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WRITING PROMPT FROM MICHAEL MACKIN O'MARA

8/19/2020

Sometimes the best thing a writer can do is manipulate their perspective. While we are dealing with whatever we feel, we might learn something by stepping outside of that egocentric viewpoint.

Whatever your trauma was or is, write about it from the point of view of multiple observers. The person who finds you to be the most annoying person in the world. The codependent friend who wants you to wrap it around you both like a security blanket. The impatient friend who wants you to just get over it. The acquaintance who remains silent even though they can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. The secret admirer who can’t find a way into your life.

Then see what happens should you choose to slip back into the resulting stanzas or poems.

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WRITING PROMPT FROM Freesia McKee

8/6/2020

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This prompt begins with creating a title. Think of a piece of sexist (or potentially sexist) language. It might be a phrase, a catchphrase, a movie title, a name you've been called, or even a piece of negative self-talk that runs silently through your own head. If you're having trouble finding a good one, brainstorm a list of them so you have a bunch of options to choose from.

Put this piece of charged language at the top of your page, and then, write a poem underneath.

You might write a letter addressed to this piece of language. You might recount the story of your encounter(s) with this piece of language. Or, you might get conceptual and write a list of metaphors for how encountering this language makes you feel. You might also make a list of responses or rebuttals.

If you're looking for more online reading on the topic of abusive language and want to feel inspired, The Radical Copyeditor is one of my favorite places on the internet for discussions about language, privilege, and power.

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WRITING PROMPT FROM MICHAEL MACKIN O'MARA

WRITING PROMPT FROM Freesia McKee

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