Illustration by Ana Hinojosa.

Illustration by Ana Hinojosa.

In the past I have asked you to create tributes or odes, if you will, for the people and furry creatures that you love. One of my favorite things about creating is that it is an outlet, something that helps me through times of trouble. So today I want you to write an ode to something that is PLAGUING you. It could be something that is just plain irksome as of late—like the way your hair just will not cooperate in this weather/at this length, or that your phone or computer keeps freezing, or the birds outside your window that will not let you sleep in. It could be a teacher, a parent, or a sibling. It could be something you are seriously struggling with: writer’s block, depression or anxiety, a physical ailment (for example, I have this pain in my heel that has stopped me from running). Be snarky, be silly, be angry, be reflective (sometimes a difficult thing leads you to learn something about yourself). Go wild with the adjectives or the colors.

And here is where I make things difficult: I want you to create this ode in a form you wouldn’t normally use. By that I mean, if you are a visual artist, write a poem or a dialogue with this difficult thing (yes, you can decorate it). If you are a writer, make a collage or draw, scribble or paint (yes, you can caption it or paste words into your collage). This will help you view what is causing you difficulty through a whole new lens, and if nothing else, allow you to have silly, childlike fun as you tackle something hard.

Send your ode along with your first name, last initial, age, and location to [email protected] with the subject line “Creative Prompt” by Monday, August 29 at 6 PM EST.

Last week we asked you to develop characters with a simple exercise. Here’s where it led you…