Patchwork
I am in awe of those who could put random things together to create beauty and order.
I like pillowcases to match the sheets, my outfit to consist of complementary hues, my food to have a certain taste. For the longest time, I have considered myself open-minded, adventurous, but as time passes, a rigid and picky alter ego is emerging and taking over.
I suspect it has to do with having been through a lot of stress. It’s common, isn’t it? The tendency to be over-exacting about matters we control? But one has to wonder how many wildly beautiful experiences and sensations are missed as a result.
I should find time, opportunities to be spontaneous, to have a sense of play. I think my editor head is writing this post. Perhaps a new project would be just the cure.
Your Prompt: Pick random objects around the house and arrange them on a table, a la still life. There should be a good mix of items—avoid mimicking classical paintings. Use modern, everyday objects and place them near the usual mainstays of fruits and flowers. Once your tableau feels complete, take a photo and write a postcard story inspired by the picture.
Quick Tip
You may know about opening your story in medias res (in the middle of things), but this does not necessarily mean all story beginnings require a high octane scene. What your readers need is the sense that they have walked into something: an ongoing conversation, a brewing anxiety, or simply catch someone performing a mundane chore. The idea is motion right from the start; the tempo is up to the story.
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
“I loved him in that moment, loved him more than I’d ever loved anyone, and I wanted to tell them all that I was the snake in the grass, the monster in the lake. I wasn’t worthy of this sacrifice; I was a liar, a cheat, and a thief. And I would have told, except that a part of me was glad. Glad that this would be all over soon.”
—Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
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Leah Ranada 