OctPoWriMo Day 15 - Change of perspective

 "Perhaps nothing is entirely true, not even this." ~ Multatuli

 

 

Art by A. van Son 

 

I remember reading this quote by Multatuli, a Dutch 19th century writer, for the first time and feeling like I was hit by lightning.
 

The prompt for today is change of perspective. We can get stuck in what we believe in, even though it might not be entirely true. Today's suggestion for the writing process is taken from my work as a coach. It might bring you unexpected views on a familiar subject. Or not. The idea that you HAVE to come up with something new is nothing more than a perspective...

 

Step 1 

Choose a subject that you find challenging in your life. It can be small (a daily detail) or big. Free write about that for at least 5 minutes. 

 

Step 2  

Make a list of things: 

• Write down three stages of moving through life (for example baby, toddler, teenager). Consider using words from your mother tongue. 
• List a book you’ve read, a film you’ve seen, a song you love.
• Name three parts of your body that are not your head or your heart. 

Step 3  

Explore three things from your list further, through one of these suggestions:

• free writing
• writing 10 lines per subject
• mind-mapping

Step 4 

Look at your chosen challenge through the lens of one or more of the explorations you did in step. This will bring new perspectives. Choose which perspective you want to write from.

An example:

1) Patience is a challenge I often face and fail

2) My list:

• baby, peuter, puber
• the goelag archipelago, ice age, moondance
• left foot, elbow, earlobe

4) If I look through patience through the lens of puberty, I get really angry. I want it, I want it now, and I’m not going to waste my life waiting for things I will not get.

If I look at patience through the lens of my left foot it starts tapping, the tapping slowly turns into exploring movement and I end up dancing.

I’m bored with the first perspective, it feels too familiar. I’m curious about the perspective of the left foot, so I’ll let that inform my poem.

Step 5 

Choose a form:

• any form you feel called to for this one.
• a diamante
• a prose poem 
  

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Angela van Son has been an #OctPoWriMo participant since 2014. She is about to publish More than meets the I, an alloy of poetry and photography that brings beauty, depth and wonder. 

Angela's poems have been published in a number of online magazines, for example Cold Mountain Review, Auroras and Blossoms Poetry Journal, and Art Saves Lives International.  

As a coach Angela helps people change their life stories by getting things done, facing the rabbit holes of their choice and creating wonderful ever afters.