Become devoted to lavishing them with extraordinary amounts of love
Octavia Estelle Butler (June 22, 1947- February 24, 2006) was an American science fiction writer, one of very few African American women in the field. She won both Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant.
The prompts today are mostly by her.
She was also very good at motivating herself to write. I love this.
Enjoy her prompts:
Octavia Butler’s journal Tuesday 11-13-1994
“The unsatisfying truth is we do not create. We rearrange, recombine, reshape.”
A list of ways to rearrange, recombine, reshape:
Rework the old, tired, no-longer serving me story as a handmade paper fortune teller like those I once made in third grade:
–Flap 1: Villain
–Flap 2: Die prematurely
–Flap 3: Hero
–Flap 4: Heartful
Imagine a future created from a series of zines, based loosely on facts as now remembered
Describe the shape of each story. Trace the shape. Delete the words. Match the vibration with a color. Reorganize into pantone color hues. Start from the beginning.
From the full burst blooms, harvest the seeds. Plant them in fertile soil. Have patience. Watch what grows.
Group together the uncomfortable things: shame, regret, obsessions, guilt. Become devoted to lavishing them with extraordinary amounts of love.
Trace my body onto the wall. With a sharpie, map the locations of wonder, awe, resilience, strength. (This one is powerful)
At my 9/9 creative workshop we made portal paintings and talked about how to use creative thinking to propel you into your portal— your new inspiring future.
We used pizza boxes (thank you Yellow Brick Pizza) and pastels, and we used meditation, prompts and other creative exercises to design our near futures.
No one can make it right or wrong. You just make it and see where it takes you.
I think the result of the piece is to serve as a reminder of where you want to go.
What you want to do when you are there.
And what you will create.
Always asking how this makes you feel.
Join us in our January reset workshop.
I will have one more holiday workshop— deets soon.
I hope one of these prompts resonates with you today. I love you guys.
It’s the middle of the week.
I have had a super hard time this week with focus.
Any tips to share? I have tried caffeine. :)
xo
Amy
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