Catapult | Don't Write Alone

Cover Photo: This image has crumpled paper in the background and the cover of the book in the corner, which reads "Letter to a Young Poet"

Remember, You Are in Conversation

When I’m feeling stuck and lonely, I try to remember that I’m in conversation with the world—that I am alive in it and it is alive through me.

Jul 06, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: This picture shows someone holding up to a magnifying glass filled with smoke. The smoke becomes pink and magical looking through the magnifying glass.

Make it Sharper, Make it Stranger

Simon Han shares an exercise to help make your sentences stronger and more surprising during the revision process.

Jun 29, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: The author shares a scan of his SEPTA key and has left notes about what it reminds him of.

Writing the Autobiography of Your Stuff

The detritus of our lives can serve as a cannon for fiction or nonfiction writing.

Krys Malcolm Belc

Jun 07, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this photograph, we are looking into a small kitchen: pushed up against a fridge, we see an old oven, whose stovetop balances a shiny pot and kettle. There are towels and rags and old plastic bags hung from the oven's handles and scattered across the floor. A butter-yellow door opens on the right of the photo, mirroring a yellow door opening to a different room behind the kitchen. The light coming in through the windows is also butter-yellow.

Let’s Talk About Imagery

It’s hard to talk about love without clichés, but what about images you associate with love? Poet José Olivarez shares lessons on imagery learned from country music.

Jun 07, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: We see a photograph of two hands shaking against a mellow yellow background. The hands look as if they might be older men and one hand is a few tones paler than the other. This photograph is showed three times in a row and the wrists connect at the end of the picture, as if part of a hand-shaking rope

Let Translation Guide You Into Writing

Check out this writing and reading exercise from classes instructor Poupeh Missaghi

Poupeh Missaghi

May 12, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this photograph, we see a mural painted on a dirty white wall. The mural was spray painted in blues, reds, and whites, and portrays a man who is baring his teeth and putting his hands up to his face, as if in pain.

The Pain Scale Exercise

Try this writing exercise from Madeleine Watts: Sometimes the restrictions and limitations imposed by a given structure can help you more than complete creative freedom does.

Madeleine Watts

May 07, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this photograph, we see an older man peeking around the corner of a wall. He's wearing glasses and a white collared shirt. One hand is over his mouth and his eyes are open wide, as if shocked by what he is seeing.

An Exercise in Building Character (Both Ways)

How do you write a character’s particularity in a way that ensures it’s different from your own? Check out this writing prompt from Ryan Chapman!

May 03, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this black and white photograph, we see a young boy singing into recording equipment, including a microphone. His hair is buzzed short and his eyes are closed and his mouth as open, as if he is struggling to hit the right note

An Exercise to Help You Find Your Voice

Try this writing exercise from Simon Van Booy if you feel you need help finding your voice, whether you are writing nonfiction or fiction.

Apr 29, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: Against a reddish pink background, we see the Chinese character for téng with bandaids covering it slightly on the top right and bottom left

A Writing Prompt for Mandarin Speakers

Are you a bilingual writer? Try this prompt from Catapult instructor and poet Chen Chen.

Apr 05, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this photograph, we are looking down at a stack of pastel envelopes--white, pink, and yellow--with three polaroids stacked on top. The top image looks out to the ocean beyond a rocky shore. The table the stack of photographs and envelopes is sitting on is dark, worn wood.

A Writing Exercise Using Photographs

If you’re starting a new personal essay or you’re working on a memoir, try this writing exercise shared by our instructor Brian Gresko.

Apr 05, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write

Cover Photo: In this photograph, we are looking down on the florescent aisles of a grocery store. We see rows of brightly colored food aisles and red Chinese tomato lights hanging down against a bright, sky blue wall at the end of the store.

Setting and Dialogue Exercise

Explore your scene writing or begin a flash fiction piece with this prompt from Catapult instructor Christine Sneed.

Christine Sneed

Apr 05, 2021

Don’t Write Alone | Free Write