Writing territories are a range of ideas that one generates to spark their writing. In general, it is just one of the many ways one can brainstorm for different types of writing.
This week's blog is more undefined than others because it depends so much on your unique personal experiences. Below, is a list of 10 writing territories and you'll begin by answering them. Your answers do not have to be lengthy, they only need to be definitive enough so that you, the writer, could look back at it weeks from now and it could trigger what you were thinking about.
Writing Territories
Fears
Annoyances
Accomplishments
Confusions
Sorrows
Dreams
Idiosyncrasies
Risks
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then
Problems
For instance, my list looks like:
Fears: drowning, loosing family in catastrophe
Annoyances: rudeness, expecting fairness in this world
Accomplishments: still being married, being a dad my children want to be around
Confusions: inequity (different than fairness)
Sorrows: anger management, weight, (totally working on both but to be honest "weight" is harder than "anger" 'cause food is goooooooood)
Dreams: retirement, travel,
Idiosyncrasies: nerd, paper/pencil RPG (redundant?)
Risks: pilot's license (want), jumped out of an airplain (did)
Beloved Possessions: comic books (then), friendships (now- i know, cheesy)
Problems: Organization
Simple, right?
Now, once you have your list, choose one topic to expand upon in-depth (or at least 150 words). This may be as simple as an explanation of this topic (e.g. I discovered I had an anger management problem when I realized that I was taking out my frustrations on my family. . . .). It may turn into to a short-story or a beginning of a short story. It may turn into a narrative of a memory. It may turn into a social commentary. It may turn into 150 words of freewrite. It may turn into something all together different and weird and delightful. Whatever you wrote down in your list, reflect upon it and allow it to guide your entry for the week.
"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." -Ernest Hemingway
Fears: Drastic Change, loss of control
ReplyDeleteAnnoyances: Rudeness, unsympathetic people
Accomplishments: A real cooking job, A happy life
Confusions: Unsympathetic people, Highschool
Sorrows: Not being able to help everyone who needs it
Dreams: Head Chef, a family (with lots of pets)
Idiosyncrasies: Being a caretaker, being self-sufficient
(Cue tiny violin) Growing up, I was a total "mommas girl" I never strayed from my mothers side, infact, I don't remember even having much of a relationship with my dad before their divorce. My mother always has had an illness, at least from the time I can remember. One that to this day, I continue to watch bring her to the tip of deaths tongue and back. Being "Mommas girl" was a hard task. Whenever her illness would take over, I would be the one to take care of her. Help her to bed, get her clean rags when she was sick, and waiting on her hand and foot. Don't get me wrong, she did the same for me when my I fell naturally ill, but being a child and babying my mother affected me greatly. I went through a time in my life when I despised my mother for this aspect of caretaking she had thrust upon me, but now I appreciate it. When I am able to take care of people, especially those I love, it gives me a boost of self worth.
Risks: Beginning adulthood at 16
Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: stuffed bear (cocoa) (then0, dog (dinky) (Then), pet hedgehog (Frodo)(now), Jeep (Leroy) (Now)
Problems: Procrastination, No motivation (school), sleep deprivation. Also being a pushover.