Up: [[Introspective Writing]] Created: 2023-07-11 Take a concept from your work and make a list. Natalie’s example — “What is silent? See if you can list at least thirty silent objects and feel each one’s deep quiet.” “Tell me what you forgot to say about your topic.” Natalie often uses the starter “Tell me” so that you feel as if you’re writing to someone. Riff off a relevant quote. “What brought you to this page? What do you want to write? Go. Tell me.” “Begin a writing with “Don’t ever forget” and then tell us what, who, how we should never forget. When you get stuck, repeat, “Don’t ever forget,” and keep going.” Today, focus on detail. Be exhaustive in your detailing of some tangible thing related to your topic. Write at least twenty details then go back over what you’ve written and pick out the electric ones. Write as if you are experiencing the subject for the first time. Or describe a character experiencing something for the first time. Or start with the phrase “the first time” and write without stopping until you fill the page. Before you begin, mark the middle of the page. Then start writing about your topic. When you reach the middle of the page, no matter what you’re in the middle of, write the phrase “What I really want to say” and write whatever comes up until you fill the rest of the page. If your writing loses energy before the middle of the page, make the shift sooner. Write opposites. Natalie is famous for — I remember/I don’t remember. Do ten minutes on one then immediately go ten minutes on the other. If you choose to make this topic focused, pull strong sentences and new ideas from each freewrite and start again from them. > [!user] Selected from Natalie Goldberg’s box of prompts and her books