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I’m writing this while participating in Quiet Friday, one of L.A. Writers’ Lab’s weekly workshops where there is a question and answer period in the beginning, and then we all get to work on a writing prompt for roughly five minutes to get our minds warmed up, then write on our own for the rest of the time.
Today Al Watt discussed some structure points, including how a story’s plot flows from each character’s desire, on toward surrender, and finally to transformation.
The protagonist exchanges what they think they want for what they actually need.
Today’s writing prompt from L.A. Writers’ Lab is:
As your protagonist, write for five minutes, beginning with the following:
“What brings me joy is…”
People might make fun of me or be baffled by this; but what brought me joy today was hauling out a big box of crumpled receipts to sort through them in hopes of preparing myself for finishing my taxes.
The reason it brought me joy was because all the receipts were finally in the same place. I had a clean floor to spread out on, and I am not rushing to get someplace else. Nobody is waiting for me to clean their house, or wipe their rear, or take them to a doctor’s appointment. There are no demands that I find something for somebody else. No stresses about figuring out where I’m going to sleep tonight. I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to do the last few years; but I’m also glad it’s over with.
I am not freezing cold or melting from heat. I’m safe, and dry, and warm, and unrushed.
Finally. It finally happened. There have been some days over the last five years when I thought it never would.
Yes, there are lots of undone items on my agenda; but I have joy when I have a clear spot to focus on one thing at a time and do it in an efficient manner without feeling torn between tasks and tempted to take up everyone else’s To Do List.
I’m very grateful for this quiet season and hopefully will have some self-control not to be sucked into an ocean of chaos anytime soon.
What Did I Accomplish Today to Be a Writer?
I did Day 89 of the 100 Words a Day Writing Challenge 2024 through L.A. Writer’s Lab, and I participated in Quiet Friday, and I worked on my taxes, since even writers have to answer to Uncle Sam.
I feel a little self-conscious for linking to L.A. Writers’ Lab so much; but I have seen a lot of benefits from utilizing their story development tools and participating in workshops. The 90-Day Novel has been a huge help for me in the process of putting my thoughts into a sensible form.
Here’s my review:
In the meantime, thanks for reading what I’m writing,
Jody Susan
I’m still having to go slow; but learning to take brakes (I mean breaks; but both words probably apply).
Anyway, learning to take breaks seems to be helping my heart to heal. When I get too tired, it starts missing beats. Instead of fighting that, I’m learning to see it as an opportunity to include listening to other people’s stories through Audiobooks, or even picking up an actual book to practice literacy for myself, something I’ve neglected doing lately.
I’ve realized that we were made to rest and am learning to celebrate that aspect of being human:
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