Jenn Howe

Doing the Unstuck (it’s not just a song by The Cure)*

*A most excellent song, though — one of my all-time favorites. #TheCure

Writers and poets, have you hit a wall? Are you creatively stumped and stuck? Then I suggest trying this: open a box of MAGNETIC POETRY and head to the refrigerator. Yes, really. You’ll be surprised how much you are tested and inspired when you make yourself create short poems or stories with a limited pool of words.

Make it a fun daily practice and see how many vastly different mini-works you can come up with. They can be silly or serious…it doesn’t matter — just play. Here are a few that I recently arranged on my fridge… 🧲 🖊 📜

Seasons ⬆️

Pressure ⬆️

Rebirth ⬆️

Woman ⬆️

Rest In Peace, Sun (Snowstorm) ⬆️

Full Moon ⬆️

Rust ⬆️

Tiny But Enormous ⬆️

The Goal ⬆️

Don’t Forget ⬆️

---

A second exercise I recommend: using a good ‘ole WRITING PROMPT. As you probably well know, a “prompt” is simply a topic or subject to be used as a springboard for writing/jotting down ideas. A prompt could be a single word, a picture, a phrase, a news headline, the title of a song…just about anything. As for me, I’m recently using this book, which my daughter gave me as a gift… ⬇️

Here’s a glimpse of the inside ⬆️ , and it’s pretty self-explanatory: they provide a couple of opening lines and you take it from there, creating a mini-story of your own and filling in the page with your original idea(s).

Below is an example that I filled out (and may God help you to read my crazy handwriting 😅)…the opening provided was:

“At first, we thought the black liquid was oil, that we’d struck it rich and that we’d be able to retire and live in leisure. We actually started writing down all the ways we’d spend the money. Our first choice was…”

To start, I chose a pretty predictable storyline (and a realistic one, for me): planning to get away from most humans, escaping into nature and seclusion. It begins on a slightly comical note, referencing the show “The Beverly Hillbillies” (for those unfamiliar, here’s a link to the opening of the show and the theme song that is referenced — a classic bit of Americana: https://youtu.be/YD22a4APsCg)…

But by the end of the page…or rather, RIGHT AT the end — and after the mention of my daughter’s bowels 🤣 as well as another “Beverly Hillbillies” reference 🤠 — I throw a curveball…

I decided that the “oil” is not oil at all. It is a living, moving, monstrous thing. Somehow…it is ALIVE.

*********

In another example (below), I was contemplating this prompt…

“Perhaps it was a dream, she thought. If she pinched herself, she would wake up. But she didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to stay in this dream world where…”

What kind of world would YOU dream of, in this situation?

For me, it was easy. It would be a place where I could “hear” and understand the thoughts of animals ❤️ …

And of course, this communication applied not only to currently-living animals, but deceased animals as well…and I met my favorite cat from my youth once again… 💙

These exercises are great because they remind you that writing involves such freedom…you can create any situation or reality that you want. That’s the magic and joy of ART. 💫Endless possibilities abound.

And I need that freedom. I only write HOW I want, WHEN I want, IF I want, and for FUN or EXPRESSION. Period. But that’s just MY personal need (and choice). It makes me happy. 😄

Even if you don’t get a poem, short story, or novel as a result of your daily exercises, the important thing is to KEEP THE CREATIVE WHEELS SPINNING, as often as possible. 👏🏼

If any of you have an idea, phrase, or even a single word you want to throw at me, maybe I’ll craft it into a poem, if I find it inspiring.

And here’s a prompt for any of YOU who want one. I’ll make one up. Hmmmm…let’s see…

If you’re a poet, your word of the day is HYPOCHONDRIA.

If you want to write some pages or a story, your prompt is: “He hadn’t always been a hypochondriac. It started after the event last spring. That fateful, dreadful event, where he’d…”

I don’t know why hypochondria, but…have fun? 🤷🏻‍♀️😆

---

Photos and moments from the last few months

⬆️ When you’re moving all of your stuff, and you come across relics from your youth. #AncientArtifacts 😂

⬆️ Oops. 😅 #work

⬆️ This guy was trapped in a web outside in my yard. He had given up and was just sitting there, looking so sad and exhausted. I carefully cut him free and watched him fly away. He seemed pretty grateful. I’m just grateful that he didn’t sting me. 😅 Have a great life, little dude. 👋🏼

⬆️ Spooky the shadow kitty, during sunrise…on the morning of the winter solstice AND the Grand Conjunction. A lot of crazy energy was happening that day. 💫

The two cats have adapted to the new house, and they seem to like it very much. 😸

Spooky’s favorite hangout is the meditation room. ⬇️

Each time I finish my meditation by candlelight, I open my eyes to find Spooky like this…just staring at me, like some kind of psychopath. 👀 😂

⬇️ Muffin is very relaxed in her new kingdom 👑 …

She enjoys this room… ⬇️

⬆️ …my IN-HOME YOGA STUDIO. 🧘🏻‍♀️🕯🥰 Here she is, preparing to do some work on the mat! 😹 Perhaps some “Downward Dog”?

Yes, I turned a room into my own yoga haven.

⬇️ Come on in, grab a mat, let’s do some asana.

⬆️ I love my curtains so much! 🌲🌞✨

⬇️ The three of us 🐈‍⬛🧘🏻‍♀️🐈‍⬛ are also in love with another room: the LIBRARY / living room…

⬆️ This is a view of the space where I camped out recently while taking an online class, via Zoom. I was the coziest, warmest, happiest person in the world. Fireplace, candles, coffee, learning… #BLISS. 🕯 🔥 ☕️ 📖

⬆️ A photo taken when I started my first fire and began placing my books on the library shelves.

⬇️ Oh my goodness, the odyssey of moving my books into the new place…WHILE I WAS SICK. 😨😰😥😢😭…

⬇️ Here’s a view of my coffee table from above, so you can see the beautiful artistic work…

It’s made to look like a lovely bit of topography, as well as a rose-tinted cut gemstone. 💎

⬇️ This is my “Scandinavia” wall, where I showcase some of my photos from my travels (before Covid-19. Remember those days? 😕😩)…

And yes,

of course…

⬆️ …my Christmas tree is STILL up (as of today, March 11). 🤩🤪

Can we end this section on a beautiful, uplifting note?

💕

Photos from one of the most beautiful days I’ve lived to witness…

…the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. 🙏🏻✊🏼👏🏼😭😭😭

I actually SOBBED with relief as I watched the event live on my laptop. So much grace, class, and dignity on display, for the first time in FOREVER…

What a happy day. ☺️

---

Support my loved ones

If you feel so inclined (or share their hobbies/interests), check out a couple of my family members, who also create content for social media…

My brother, Aaron (aka “Fusebox”)

He makes fantastic videos for gamers. While I’m not big on video games myself, it’s so wonderful to be able to see my little brother on the web when I miss him, and he’s EXTREMELY knowledgeable. Here is one of his YouTube videos…

My daughter, Lana Brunelle

She’s often doing a makeup tutorial…but no matter the subject, she’s always adorable and entertaining. And a bit goofy…like me. 😂 Okay, she’s a LOT like me. 😆 And here SHE is, doing her thing…

---

Well, we say goodbye again…for now.

Keep wearing your masks, keep watching after yourselves, keep helping each other out.

Spring is almost here, vaccines are rolling out, better times are on the way.

Until next time, sending love…