“We see things not as they are, but as we are.”
~Anais Nin

At the Taos Pueblo

Last summer I had the opportunity to attend the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference as the official videographer and was able to take a class.  I signed up for Beginning Fiction with Demetria Martinez, mostly because the class was described as primarily generative–more writing, less reading and critiquing.   In other words, it was an opportunity to do a lot of writing, and enjoying of Taos.

One of the best writing exercises Demetria offered was this:

Describe a kitchen from the point of view of someone who is grieving.  Do not use the word “grief” (or any of its forms).

and then,

Describe a kitchen from the point of view of someone who is in love. Do not use the word “love” (or any of its forms).

I don’t know about you, but I tend to write too much in my head, and these exercises, even for a nonfiction memoir writer like myself, are very useful.

And if these don’t work, go take a walk!  Here in Albuquerque it’s a beautiful Spring day!