Weekly Write 3
Floor-plan exercise: This is a sequence developed from an exercise outlined by Peter Stillman in his book 'Families Writing' (1992).
Think of a room, place or area that you know well enough to draw as a map. Take a few minutes to do this. Mark on your map/diagram those objects, windows, doors, trees, roads or corners which are special to you. Add labels, notes attached to your diagramto help you define or retrieve the memory or association. These could be single words 'table', or more detailed allusions such as 'scrambled egg' which are sufficient to bring back some assocaited memory. They might be names 'Aunt Gladys' or even spoken words, "Finished, mummy!" Now you might draw lines connecting any of these notes - the connection might be that certain notes belong to a particular time, person, feeling or theme about this special place.
When you are ready, talk to a writing partner about your notes, elaborating on your memories of the place as necessary. Take time to hear their stories generated from their notes on their own diagram of their special place.
Now, taking any starting point or connection you have identified from your diagram, write freely and quickly for about 5-10 minutes. Do not be afraid if your writing takes an unexpected turn.
After 5 minutes or so, take time to discuss with your writing partner, and share your writing if you wish. One of the things we have asked writers to consider is, "What is the difference between your feeling/experience of drawing, talking and writing about your 'special place''?"
Common responses are as follows:
show the writer which aspects of the rehearsed memory command the interest of a new audience;
suggest aspects which might be developed /explored in writing
Think of a room, place or area that you know well enough to draw as a map. Take a few minutes to do this. Mark on your map/diagram those objects, windows, doors, trees, roads or corners which are special to you. Add labels, notes attached to your diagramto help you define or retrieve the memory or association. These could be single words 'table', or more detailed allusions such as 'scrambled egg' which are sufficient to bring back some assocaited memory. They might be names 'Aunt Gladys' or even spoken words, "Finished, mummy!" Now you might draw lines connecting any of these notes - the connection might be that certain notes belong to a particular time, person, feeling or theme about this special place.
When you are ready, talk to a writing partner about your notes, elaborating on your memories of the place as necessary. Take time to hear their stories generated from their notes on their own diagram of their special place.
Now, taking any starting point or connection you have identified from your diagram, write freely and quickly for about 5-10 minutes. Do not be afraid if your writing takes an unexpected turn.
After 5 minutes or so, take time to discuss with your writing partner, and share your writing if you wish. One of the things we have asked writers to consider is, "What is the difference between your feeling/experience of drawing, talking and writing about your 'special place''?"
Common responses are as follows:
- that the drawing 'grows' as the one detail suggests and provokes another memory.
- that the spoken explanations and conversation
show the writer which aspects of the rehearsed memory command the interest of a new audience;
suggest aspects which might be developed /explored in writing
- that the experience of writing - when the writer is alone with the page - can be deeper and more emotionally charged than the explanations that preceded it, and often the writing unravels in unexpected directions.