This week, girl in the hat writer Anna Fonté challenges you to write a list that transcends its orderly or numbered format.
By 
Anna Fonté, writer at girl in the hat, is the host of this week’s writing challenge. Anna writes novels, short stories, personal essays, almost-poems, and accounts of her attempts to befriend the neighborhood crows. Her work has appeared online and in print, most recently in Unshod Quills, ElevenEleven, Fiction 365, and has been Freshly Pressed three times. She lives in Berkeley, California, and can be found on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
Listing towards something
I have a little trick to share with you. Sometimes, when I’m stalled and stranded, fumbling for something to write about, I make a list. Because “writing” is such a big, heavy load to lift but really, who’s afraid of a list? A list is a friendly little thing: pragmatic, efficient, and hopeful. All you have to do is rustle up a pen and a scrap of paper — maybe even that receipt wadded in your pocket — start at #1 and move forward, letting the numbers pull you along, without worrying about fragments or capitalization or if it all adds up to something profound because who cares, it’s just a list. Making a list is a fun exercise and writing the to-do list can be far more satisfying than actually doing it.
A list is a friendly little thing: pragmatic, efficient, and hopeful.
Once, I listed associations I have with the numbers one through five and when I was done, the thing turned out to be a narrative poem, and it happened again when I listed every train ride I could remember. Recently, I was trying to write a story about an amazing place I once lived but I couldn’t “go there” in my head until I first listed the directions for how to get there. Another time I tricked myself into writing something by putting together a list of similes describing what not writing feels like. Writing a list is a simple, natural way to focus thoughts and order experience, and every time I write one, I find inspiration.
But of course, lists are nothing new. Most religious texts abound in lists of things to do. Sei Shonagon, a Japanese courtier, finished writing her collection of lists, poems, comments, peeves, and gossip, The Pillow Book, in the year 1002, and countless other writers have done it since. Remember Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” or “88 Lines About 44 Women” by The Nails? Think of Lydia Davis and Sherman Alexie, who have nudged lists over the threshold into something fresh and profound.
Because that’s what we hope for, right? That a thing as simple as a list might morph into something meaningful and creative.
Lists you might write for this challenge:
- A list of things that only happened once
- Directions for how to get to your most/least favorite place
- Things that made you laugh/cry/nauseous
- Mistakes you’ve made
- Jobs you’ve had
- Ways they’d find you in a faceless line-up
- Friends you’ve lost
- Forbidden subjects (things you are not allowed to say out loud)
- Ways to say no/yes/maybe
- Kinds of kisses (or ten people you have kissed)
- Reasons you don’t/always pick up the phone
- Steps between you and complete success/utter failure
- Crazy thoughts (or sane ones)
- Things you hear, smell, feel right now
- Things that make no sense
- Little things that should be large
- Beautiful imperfections
- Things you’d find in your pockets/medicine cabinet/bedside table/refrigerator/alimentary canal
- Directions for how to fall in (or out) of love
- [Heartbreaking; beautiful; insert adjective here] things you saw on your way to work today
For some writers, the deeper they dig down towards the truth, the louder the words resonate. For others, it’s all in the details: the more fleshy/juicy/descriptive they get, the better it is. Some use the list as a flimsy excuse to tell stories, letting their mind wander far and wide amongst the fuzzy associations. Others might write a list of fifty items then pare down to the top seven, cut out every superfluous word and leave it looking as “listy” as possible.
But certainly, editing is what pushes the list over the line into literature.
But certainly, editing is what pushes the list over the line into literature. You tricked yourself into thinking you were making a list but SURPRISE! You’ll see you made something much more.
For additional examples, read Fear of Men by Susan DeFreitas and Flavorwire’s “Lists That Read Like Poems.”
Not only are lists a pleasure to write — they’re fun to read. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
I love this idea! I fear I am not ready or skilled enough yet to achieve this. I’ll have a go and post it if it makes any sense at all. I’m not sure how to avoid simply listing things? Thanks for the new ideas!
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Go for it. Simply listing things can be the whole point– check the examples to see how it might work. Good luck!
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A great idea. i do that when I’m writing – I make a list, for instance, of all the weapons a bad guy might use in the commission of a crime – and it helps me keep the flow going, and sometimes gives me a completely new direction for the story that I hadn’t anticipated when I was outlining.
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You’re right– the simplest things can get our brains going in new directions.
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This is a great idea. I love lists. When asked in a recent interview in Montreal about how to be creative in everyday life, Peter Carey said “even a grocery list can be creative”. I immediately rushed home to write my creative grocery list. Now I’ve got more lists to write. Thanks very much.
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I’d love to see the creative grocery list!
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I’d love to see the creative grocery list, too!
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I love this challenge!
I recently compiled a list with 20 things that I am glad I know before turning 20 in july.
It has to be one of my most felt for work. 🙂
Do check it out- http://thatindianminimalist.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/20things/ 🙂
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Excellent list, Hardik. I wish I had that list when I turned 20. Reminded me a bit of the Baz Luhrmann graduation address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlJ3vOp6nI
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Ah, yes. That graduation address was one of a kind. Like how Steve Jobs was. Thank you for such a beautiful share. You reminded me again and God, it is a great reminder. 🙂
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This is a great challenge. I already put out one response out there and I have a different idea for another one.
Have fun, everyone!
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Hope you’ll ping back so we can all see.
