October: Three Writing Challenges to Try Today to Develop Descriptions

It's autumn for Story Kitchen, a time that always feels like starting fresh. Maybe it's years of that "back to school" feeling that's become ingrained in me, or maybe it's the crispness on the breeze after a warm and indolent summer, but October always feels like a time for renewed energy.

If you, too, are feeling some redoubled energy this month, I've got three writing challenges that will help you practice writing descriptions that convey so much more than setting!

Challenge 1: Detailed Observation Using All Senses

Find a comfortable place to write, preferably in a spot other than your usual writing place. Grab a pen and notebook or laptop, iPad, whatever you like to write with, and set a timer for five minutes.

Write down everything you observe, for five minutes, as quickly as you can. Pay attention to non-visual information as well: what do you smell, taste, touch? What can you hear? What temperature is it? Are there gradations in temperature? Where is the light coming from, and what kind of light it is? What's above you, what's below you, what's to your right and left, what's behind you?

Great! Take a break and shake it off.

Challenge 2: Find the Unique Detail

Read over what you wrote. What's one detail that could only belong here, in this space, in this moment where you are now?

Set the timer for five minutes, and write about it in detail. Include how it makes you feel, what it evokes, any memories associated with it, how it fits into the setting--and maybe how it doesn't.

When the timer goes off, take a break! Shake if off, get some water, stretch.

Challenge 3: Layer on the Emotion

This is a two-part challenge. In the first part, think of a memory of a time you felt a strong emotion. It could be linked to what you wrote about in Challenge 2, but it could also be a different memory. Really think about what happened, and how it made you feel. Close your eyes and try to recreate the moment in detail.

Now, holding that moment in your mind, set the timer for seven minutes. Write about that moment, but set it in your current setting. Highlight the detail you wrote about in Challenge 2. See if you can write something about that detail that evokes an emotion similar to what you felt in your memory.

Debrief

This is a hard exercise! Don't worry if you feel like you didn't quite get there. It's just practice, linking emotions to words and noticing what it does to your writing. Read over what you wrote in Challenge 3. What do you notice about it? How did you describe the object or setting differently? Did you change the kinds of words you used? Did you uncover new insights about your feelings about objects or settings?

More Exercises to Try on the Story Kitchen Youtube Channel!

That's right! We now have a Youtube channel where we're posting things like follow-along writing exercises, writing craft discussions, and story ingredient deep dives. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_dKd8rCPs3ew84UBK9kdow​

And Now--Maureen's Recipe, Beans and Rice with Coconut

This is a simple but satisfying meal that's quite flexible, and the addition of coconut makes it luxurious. It's excellent comfort food for the cooler months.

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grained rice
• 1 13.5 oz. can. Unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons Thai Red Curry Paste
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2-3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste

Possible Garnish

• Lime juice (quartered lime squeezed over a serving)
• Cilantro
• Coconut flakes
• Chopped peanuts
• Sliced green onions

Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add Thai red curry paste, garlic and ginger and sauté for about a minute. This releases and caramelizes the paste. If you don’t like strong flavors, start with 1 Tablespoon of the curry paste. It doesn’t give a strong taste to the rice, so if you like bigger flavors, use two tablespoons.

Add the coconut milk, 1 cup of water, and the drained and rinsed beans and stir until the paste is dissolved. Add the rice, and salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a light boil, then turn down the heat and cover. Don’t peek for 15 minutes, just let it cook. At 15 minutes, give it a quick stir and if the pan seems a little dry, add a quarter cup of water. Let simmer another 5 minutes. I like to let it rest another 5 minutes off the heat but sometimes I’m too impatient.

For a whole meal, you can stir in chopped spinach or kale or any kind of greens for the last five minutes.

That’s it, a whole meal in twenty-five to thirty minutes. I keep finding ways to add more—chopping up a jalapeno to sauté with the garlic, ginger, and chili paste. Adding extra ginger. But for the first time you make it, you might want to try the basic version. The garnishes are optional, but if you like cilantro, the lime and the cilantro really make it pop.

Also really good with a fried egg on top.

Happy writing!

We'd love to hear what you think! What writing issues would you like help with? What topics would you like us to cover? Let us know! Write us at storykitchenstudio@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed this letter or know someone who might, please forward it along!