Write the phrase “You know what I really want?” at the top of a page and then free write to answer that for at least 10 minutes without stopping, describing what you most want in this moment. That could range from a cheeseburger to a cure for cancer, a book deal to tater tots, or all of the above, and that’s the point. Absolutely do not stop typing/do not lift pen from paper even if you have to write “thinking, thinking, thinking” a few times before your next thought is there. Capture everything; edit later. Next, go through that list and pick one of those things that is really calling to you today and write to unpack why you really want that, what you believe about getting that thing, and what will happen when and if you do. (Save the rest of the list to your main ideas file and write about those things another time.) And, see if you can write until you can connect that want and that why to a narrative bigger than you, something universal. Say, for example, you decide to write about your desire to be a Pulitzer-winning writer, with all the accompanying perks of that. And, you start unpacking the why. Maybe you meet some form of resistance at first like, “who do i think I am to want that?” or “I should want something more selfless…” but you keep unpacking and realize you believe honoring your talents in their biggest expression is actually kind of wonderful and you realize with a must larger platform you believe you could do some great things and so then maybe your writing becomes about giving ourselves permission to be big or great, or maybe it’s about the responsibility people do or do not have to others when they have such a big stage. You get it. Let’s do this.
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