A Writing Exercise by Lynda Barry
Try this notebook exercise by cartoonist Lynda Barry to help you find a way to start writing a scene.
Hand painted street signs in Tulum, Mexico. Photo: Tanya Clarke 2018
I've been reading Lynda Barry's wonderful book on writing and inspiration What It Is.
On one of the first pages is the question: What is an idea made of? Of future, past and also meanwhile.
In case you are unfamiliar with Lynda Barry and her work, she is an American cartoonist, writer and educator. She uses many techniques in her workshops to engage the mind in creative activities some of which you might not have done in years, for example, drawing!
Her ideas and thoughts on creativity and inspiration are not about ‘being good at drawing/writing/art’. She is deeply engaged with the questions around why we need to create in the first place. And why are children’s drawings so dang good! She wants you to find your own stories, the ones buried deep inside you that make you unique, funny, interesting and complete. The whole process is magical.
Try This
This week for your writing inspiration, I thought it might be a good idea to try out a technique she teaches in What It Is.
You'll need about 20 minutes of uninterrupted time, your notebook and a pen. Before you start, take a few minutes to relax. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Nice steady breaths. We will be using the picture above as our starting point. Lynda's advice is: "...tell yourself that you are either in this picture, or this is what you see." Let those words sink in.
Now answer these questions in your notebook.
Where are you?
What time of day is it?
What season does it seem to be?
What are you doing?
Why are you there?
Who else is in this image?
What's the temperature like?
What sounds can you hear?
What does the air smell like?
What are some of the objects around you?
Now turn around in this image. What is in front, to your right, left, behind, above and below you?
Once you're ready, turn the page and beginning with the words "I am", write what comes to you for 8 minutes. (Set a timer! I like timers.)
You can also try the same exercise but starting with the words, "You are" or "He/she/they are".
Once you’ve had a go with this week’s picture, why not try another image from the writing prompt section? There are lots of options. The important thing is to relax and let your pen loosen in your hand. Let the words come to you however random they may seem. You might surprise yourself with what your mind and hands want to express. Let us know how you get on by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
Later.
