A Tuesday writing exercise or prompt for whatever you want it to be...
The thought bubble
Hi Substack Friends.
Thanks to my kindhearted husband, Hayes Carll, there are quite a few more of you than there were on Sunday, so welcome! I’m very happy to have you here. Substack is still new to me, but I’m enjoying having a place to put my thoughts and engagement in a space that isn’t social media. Don’t we all spend enough time there?
I thought that I would share something really personal today, which is a tool that I created specifically for myself. Several years ago, I wanted a way to get my early morning thoughts down on paper that was more rudimentary than writing sentences — I find that when I take the limitations from around what’s hurling itself around in my brain I can be more honest about what it all really is.
Enter the thought bubble pages.
Initially, my diagram looked like this:
I used it by filling in all the little boxes with what was in my mind.
At first, it was only a place to dump my thoughts — I find that writing down the flying monkey ideas helps give them a place to be and if I’m lucky, I can find stillness after they’re in it and out of my mind. But I soon realized that I could find writing prompts in all of it for myself as well. Sometimes patterns show up, and themes certainly do.
Last year, I revised it into a more professional-looking scheme to use in the creativity workshop I taught at MTSU. Here are three newer versions:
So take your pick, if you’d like, or use them all for whatever personal pursuit you wish. I’m not sure if you can print from this platform, but if you can, that’s the way I’d do it. If you can’t, take a photo with your phone and print it that way.
And finally — here’s an example of how it works:
I hope you find it useful in some way or another.
And finally — thanks to everyone for the kind and thoughtful birthday wishes.
AM
Today’s quote: “I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me.” — Albert Einstein
Recommended listening: “On the Nature of Daylight,” Max Richter
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Hope your birthday was fab. Thanks for sharing. 🦋
Before I make my primate inquiry, I wanted to extend my gratitude. I heard about your creativity course and so wished that I could've partaken. To find you hosting this platform, where you are so graciously sharing prompts, vulnerability and wisdom has provided me a plethora of inspiration. Amongst your seemingly endless talents, you are also a gifted teacher, Allison.
So about these monkeys...
In your initial chart, it's obvious that they just lawlessly fly. The three more formalized charts suggest a slightly more evolved approach. I realize that there are really no rules and that the idea itself is to be free from thought, but I can't help but wonder if the interior, separate spaces i.e. "Shoes " and "Speech Therapy" are meant to have a separate significance? Sorry, I'm a word and puzzle goof. I see shoes and speech therapy and think Converse conversation.