Notes on Bones #3

For anyone who missed out on this past meeting:

- We read from pg 15/Composting to through 31/Elkton, Minnestoa

- Re NG's suggestions on prompts - a lot of people agree/like them, as they get one out of the usual rut/set of obsessions

- Discussion on beating 'the editor' when doing a freewrite and suffering from old-timer's disease

* use your own all-purpose word

* use xxx

* write down all the variations of the word you're trying to recall

For next time we're reading from pg 32/Tap the Water Table through pg 44/Obsessions

and listing things we want to write about (from the Writing is not a McDonald's Hamburger chapter)

Notes on Writing Down the Bones #2

We discussed chapters from "Introduction" through and including "Writing as a Practice".

Observations about freewriting - freedom from crossing out can make for more words on a page, it's a useful tool for digging into a problem, but can feel whiny and repetitive. Some people like working with a prompt, while others, when working with 'give me this moment', zero in on some interesting nagging ideas. We also talked about how the specific words generated can be affected by the tools used (e.g., computer, pen).

Has anyone used (and do they have thoughts on) colored pencils, their non-dominant hand, non-lined or graph paper, something else they find really freeing (or restrictive?)

Notes from the first day of Writing Down the Bones

We read the section on pg 8 - the general instructions for freewriting - and then set a timer and did a freewrite for 10 minutes. So if you can only participate virtually at this time, go ahead - do it now.

Homework for the next session, which is Jan 16, is to read up to/through pg 14 and note anything you'd like to discuss with the group.

My summary of comments on the freewrite exercise from Khalidah, Laura, Doug, Kathleen, Geni and new member Jeannette

- sometimes it generates just the right word, which 'the editor' might not have let through

- discussion of the trained response of crossing out

- freewriting mixing other languages

- refreshing particularly if other work is in an editing phase

- encourages following thought threads where other exercises might not

- the nature of the timing / having a known end as part of the freeing nature of the exercise

- interesting note that Natalie does not talk about how to move from freewrite to working on something one might want to share with an audience