word, or it might fall in the middle of a word. However it works out, work that letter into your writing.

Keep going until the page is full.

When you have finished writing, reread your work. Make small changes if you need to. Look at each of the letters to see if you’d like to add a bit more decoration. When you are satisfied with the page, give it a title and write the date on it, too. 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.

---

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like to do this exercise or others like it with a group of people, come to the Write-for-You class at the Latah Recovery Center on Thursdays at 5pm. Anyone can join. Just show up!
Reply
Forward

by Nancy Casey

Today you will write individual words instead of paragraphs or sentences. You will end up plucking words from interesting corners of your imagination, which is often amusing.

Begin by setting up your page:

• Draw a line across the top where the title will go.
• Draw a line across the bottom of the page that marks off just enough space for exactly one line of writing.
• Draw 2 vertical lines down the remaining empty space on the page so that it is divided into 3 columns.
• At the top of the right-hand column, write the heading “Different.” For the middle column, use the heading “Same.” The left-hand column won’t need a heading.
• For the left-hand column write the letters of the alphabet (A-Z) down the left-hand edge of the page.

Then begin writing. For each letter of the alphabet in the left-hand column, write down a word that begins with that letter. Any word. You don’t have to think them up in alphabetical order. It’s okay to skip around.

It doesn’t really matter where the words come from. You can…

• …write a word that is related to something you have been thinking about.
• …look around you and write down the name of what you see.
• …close your eyes and wait for a word to pop into your mind.
• …go to a place where a lot of people are talking and write down words that you hear.

In the Same column, next to each word you’ve written in the alphabet column, write another word that is more or less the same as the first word.

In the Different column, write down a word that is somehow different from the other two.

You might decide to write down all the words in the alphabet column first, and then fill the other two columns. Or you can write down the words for the Same and Different columns right after you add a word to the alphabet column.

It turns out that there are also lots of different possibilities for going in order or skipping around. Mix it up however you like.

What counts as “same” and what counts as “different” are also entirely up to you. There is lots of wiggle room.

After you have filled up all three columns, in the skinny one-line space at the bottom of the page, write some kind of comment. It might be an observation about the process of filling the columns. Or a thought that passed through your mind as you were writing down words. The comment can be anything that pops into your head and fits into the tiny space allowed.

Finally, give your work a title and write the date on it, too. If you add some kind of illustration, you will be glad you did when you look back at the page later.

Here is an example of what a person could write.

You can share what you have written by posting it as a comment below. To do that, you can type in your work. Or post a picture of it.

---

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. She leads a writing workshop at the Recovery Center on Thursday evenings at 5pm. Anyone can drop in—just show up. You can attend just for fun or work to earn a writing certificate. To sign up or get more information, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Community Center.

by Nancy Casey

It’s summer, but most of us keep a coat handy. There are still chilly mornings and unexpected thunderstorms. It doesn’t always stay warm after the sun goes down. Before the hot days of midsummer make you forget about most of the coats you have ever owned, write about coats.

Write about a coat that you have worn, or are wearing. A coat you might wear or one you wish you could.

There is a lot to say about a coat. They have so many different features and uses. A coat pocket can have a whole world inside. Certain coats are appropriate—or not—for certain places.

Do you have a coat that you like, or dislike? Do you have a coat that helps you out a lot? A coat that annoys you? Have you ever shared a coat?

Every coat has a history. It was made and then what? Sold, bought, lost, found, borrowed, given away, ripped, mended, worn, dyed, went places…?

What if all the coats in the closet talked to each other?

If you mind travels sideways and starts thinking about a coat of paint, you can write about that. Maybe a coat of paint will remind you of coats of wax, sweat, plastic, dust, and other coats that are coatings.

Some coats are imaginary. Have you ever tried to wrap yourself in a coat of confidence? Sometimes people are burdened by heavy coats of grief. What would it feel like to wear a coat of reverence or pride? What’s it like to take off an imaginary coat?

Write about one coat or several of them. When you have finished writing, read over your work. Add decoration and color to the page if you would like. Sometimes a little doodling will help you think up a good title.

Write the title at the top, and make sure the date is on it 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. To do that, you can type in your work. Or post a picture of it.

---

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. She leads a writing workshop at the Recovery Center on Thursday evenings at 5pm. Anyone can drop in—just show up. You can attend just for fun or work to earn a writing certificate. To sign up or get more information, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Community Center.