Every once in a while the literary arts become political (see this article for one recent moment). I now realize the writing prompt may be a divisive issue we, as writers, have been too courteous to mention. I take this moment to apologize to any and all who have received my prompts and struggled to respond.
I say this because I’m now faced with writing prompts that are acutely connected to the person providing them, which is to say, they feel like the prompts they provide themselves toward subjects and themes that are important to them. This has been challenging because I don’t want to answer the prompt “why do couples break up?” or “dear _____ (a letter to someone you haven’t been able to talk to)”. I see these and get mad.
Okay, wait. Here’s the truth: I get mad whenever anyone dictates my writing for me. I’ve become persnickety. And I get insolent. And then I get over it, double down, and write as though it was the best one liner I could craft against a slight. I get dramatic, it seems. I never was when I was younger but now I have the time to be.
I also recognize my own tendencies in the prompts I offer others: narrative over lyric, descriptive over rhetoric, sensual over matter of fact, political over romantic. I have my tendencies. We all do.
right now, I’m in a position of luxury and austerity at the same time. I have the luxury of completing my work and my chosen research through a fellowship provided by my school. In looking at the amount of work I am capable of completing I recognize the challenges others students face in trying to carve time for school between other responsibilities. I did it too for my undergrad, though I’m not sure how. It’s a blur. But I’m also struggling with being alone a whole lot. I am still working through relying on and trusting others. And, of course, COVID keeps us all a little separated still. Finally, I’m on a budget now that looks like an acrobat on a high wire. Everything is carefully balanced.
I am happy I got to make this choice at this time in my life.
And all the feelings and beliefs that come through now in my writing. are able to because I feel secure. It’s important to find a moment of comfort and a moment of security to let the reality of our understanding come through. Sometimes, to find that we have to go through discomfort. That’s okay. No me muero. Soon enough I’ll be doling out more prompts - this time with an increased awareness of those in front of me who may need an individualized prompt in order to get themselves moving in the direction they need.