Living that Writing Prompt Life
As a wordsmith, it's hardly unexpected that I have a soft spot for clever wordplay. I also have a soft spot for my nephew Kevin, and the two worlds collided a few weeks ago.
Kevin and I exchange messages on WhatsApp. After a notably lengthy silence, Kevin reached out with an apology for his "latest state of hermitage."
You may be able to infer what “hermitage” means, but to save you a trip to the dictionary, it means “hermit-like.”
See if you can work “hermitage” into a sentence today.
Now, let’s get to this week’s talk about writing.
I’ve been using a lot of writing prompts lately. Of course, I get a daily one from my Yogic Writing Circle writing group, which you can learn about here. I have also been writing in this journal, which my daughter Bennie gifted to me.
The title is fairly self-explanatory, but I'll elaborate: Bennie describes my life as "extraordinary," and she's eager to learn more about it. The prompts cover my childhood memories, teenage years, and adulthood. Currently, I'm reflecting on my teen years. I never imagined I'd be revisiting my middle school experiences, yet here we are.
When I started writing in Bennie’s journal, my partner asked me point-blank: “Are you going to tell the truth?”
Of course, my knee-jerk reaction was, “Of course I am.”
Yet, I’ve found that this is easier said than done.
What’s interesting to me about prompts is that they are deceptively simple. There’s a saying in the legal world, “Answer what’s asked,” meaning you should respond directly and concisely to the specific question posed without overcomplicating your answer. However, with prompts, the simplicity can be misleading because they often invite deeper reflection and storytelling. A straightforward question can unlock complex emotions and vivid memories, revealing layers of experience that might otherwise remain hidden.
The writing process is made even more challenging because you typically have just a page or two to answer each question in a journal like this one. Often, the answer is more complex, leaving me to decide whether to edit the story to fit the space, discuss it further with Bennie, or include an appendix with more detailed accounts.
Embarking on a journaling journey often raises profound questions about authenticity and honesty. When my partner asked, "Are you going to tell the truth?" it wasn't just a casual query. It was a challenge, a prompt to delve deeper into what it means to be truthful in our personal narratives.
I wish I had a straightforward conclusion for this email, but unfortunately, I don't. There's no call to action today—just some thoughts on the writing process for you to ponder.