One Object. Two Very Different Responses.

“The invitations arrived without explanation, and that was what made them so irresistible. Each envelope was made of thick cream-colored paper, sealed with black wax and addressed by hand. Inside was a single gold card bearing only six words:

YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO ATTEND.”

            These words begin a story so well-crafted and vivid that I needed to share it with someone else.  So, I asked my husband to read it.  He was shocked to find out that Julia, the author, had just finished sixth grade.  At first, he didn’t believe me.  Then, he said, “That’s amazing!”  Then, he suggested that I show her writing to other people, because he said, “There is no way that anyone knows what kind of writing happens” when I prompt students using objects and my lists of questions.

Julia began writing this story during Summer Writing Club, and she worked on it afterward to perfect it.  And perfect it, she did!  In total, the finished story is six pages long.  And it caused me and my husband to react emotionally.

The prompt that inspired this story was a bit different from most of my writing prompts.  This one used just one unusual item, a piece of sprinkler-system pipe, instead of a display of many ordinary items.  I used this pipe for a few years as a warm-up for writing.  My warm-ups always involve unusual items.  I ask only two or three questions to get writing started.  Then, we write for only four or five minutes.  They are truly warm-ups, to get everyone into the mindset of creating fiction.  They rarely turn into anything more that some rough thinking.

This year, my Summer Writing Club members mentioned that they don’t like warm-ups as much as the longer prompts.  They asked me to lengthen the list of questions for the sprinkler-system pipe as well as a few other warm-up items.  So, I did. 

Here is the expanded prompt for the sprinkler-system pipe.

• Draw what you see.

• Where is this thing?  Be specific. 

• What do you see around it?

• What do you hear when you are near it?

• Are there any noticeable smells where you are?

• Why are you in this place?

• Are you alone?  If yes, why?  If no, who is with you?

• Are you saying anything to each other?  If yes, what?  If no, why aren’t you talking?

• What is happening in this place?

• Should you be there?

• Are there any “others” nearby?

• What if you come into contact with these “others”?

• Where are you going?  Down?  Up?  Into?  Out of?

• Now, take some sort of action: pick something up, put something down, look inside or around something, make a noise…

• Then what happens?

• Then what happens?

• Then what happens?

            I used this set of questions during Summer Writing Club this year, and the response was strong.  Everyone had a story idea.  We all wanted a few more minutes when the timer beeped.

            When the members of Writing Club write, I do too.  Here is a small portion of what I wrote in response to the sprinkler-system pipe prompt.

“Tarek sat in the classroom, trying to listen to Teacher as he repeated the words…again.  There would be a recitation next week.  Each member of Tarek’s class would recite these words.  If their recitation was acceptable, they would move up to the next level in their learning… After saying the words four more times, the students were dismissed by Teacher.  They were warned, as always, to go directly home.  “Do not be distracted.  Do not look beyond what is already seen.”’

This is a small excerpt of what I wrote.

Julia and I imagined two very different ideas in response to the very same pipe.  That’s how it always is when I use objects and lists of questions to inspire writing. 

You may not have a piece of sprinkler-system pipe.  That is OK.  Look around.  See if you have any unusual items—parts of things, odd tools, old things, gadgets.  Then, use the questions above or create your own questions.  Ask them slowly, allowing time to think and write in response to each question.

Then, watch writing happen.