Writing Desk

I have mixed feelings about summer. On one hand, it’s pleasant to be able to go out and about without being bundled up with layers of wool and polyester. On another hand, outdoors and nature beckon, enticingly so, delaying writing projects. Of course, one can write al fresco, but anyone who has ever spent hours wrestling with a draft understand the need for that flow—that elusive productivity achieved when body temperature is just right, interruptions are nil, bathroom is accessible, and refreshments are on hand. Writing on a park bench or a coffeeshop patio may look pretty, but we know this only works for a movie version of a writer.

Early summer also reminds us that almost half of the year is gone.

I have a natural tendency to hurry—I can’t think of many things that irritate me as much as wasted time. But I am learning that savouring and saving time may not be opposites after all.

Nature has a lot to teach me about creating and living. If I coasted readily in its currents, will time bring me where I want to be? Will it offer up the things I wish for? I need to be a kind of magician, maybe, one that makes brief moments expand and interminable stretches fly by.

Your Prompt: Summer is also associated with rising tempers. Write a scene depicting a conflict that happens during a leisurely summer activity. Examples are an altercation in an outdoor swimming pool, or a spat among friends gathered for a backyard barbecue.

Mix up the senses in your descriptions. A voice can have a silky or rough texture, a person’s outfit can be loud or muted. A dish can be attractive or plain and a place can carry a smell.

See previous Writing Tip

About Writing Desk

Years ago, I gave up blogging for good. But I changed my mind and here we are. Aside from maintaining a consistent writing practice, my goal is to build a live space outside social media for content that supports the creative process, free of mindless, addictive, and AI-generated distractions.

May your visits here be frequent but brief. The idea is to offer something that will light a spark, not distract from your writing. For this reason, I don’t post Writing Desk on social media. Thanks for stopping by!

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Found Words

“As to whether you wanted one boy or another boy to chase you, no, this wasn’t anybody’s concern. There was no hierarchy of desire because desire was a very weak, practically non-existent, element of the game. The important thing was that you were seen to be the kind of girl of worth chasing.“

—Zadie Smith, Swing Time.

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