“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m doing it.”
If you’ve read any of my writing you may recognize this phrase. It featured in my poem on rejection at the turn of the year, and I included it in a blackout poem from my notes of a writer’s retreat. It’s the mantra I use to navigate this writing life, because somewhere in the unknown of those words is the confidence I need to say—yes.
These words led me to write a 6-week small group study for my church. They put me in my library writing group and two writing workshops. They’re the words that urge me forward every time I sit down to work on my book. They even make this publication possible each month!
I recently finished co-leading my third writing workshop with my friend for some women at church. When we were approached to lead a workshop, the idea of encouraging people to write down their stories had already been floating around in my mind. We created outlines and writing exercises, and I noticed some other words trying to creep in.
You have no business telling people how to write.
My mantra came to the rescue, of course, I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway! We told our first workshop attendees they were writers and encouraged them to throw off imposter syndrome as we pushed our own imposters aside. The results were beautiful.
We wrapped up our third session in April with two hours of writing using prompts in a choose-your-own-adventure.
I included the prompts from our first few workshops for any new members and pulled prompts from the books The Creativity Project1, Wild Words2, and Let There Be Art3.
Finally, I used the prompt I wanted to do ever since my friend, Elizabeth Vanderhorst, did it at Under the Weeping Beech. Earlier this year she took the format of Goodnight Moon to create her own story with the things around her house. (Read her Hello Scene, it’s fabulous!)
I chose a couple of children's books to have on hand but ultimately used the format and rhythm of The Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson to write my story. Please enjoy the results below!
So what are you doing that you don’t know how to do but are doing it anyway? (AKA learning as you go) Let me know in the comments!
Free Stuff A Cautionary Tale In the hallway of a house with a tidy front lawn is a giant picture with nothing to hang on. It lies on its side as the family walks by, and the picture rests on. The owner thought it would be nice to have a New York scene to remember the vacation that fulfilled the family’s dreams. But it’s bigger than she thought, so it lies on its side with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide and the picture rests on. She saw it on Facebook and thought of her boys. She commented, “Interested,” and imagined their joy at the city that they loved hanging on their wall. Their friend would be surprised when they showed him on a call, but the picture rests on. She got it from the owner’s garage on that warm breezy day. It wouldn’t fit in the car, but she walked it home anyway. It was 80” long and 55” high. It must have looked like a billboard was walking by, but she carried it on. “Want some lemonade?” the neighbor kids called, but she held the picture overhead like she carried a wall. This must look really funny, she said to herself, with her shoes peeking from the bottom like a tiny little elf. The wind picked up, but she couldn’t give up so she carried it on. At one point it levitated, flying up in the air, but she didn’t let go. She didn’t care that the guy by his garage was looking on wondering what in the world she was doing as the wind went on thundering. The picture flew behind her back, but she didn’t crack. She carried it on. She waited at the library for the rest of the fam. She couldn’t wait for one of them to give her a hand. The wind kept on blowing trying to take the picture away, but she kept on standing thinking, not today! Her family crossed the street. She was so happy to meet them, and her son carried one side. They crossed the main street while passersby smiled. She giggled as they walked, and her son spoke awhile. “How’d you do this by yourself, Mom?” “I don’t know, my dear. It was very very hard, and I’m so glad you’re here.” They measured all their walls when they got the picture home. The boys said, “Not in our room,” and she started to groan. Where can we hang it? It’s a memory of our life, but they’d have to take down all the art to bring less strife. So the picture rests on. Now, she’s thinking about cutting it to make smaller pieces of their trip, but she still hasn’t decided if it’s worth it to rip the city apart to have a little more art. So the picture rests on.
photo by Jill M Sykes
edited by Colby Sharp- anytime I pull this book out for a prompt someone in the group will order it, it’s so fun!
by Nicole Gulotta
by Rachel Marie Kang
I love this mantra! Adopting it if you don’t mind sharing! ❤️
I resonated with “what to do with the art” story. I have so many paintings with no home other than my personal admiration. I really like how your story created connections with others both family and onlookers. That is a beautiful theme!