Kangaroo Words: A word that contains a synonym:
Use kangaroo words in your writing.
Find other kangaroo words.
Inspired from San Diego Writers, Inc Facebook post
Just Write!
On my next birthday, I will be (___) years old.
It’s a big deal, because . . .
It’s not a big deal, because . . .
If neither money nor health/mobility were issues, here’s how I would celebrate my birthday . . .
At my age, my parents . . . . or my grandparents . . .
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Brief definition: A hero or heroine goes on an adventure, is victorious, and is transformed.
This can be fiction or memoir.
Examples: Dorothy in Wizard of Oz
Kerrin in Amoran, recently published by Debra Koehler
If you were to write a story of your life, or a real person’s life, or your fictional character life as a hero’s or heroine’s journey, what would the lowlights be?
Write a scene involving a conflict or overcoming an obstacle.
Prepare to write:
Get into the head of the character, real or fictional, that you want to write about. This could be a younger version of yourself.
Become that person, that character. It could be a younger you.
Walk around as if you are the person you are going to write about.
Pantomime an action, or activity, the character might do.
Fully embody that person.
Walk around for about 3 minutes.
As you walk, imagine you are the character you have in mind.
Feel that character in your body.
After walking, write about what you just experienced.
Then, write a conversation or an interaction from real life or imagination, with the character you just inhabited.
Possible sentence starts:
You always . . .
I hate it when you . . .
I love when you . . .
Why didn’t you . . .
Remember when . . .
I thought . . . and then I learned . . .
In my mind, the trouble started when . . .
This exercise was inspired by author and writing teacher B. Lynn Goodwin.
Use a situation from real life.
Or:
Make up something that could have happened with either a real person or a fictional character.
Write a December memory.
In “Giving Up The Ghost” by Samantha Rose, Sam explores the possibility of having a relationship with someone after they die.
If you have lost a loved one, in what ways have you continued the relationship?
Or
Write about someone who has passed as if you were introducing them.
For example, “This is my grandmother, she sews all her clothes and makes noodles from scratch.”
Bring this person to life as if they were in the room, or right around the corner.
Make a list of things that are hard for you to do.
or
Write about one of those things that are hard, and yet you do it anyway.
Write about something someone thinks about you, but it’s not true.
A misconception.
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Playing With Abstract Poetry
Abstract poetry is a form of poetry that prioritizes the auditory and emotional impact of words over their literal meaning or conventional grammatical structure.
Prompt 1 – The Warmup
Write for 2 minutes about something troubling or sad.
Write for 2 minutes about something using the opposite emotion: joyful, hopeful.
Write for 2 minutes on something from nature, something from the natural world.
Keep that writing nearby for Prompt 2.
Why write an abstract poem
“Science has shown that when we engage in play, we increase brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, where creative thinking happens.
“You are not striving for perfection. You’re striving for perfectly unpredictable.” — “Words Gone Wild,” by Dr. Finnian Burnett, Writers Digest, Nov/Dec 2025
Prompt 2
Write an abstract poem, using only the words you have written in Prompt 1. Write for 15-20 minutes. It doesn’t have to make sense. It shouldn’t make sense!
Intro to Prompt 3
Homophonic: Words that sound alike, spelled the same, different meaning
Rose (flower) and rose (past tense of rise).
Or, sound alike but different letters: carat, carrot, caret (blinking cursor)
Examples
Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood: “The shops in mourning” where mourning can be heard as mourning or morning.
Thomas Hood, Faithless Sally Brown, birth & berth and told & toll’d
Homophones of multiple words are known as oronyms.
Examples of oronyms:
ice cream and I scream
depend and deep end
this sky and this guy
some others and some mothers
night rain and night train
my newt and minute
Prompt 3 Mistranslation
This exercise is homophonic translation: Changing text in one language into another language, with no attempt to preserve the original meaning.
Translate one of the following poems any way you want. You can use the method of what it sounds like. Or what the shapes of the letters suggest to you. There is no wrong response.
Your translation does not have to make sense. Have fun with this!
1. Můj manžel a já jsme stáli společně v nové nákupní centrum
která byla čistá a bílá a plná možností.
Byli jsme chudí, takže jsme rádi projít obchody
protože to bylo jako chůze přes naše sny.
V jednom jsme obdivovali kávovary, modrá keramika
mísy, opékače topinek velký jako televize.
2. my eggenoot en Ek het gestaan saam in die nuwe winkelplein
wat was skoon en wit en vol van moontlikheid.
ons was arm so ons gehou van om te loop deur die stoor
sedert hierdie was soos stap deur ons drome.
in een ons admireer koffie vervaardiger se, blou pottery
bakke, toaster oonde as groot as televisies.
Credit to writing teacher Terry Ehret, who first introduced me to abstract poetry and homophonic mistranslation.
Contact Marlene if you want the languages and translations for these poems.
Just Write!
Photo by ArtHouse Studio on Pexels.com
Using Symbolism in Writing
Symbolism refers to using a material thing to represent a nonmaterial thing, usually a tangible item that illuminates an intangible concept. Paraphrased from “Thematic Writing” by Jane K. Cleland, Writer’s Digest, Jan/Feb, 2024
The importance of Symbolism
Symbolism has the power to evoke an emotion or an idea without overtly saying it. When we pair a part of a poem, story, scene, character, or emotion with a repeated object, we begin to transfer the character’s wants, needs, and dreams onto that object.
The symbol serves as an echo of that idea or sentiment, without retelling the story.
Symbolism is the secret language of storytelling, adding depth and layers to what appears on the surface. It’s like finding a hidden treasure within a story, enriching the reader’s understanding and enhancing the reader’s appreciation of the narrative.
Examples of Symbolism
An object becomes a symbol when it reappears, and the symbol becomes stronger. For example, in The Hunger Games, Katniss receives a Mockingjay pin before entering the games. Initially, it serves as an example of family and home. Katniss then uses the Mockingjay in the Games to communicate with Rue, making them a symbol of hope and alliance. Later, the Mockingjay become a symbol of rebellion and contempt for the Capitol, representing the chance for change, for the people to regain their power.
The One Ring in the Lord of The Rings trilogy represents evil. The One Ring was forged with the intention of evil, destruction and darkness and symbolizes desire and greed.
In the film, Forrest Gump, the feather symbolizes Forrest’s life journey.
In The Scarlet Letter the red letter A is meant to be a symbol of shame. It becomes a powerful symbol when its meaning shifts to stand for “Able.”
In Giving Up the Ghost, Samantha Rose refers to snow globes and flowers as symbols in her healing process. A rose, California poppy . . . symbols of new life.
A symbol could be a repetitive action, like a finger on the side of nose in the movie, The Sting.
Excerpts from “What Is Symbolism and How to Use It in Your Writing,” by Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Written Word Media, April 26, 2024
Writing Prompt
If your family had a motto, what would it be?
Or, what motto do you live by?
What word or phrase do you and your circle of family/friends use when remembering something that happened? When you say this word or phrase, your people know what you are referring to.
It could start like this: Remember when . . . and then don’t tell the whole story . . . use a symbol that refers to what happened. The symbol could be a word or a phrase that represents what happened.
Freewrite: Use a symbol to tell your story.
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