Anything’s Possible: Mission Impossible Group Writing Project

August 28, 2009 · by Joanna Paterson · in

Luther: You really think we can do this

Ethan: We’re going to do this

And we did.

You did.

I launched the Mission Im(Possible) Group Writing Project with this invitation:

1. Break out of your current blogging comfort zone and

2. Post something that’s written in a form you haven’t used before, or that’s created using a different medium.

A new form might be an imagined tale, mythical fable, short story, poem, haiku, fairy tale, TV drama… you choose :-) It could be two lines if you always write 200, 200 if you always write two.

A different medium might be something you’ve not experimented with before, like a podcast or video, or sharing a photograph, or creating something that blends words and a photo or painting, or hand written words, street art you create, capture and post or… well the world is your oyster really.

The idea is simply to share something that you’d previously considered out of bounds.  Impossible maybe.  And bring it into the realms of what’s possible.

Group Writing Project: The Results

I’ve listed the entries below, grouped together into three different categories: new forms you experimented with, new subject matter you explored, or new media that you used and dared to share.

I’ve also included some of the commentaries on what you learned and gained from taking part.

I think you’ll agree there are some powerful reflections in there, and lots of inspiration to keep on stretching and seeing what lies beyond our comfort zones.

New Forms

Poetry: A Little Lark from Write a Writing

Tanka: Pink Petal Bokeh Shimmer and a Tanka Experiment by Wonderwebby

I used to enjoy exploring writing this way but like many things, I forgot how much fun playing with words could be. Sharing a poem after so long makes me a little uneasy because like visual art, reading poetry can be subjective, and either really good or really, really bad. I know I will look back on this tanka  and wish certain words away. But I’m happy to be posting it anyway, because I had fun writing it

Haiku: Possibility by Kathleen at Soul Sisters

I chose haiku because I was drawn to the security of the framework it provides while allowing one to explore how much can be said in a few simple syllables

Song lyrics: First time writing lyrics for a song, by Alexa at Alexa’s Lounge (anyone know who that is? ;-) )

Your challenge is one of the most inspiring I’ve seen in a while! I wrote song lyrics for it :) I loved playing with words and rhythm, and it’s definitely something I might try again. Hope you like it :)

A digital fairy tale: Your Heroine’s Journey (from yours truly)

Screen Play: Great Expectations by Ulla Hennig

I wrote this piece because I wanted to try something I’ve never done before – writing a kind of screenplay. I don’t know anything about writing screenplays, I must admit. I just have a vague and amateurish idea how to write it. I can only publish it on my blog because I know that you, the community of my blog, are kind and capable of tolerating such an attack on any standards of writing.

Photo story: Writing Assignment -  Tree Story by Sara at the Learning Connection

Then I sat staring at the blank screen and waited… and waited… and waited. When my fingers finally hit the keyboard, what evolved was something unique: a conversation between me and these five trees.

As my fingers flew across the keyboard, the trees developed names and personalities. What emerged is the following story. This is longer than most of my posts but that is something else that is different about this. Plus, I like to talk and evidently so do the trees.

Fairy tale Squidoo: Unlocking the Enchanted iPhone: a Fabulous Fun Fable from Barbara Ling

Science fiction: Something a Little Different from Jez Cope (e-Rambler)

It took me a week to work my way up to writing this, but finally I decided I’d better get on with it, so I set a timer for 15 minutes and just started writing. This is a great technique and I really ought to use it more often; I didn’t really know what would come out when I started, but just let it flow out.

Jez adds:

Perhaps I should add, also, that a glass of good single malt helped get the creative juices flowing nicely!

Storytelling with Metaphor: The Google Chrome Browser Diet by Brad Shorr at Word Sell

It was an attempt at storytelling, in the third person, using metaphors. Three stylistic elements I am uncomfortable with, seldom use, and have never combined in this way.

Photo, Fiction, Memoir Combined: Moment in Time: by Jan Scott

It has been enormously challenging. It has occupied my thoughts day and night. I have redrafted, totally rewritten, read online guidelines, and a couple of Alice Munro’s short stories. Talk about pulling teeth.

Whilst I have concerns about the rather cheesy ‘romantic’ feel,  I am very pleased I’ve been able to do it.

Short Story: On the Strandline by Amy Palko

This is the first time I have ever posted a short story.  On occasion I’ve posted small snippets of creative writing, but never a whole piece such as this.  I’ve been experimenting a lot with creative writing almost in an effort to free my wings a little from the constrictions of academic prose.  This story is one of those experiments, as I challenged myself to tell a story mostly through the use of dialogue.  Whether I’ve been successful or not, I’ll leave it to you to decide.  All I ask is that you be gentle – I’m sharing a part of myself here that I’ve not had the courage to do before.

New realms of subject matter

A Novice Guide to the Catholic Mass by Debbie Yost at Three Weddings

I try to avoid writing anything too controversial and as a result, I avoid the subjects of politics and religion. These are areas that create a lot of passion and opinions in others and can often lead to hurt feelings even between the closest of friends or family. I’ve thought of writing something like this for months, but avoided it since it breaks one of my cardinal blogging rules. I’m not sure Joanna will agree I’ve broken outside of my comfort zone, but I am nervous to see how this Handbook will be received by both my fellow Catholics and others.

A Life of Ordinary by Smoph at Musings and Mediations

Blog of Difference, by thebluestbutterfly

New Media

Technical writing, diagrams and doodles: Yogi Blogger by Davina at Shades of Crimson

Well, I can tell you that I started with a pretty negative mindset. It had been years since I’d drawn anything. I did a lot of mirror gazing to get the drawings right (and a lot of erasing). Once I got into it, the negative mindset faded away and it was just fun. This was a fantastic exercise for more than just my shoulders.

Sharing a painting: Painting My Way Into Possibility (yours truly again)

A book trailer: Book Trailer for Dream or Destiny by Lillie Ammann

Joanna’s challenge motivated me to create this basic video montage. Now I’m motivated to move beyond this to a better and more professional book trailer that I can post on video-sharing and book trailer Web sites.

Mobile blogging: Damien Riley goes mobile

I think it could be a fun new thing to do sometimes. Mission Impossible conquered ;)

Cartoons: Scenes from Corporate Life from Claire Lynch at Good Copy Bad Copy

I got the idea for creating cartoons from fellow blogger, tweeter and cartoonist Brad Shorr. I never thought someone as artistically incompetent as I am could create cartoons until I learned that Brad collaborates with an artist to realise his ideas. The lesson? Writing’s often a solitary business, but interacting with others can inspire new ways of thinking.

Podcasting: Isabella Mori celebrates her 1000th blog post with possible dreams

a podcast was something that i had wanted to do for a long time but never go around to (that was a suggestion by raj, by the way). i needed to move out of my comfort zone for it – simply in terms of overcoming the procrastination of trying it for the first time; and also because i certainly don’t feel as comfortable speaking as i do writing.

Slideshow: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words by Avril Beckford at the Invisible Mentor

I wanted to do a  slideshow blog post but did not have a clue how and where to begin. I knew that I would have to figure it out someday, but kept putting it off. Have you ever done that?

I think we can all answer ‘yes’ to that last question… ;-)

I hope these contributions and the courage, confidence and creativity which lies behind them will help inspire you to take on your own mission (im)possible projects.

Thanks to everyone who took part.