Writing Workshop: Paint Chips to Prose (Week 2)
Every shade holds a different story
Welcome to the second week of exploring how color triggers memory and moments!
If you’re just joining us, we’re exploring colors through timed 10-minute writing prompts with an eye towards building a small body of work. Grab your downloads from Week 1, and just start wherever you are
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Before we dive into writing, let’s do a quick check-in.
Were you inspired to pick up some paint chips of your own last week? Share them in our chat so we can add them to our collection! Whether it’s organized chaos or a beautiful disaster, show us the treasures you’re working with.
Make sure you’ve set up your binder. For best results, use my Binder System to help you track your work and to train your brain to see your work-in-progress as something that could get out into the world. Visit Week 1 to get your downloads.
Need a micro prose buddy? The 3-week workshops are a great way to share your work with another writer while staying accountable to a writing practice. Raise your hand in our chat if you’d like to find someone for the remainder of our “Paint Chips to Prose” workshop.
Guidelines
Remember, the prompt is only a way in. Prompts are a way to get around overthinking and over stressing. It’s a way to tap into stories we might not otherwise have easy access to. Start with the prompt and then let yourself go in whatever direction you feel led.
Micro prose is 300 words or less, not including the title, but we don’t worry about the first drafts as long as you stop at the end of the 10 minutes. Most writers will end up with a piece that’s 125-650, depending on if you write by hand or type (either is fine).
Low-hanging fruit. Aim to write a minimum of 2 pieces, a max of 7 pieces, per week.
After you title the piece, count up the words, and add it to your TOC (and the comment section below), you can then go back if you want to keep writing.
Don’t judge your work or dismiss possibilities. What feels unexpected or irrelevant might be exactly what wants to emerge. Stay curious about where your writing leads you rather than deciding if it’s good or makes sense.
Trust the process. Some pieces will feel “successful” and others might feel like Anne Lamott’s shitty first drafts. That’s okay! The goal is consistency and discovery, not perfection.
Don’t pre-plan your writing. Resist the urge to think about what you’ll write before you start the timer. Let the prompt and the moment guide you.
When you get stuck, keep your hand moving. If you hit a wall, start by describing the color in as much detail as possible. If necessary, write the last word over and over until something new emerges.
Feedback is not required nor expected, but if you want to leave positive feedback for each other: Focus on what works rather than what doesn’t (“I loved the detail about...” rather than “good job”). Be specific and respect the generative nature—no suggestions for improvements. We want to discover what sings and encourage the writer (and ourselves) to keep exploring. Suggestion: try any 2+1 method by sharing two things that really worked or stood out in the piece, and one thing you’d like to know more about.
Week 2 Readings
Here’s a mix of essays, poems, and/or videos on color and memory, to keep us steeped in all our color-ness: