Whistler’s 2009 Writer-in-residence took a group of non-fiction writers back in time this fall, with creative writing exercises aimed at excavating memories.
The drill – which spurred a round of frantic scribbling and several incredible pieces of writing – is resurrected here for bootcamp ex 21.
Draw a map of the first neighbourhood you can remember living in.
Sketch and scribble and wander again streets that are buried deep…
Research only in your own head. Leave aside had evidence – atlases and street maps and photographs. You’re excavating your stories…
Savour the immersion.
And then, start to write. A memory from that world.
