Nourishment
Creativity is hard without nourishment, whether of the body or the mind. Maybe I’ve known this for a long time, or everyone does, on some level. But we go out into the world, pulled into currents of various stimulations and stresses, experiences and emotions. They get to be too much. Ultra-processed, sugary treats and clickbait-y, poorly-made content become easy escape hatches.
I’m no one’s idea of a health nut (God, no). Lately though, I am appreciating the difference in energy, the lightness that comes when I am mindful about my food and reading choices.
It’s still a complicated balancing act at this point. And because I never want to miss out, I’ll probably be tottering for the rest of my life. I’m of the mind that it’s impolite to sit out a feast. I also think it’s good to poke out one’s head into the murky regions of social media and daily news now and then, to know what’s going on, what people are talking about. It’s probably my age, but I find myself getting my fill too quickly. I jut don’t have the same appetite anymore.
And when I think about how, in some cultures, zest for life and appetite are considered synonymous, I get a little uneasy.
Your Prompt: Pick a minor character from one of your finished drafts and list down their daily routines. As you get to know this character better by their habits, see if you can write a separate work with this character as a protagonist.
Quick Tip
Getting your scenes and twists tangled up? Write them in short form on sticky notes (Post-its). Then get your outline out of the document or notebook to a bigger surface, like a cork board or, better yet, a wall. At times, a story just needs the space to unravel.
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
“The kiss was a beautiful lie, as beautiful as his wife. The lie that he alone could be enough for her, or that there might be a life in which he could compromise and still be happy.”
—Saleema Nawaz, Songs for the End of the World
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Leah Ranada 