This was inspired by a writing exercise that went like this:
What’s going on in the picture?
What do you see that makes you say that?
What else do you see?
What do you see that makes you say that?
Repeat. And again. And again.
Consider keeping a journal and doing this exercise a few times a week. Practicing often will help you understand how much detail is part of your daily life. Background detail is what makes the world feel vivid and real — a quality that you want to imbue all of your creative work.
On Jalan Alor, the riders buzz through
avoiding the double-parked cars
Lazy feet scuffing pedestrians
approach their favourite sambal stalls
waiting for the 4 o’clock rain to pass
The mountains meet the clouds
casting doubt and desires
From apartment windows
no one is looking out
because it’s just another day in K-Hell
and their stories go…
“Our religion dictates we can’t hold hands
or kiss in public
but I can’t wait to jump his bones
behind closed doors.”
“I shouldn’t have upset the boss like that,
it was just an off-the-cuff remark.
I wonder how much longer I have to stay here
facing the wall”
“I’m diving for gold!
Well, actually, I dropped my phone,
but the brochure said it’s waterproof
to a depth of six metres.
It should be ok – I’m standing on the bottom.”
“Did you call a taxi?
You know,
it’s better to avoid the holes in the road.
It’s been raining anyway.
Better hop on.”
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
1994ever 