Artisit Sophie Blackall has created a blog illustrating "Missed Connections" personals. Write a moment of connection--one that's temporary. Not necessarily something romantic or a "missed connection" just a temporary but for some reason significant connection between two people.

I am a big fan of what Jen Bekman does at her gallery and with 20 x 200. And at her blog Personism, she does these fantastic pairings of art and poetry. My favorite so far is Please Come Late by Hugo Williams paired with a photograph by Gregory Krum. Write a "Please..." piece (poem, prose, monologue...) in which the speaker asks another person to do something which wouldn't at first glance seem a desirable thing.

These paintings by David Mellon seem to me to be illustrations to a book that doesn't exist (I assume). My favorite is "Galoshes" (why isn't he wearing any pants?!).

Now try writing a series of captions to illustrations that don't exist for a book that doesn't exist.

Look at these paintings of bookshelves by Victoria Reichelt. Imagine the person who would stack their books like that! Not me, anyway. Now describe a character's shelves (bookish or otherwise).

Artist and glass blower Dale Chihuly says, "If I can get near the water, I know something will happen." Write something under the influence of water.

Click over to Bill Traylor's Woman Pointing and Holding an Umbrella. Describe what she's pointing at.

Writing for Writers #20

Look at Paho Mann's photos of junk drawers. Write a junk drawer. But give each thing a history.