I had the good fortune recently to “sit on the other side of the table.” I attended a Jumpstart Writing Workshop facilitated by Susan Bono.

Susan talked about how there is tension between what the reader knows and what the narrator/character doesn’t know.

Photo of Susan at Jumpstart Writing Workshop in Copperfield’s Bookstore, downtown Petaluma. Photo by Breana Marie.

Susan read Shel Silverstein’s poem, “Something Missing.”

I put on my socks,
I remember I put on my shoes.
I remember I put on my tie
That was painted
In beautiful purples and blues.
I remember I put on my coat,
To look perfectly grand at the dance,
Yet I feel there is something
I may have forgot—-
What is it? What is it?. . .

Do you know what the narrator forgot? If you don’t know, read the poem again.

It rhymes with “dance.”   . . . Pants!

Susan talked about how, in writing, there can be tension between what the reader knows and what the narrator/character doesn’t know. In the poem for example, the reader knows what the character doesn’t know . . . he forgot his pants.

Susan next talked about “yearning for an answer.” I think she’s on to something. . . readers yearn for answers as do writers. When writing, especially freewrites, we can learn about ourselves and as we write, truths can be revealed. Or, we might see an old situation in a new way. That’s what happened for me while writing on this prompt.

Writing Prompt: Write about the feeling of something missing.

Part 1 of 3. The next two prompts will continue with this subject of reader knowing, narrator not knowing and what’s missing. Stay tuned.

A reminder for making comments on The Write Spot Blog: There is no judging, no critiquing, no questions asked for clarification. With this type of freewriting, we are writing for ourselves, not for an audience nor for the entertainment of others. This type of writing can result in polished writing that is published, but that’s up to the writer to decide whether or not to share his/her writing. The first inklings of freewrites are kernels . . . ready to pop, or newly hatched, kind of like newborn babies seeing the world for the first time. Be kind with your comments.

And be gentle with yourself, dear writer, you are doing important work.