Writing from The Heart: In-Depth Writing Exercise #8: Merging With The Elements

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Monday, December 4, 2017

In-Depth Writing Exercise #8: Merging With The Elements

This exercise sounds easier than it seems.

1. Should you happen to have four, small, translucent glass containers with lids:

--fill the first glass with potting soil (earth),
--the second with incense dust (air),
--the third with ashes (fire),
--the fourth with sand (water).

Should you have two more:

--fill the fifth glass with sawdust (wood),
--and the sixth with iron filings (metal/iron).

2. Place the bottles on your writing desk--the more decorative they look, of course, the better.

3. Do this exercise not at whim but whenever you seem to be stuck on a passage or a scene that you are writing.

4. Take the bottles one at a time, holding each bottle in your hands, merging with the element and then re-visualizing or mentally re-composing the passage or scene in your mind.

5. You will find that each element will "write" the scene or passage for you in a different and distinct way.

6. Go with the scene or passage that resonates within you most, like an inner bell, an inner chime, or an inner tuning fork.

7. Your choice may determine the dominant element in your particular piece of writing.