Drop-In Workshop October 2016

Grounding the Magical in Images
 
For this week's Free Drop-In Writing Workshop at The Cabin, we read an illustrated story about monsters and childhood by Lynda Barry from her book What it Is, and worked with a process inspired from that same book to ground something magical into something we can hold onto through images.
 
I suggest everyone who needs a volcanic burst of creative inspiration go to their local library or bookseller to pick up this book immediately. Consider these passages a tiny glimpse into her process -- but really you need to see it in full illustrated goodness and hold that big book in your hands. ​

Lynda Barry, a self-portrait of exceptional inspiration

Introduction to the Process (after reading the Barry excerpts)
 
What I want us to play with today are the stories we have locked in us,
Stories we have in our bodies, that can come to us without forcing them out
And without thinking so hard.
Something that will help us a lot is using images that come from memories.
As opposed to depending on information and emotions.
Have two or three pages in front of you – one for doodling and notes.
You can always get more pages.
 
Relaxation 
 
Before we start writing or even dreaming up ideas,
We’re going to start by relaxing.
Start by paying attention to every part of you
From your feet, working up the body to your head, and then back down 
Imagine a little pixie touching each part of your body with a relaxation wand.
The soles of your feet. Your ankles. Your calves. Your shins. Your knees.
And and and up up up all the way, and back again.
Take a good five minutes to do this.

Now, Make a List
 
Number your page from 1-10 and make a list
Of ten monsters you knew in your early life.
These might be imaginary friends, monsters you were fascinated with,
Creatures or animals you knew, or people that behaved like monsters.
Monsters you actually knew. The first ten that come to you.
 
If monsters feels too weird and distant, you can list ten of something else, like ten cars or ten dogs or ten of other peoples mothers, but try to go for monsters. Experiment. Whatever noun you choose, let things come up from your early years. Write down names or easy descriptors. 
 
If you get stuck or finish early, try writing the alphabet until you can start up again.
 
Choose One
 
Look over your list and choose one of those monsters.
Choose the one that seems most vivid to you.
Try to choose one that came to you, and not one you thought up.
 
Now, Write the Name of the Monster on top of a new page, or section.
 
Take a look around in this image.
Picture your monster in a place where you’ve seen it/him/her/them before.
 
And answer these questions. As you look at this image: 
 
You only need to write a sentence or two in response to these questions. Picture the scene and write down what you see with your mind’s eye. If you don’t know, guess. This should take about ten minutes.
 
Where are you?
What are you doing?
What is the monster doing?
What time of day does it seem to be?
What season?
About how old are you?
About how old is the monster?
Why are you there?
Why is the monster there?
Is anyone else in this image? If so, who?
Is there anyone who just left or may be coming?
What kind of mod does this monster seem to be in?
What does it/she/him/they look like?
 
Now, let’s turn around inside of this image. This will take another ten minutes or so.
 
What’s in front of you? (take notes)
What’s to your left? (what’s there?)
What’s to your right? (write it down!)
What’s behind you? (small details are good!)
What’s above your head? (you see more when you write it down!)
What’s below your feet? (little things add up)
 
Now really into the writing: 
 
Beginning with the words “I am,” show us where you are and what is happening with the monster image that has come to you. Fill as many pages as you can. Try and do it without stopping (if you get stuck, try writing the alphabet or drawing a spiral). Try to stay inside the image. Write for at least 10-15 minutes.

In closing, two thoughts about images and childhood by Lynda Barry:
 
“An image is a thought, a memory, a location of an experience.” Lynda Barry
 
“Stuart Dybeck wrote a book called Childhood and other Neighborhoods and I think this begins to describe it, the idea of our childhood as a neighborhood with something like streets and houses, school yards and cemeteries, short cuts and long ways. It’s a good way to start, by thinking of childhood as a place rather than a time. A place that already exists like an unplayed-with play set, needing only one thing to set all things in motion.” Lynda Barry