I'm Looking At...

Write Down the Bones Deck to Free the Writer Within — This is my wish for you: that you take these cards, grab the topic on one side and write, write, write. Then flip to the other side of the card and take note.

I’ve always used the word topic instead of prompt. Prompt is the starting place, but topic indicates more the idea of plunging in and immersing. Natalie Goldberg

Plunging in

to win!

The topic

can be ick!

Write, write, write

Yes, write is right!

Natalie Goldberg's Write Down the Bones Deck to Free the Writer Within —#3. Another favorite: "I'm looking at." If you get stuck, simply write again, "I'm looking at" and keep going.

I'm looking at the computer screen and what does this mean? I'm looking at the time I spend in front of this screen during the day. What can I say? It is one of my favorite pastimes. I'm trying to get rid of my day jobs to do even more screen time. Oops, I mean reading and writing.

Does that make it an addiction? Are others addicted to writing? I've heard of being addicted to screen time. I thought that was gaming. It can be all of social media. I have Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Gmail, and LinkedIn. And there may be others that I am forgetting right now.

I'm looking at my phone for the time I am going outside to greet the sunrise. It is at 7:52 in my world today. Now, I'm looking at the open files across the top of my computer face. There is medium.com, Vocal Media, Gmail, Facebook, and "A Playlist of Positivity" open by Mike Singleton.

It is helpful for me to listen to music as I read and write. Some of those songs are long and positive. I can have them playing alongside my writing. With my headphones on it doesn't wake my husband who is an old country music-only guy.

"I'm looking at" immediately has two dimensions. One is what you see outside yourself: tree in the breeze, red traffic light, green spiral notebook. And you can also switch and look inside: I'm looking at the pain in my heart. Why won't she love me? I'm looking at what I did wrong - how I eat too much and drive too fast.

This is a new queue, a fresh entry point of "I'm thinking of." And you guessed it: then write the flip side, "I'm not looking at." This back-and-forth is also good to do with "I remember," "I don't remember," or "I forgot."

Writing ultimately yearns for the truth, the nitty gritty, the rough texture. The world might come to peace, if we all weren't so hidden. This is why I believe, maybe naively, that writing practice can save us. If everyone did it, we'd know our own minds, and be more related and intimate with ourselves, not run by blind, unknown motivations and impulses. It could also help us be better citizens, making more thoughtful choices. Natalie Goldberg

I'm looking at how I never thought of what I am thinking of as "what I'm looking at." But okay. More of what I am thinking of is how today may be the end of the grandkid's basketball for the season. One grand was sick yesterday, so there may only be two games rather than four.

Then there are the great-grandchildren, who are spending Christmas in Florida this year so we are going to their house today for an early Christmas. My daughter got busy and didn't call me back to let me know what I should bring to the festivities. Is it too early to call on a Saturday?

Does writing practice save me? I guess it can be helpful but I'm not sure if it saves me, because I know my mind. Maybe at the end of these topics, I will know myself better. Stay tuned.