Most lessons will include a writing exercise. Choose from the attached prompts and ideas and write 200-400 words (of brainstorming, lists, ideas, or fragments) or 10-15 lines (if poetry).If you’ve been inspired by other things from the lessons or readings, you may use that inspiration to prompt your writing.]You might find that something you’ve thought of or written about during these exercises becomes part of you eventual drafts. You might not. Either way, the practice of regular, if not daily, writing absolutely will make you a better, more skillful, and more confident writer.These writing exercises are meant to be informal, so don’t worry about form or editing. Remember that writing should include concrete details, sensory images, and a clear sense of place and tone. Write freely.You may choose to revise or edit before submitting. As part of your revisions, look out for clichés, which we want to avoid. Thoughtful completion earns full credit.1. Explore Your surroundings find inspiration in your environment and everyday activities.• Take a walk. Go on a walk and bring your notebook. Look around and write down observations on what you see: a tree, a person, a neighborhood. Try starting a poem by using some of these descriptions. Make a decision about its structure: what will the stanzas look like? Will you use enjambment or will you use punctuation? Do you want to use long sentences or short?• Find an interesting object. Whether you’re in an office or a kitchen, a park or a library, choose an object you can see and describe it. Does it evoke personal memories? Does it have cultural implications, or elicit a certain emotion? Try starting a poem with this object and its associations to guide you