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Hi! I did include a pingback, it’s the fourth one. 🙂
http://angelocrux.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/mission-accomplished/
Thanks! 🙂
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This is a really great prompt. I chose to go the steps between myself and total failure/total success route. It was enlightening that there were two more steps to failure than to success for me, so that must mean I am on the right path! Thanks guys
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Interesting to compare two lists– You took this “assignment” somewhere I hadn’t imagined!
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I really couldn’t choose between doing one or the other, they were both so tempting. I really loved the contrast between the two, though! I expected them to basically be opposites of each other, but I was quite surprised by the outcome. 🙂
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http://marthakennedy.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/periodic-chart-of-incomprehensibility/
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Most excellent, Martha. Not listless at all.
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Hi everyone,
I’ve posted my response on my page at https://new3creationservices.wordpress.com. It’s my first Daily Prompt participation. Please check it out – any feedback will be appreciated. This is a great topic!
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Intriguing. I wish I could “see” all the incidences/situations that taught you those lessons too, Musu, I say as I remember several harsh life lessons of my own….
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Maybe I’ll write a separate post on those incidents one day. 🙂 It’s so much it’s hard to pick a way to express it. But yes, life can really teach you some things when it gets ready. Thanks for checking out my post!
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congrats on the invite from WP, and what a lovely idea. I list all the time. I list via email and people often say… that sounds like a poem. Lovely!
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Jenni! I wanna see your lists. xoox
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posting now
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A great idea and something I used to rely on regularly but in the last year or so forgot. Thank you for the reminder.
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Brilliant idea. Here’s my response: http://zainabjavid.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/things-i-have-done-exactly-once-in-my-life/
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#7! Yes! I did that too (and I’d do it again any day).
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This is great! Brilliant tips!
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My loose interpretation. The 12 step program for a broken heart, of sorts.
http://thoughtsofalunatic.com/2014/05/26/list-lesson/
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Woah. What a list! Heartwrenching.
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My list would be somewhat like:
1.Friends that I can count on during a crisis
2.List of books that I have read so far
3.Places that I will travel by the end of this year
4.List of anticipation…sigh!!
5.Topics that I am gonna write about
…….and so on 🙂
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I did stuphblog’s “25 days of songs” challenge in one post:
http://bumblepuppies.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/normal-music-insults-my-intelligence/
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Excellent list. I’m digging your eclectic taste in music. The Belgian girls’ choir singing Rammstein is freaking me out a little.
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Thanks. And the Rammstein is only the tip of the iceberg for those girls…
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Thank you so much for this WONDERFUL idea! I just did one, and it really works…I thought my brain was dead this morning but you helped me wake it up…wow. My pingback is below…
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Great idea. And I’ve always loved that Paul Simon song. Lol.
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This is my first post in daily challange..i compiled a list of my firsts. Give it a look..
Your comments make me grow!
http://twistedlove20.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/27/
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I enjoyed your list of firsts– and now you can add first post in DC to your list (congrats for joining in– don’t worry, this sharing-with-the-world thing gets easier).
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http://risingrave28.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/so-going-back/
Well, I know this may sound annoying (given that others are doing the same), but I would like to know what you think!
Thanks a lot!
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Impressive. If you do everything on your list, you will have so many excellent stories to tell.
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Thank you 🙂 I really do hope that I can do at least a good part of the things that I’ve listed!
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I love the idea of this. I will be back with my link in a little while. See how I go on.
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I combined the list concept (I am extraordinarily adept at lists) with what inspires me – and came up with a list of 10. Stay tuned…I shall post tomorrow!
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This was a lot of fun, great prompt! Thank you!
http://susiewittbrodt.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/how-to-write-a-blog-post-in-26-easy-steps/
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Ha! Excellent. And see how that happened? You tricked yourself into writing a hell of a post.
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challenge accepted… now what to list a list of
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Love the name – DoubleEspresso! It sounds energizing and delicious (can you tell I am a fan of coffee?).
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Haha … It’s how I attempt to make it through the day.
I hope I did a ping back right. First time! fourjuices@wordpress.com
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Don’t think the ping back worked. I get an email from WordPress. Unless it takes a while. I’ll approve it if I get it!
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I think I get it now!! I linked to this post and I should have linked to your blog … ?
Apologies!!!
Thank you for the redirect.
Oh, good idea by the way. A great way to get bloggers involved.
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Here’s the link to DoubleEspresso’s list: http://fourjuices.wordpress.com
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This challenge was just made for me…I am the queen of lists! I may never get to complete them all, but darn it, I’m making a list 🙂 I love this idea and I think I’ll incorporate it into my blog on a regular basis somehow 🙂
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List of things I saw when I dropped off my son to school this morning. Here goes:)
http://inkriched.com/2014/05/26/what-i-saw-this-morning/
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Ooooo! What a beautiful list, Nida. So, so lovely.
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I was too inspired by your blog I guess:D
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This is a VERY helpful idea! I get writer’s block almost every time I go to write, it seems. Thank you for the idea. I will definitely try this concept.
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I’ve just done a list and put this URL at the bottom, hoping that is how to create a pingback? I’m new to blogging. My response is called Badly Bred Bitch.
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I blogged about people who had at one point, been my best friend, but I wrote them letters trying to explain why in present day, we aren’t. Enjoy! http://neverstationary.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/letters-to-old-friends-about-why-were-not-friends-today/
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Thanks for your list!!
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I really enjoyed this post. I have always been one to write endless to do lists and list all the amazing things which have happened out of one great experience. This post has really challenged me to want to broaden my mind through the simplicity of a list. The post was a great read and I can’t wait to begin! Thank you.
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