At most of our writers' group meetings we do a writing exercise. We're given a topic to write about and after about ten minutes of writing, we share what we've come up with. In August our assignment was to personify an item in the room. Here's one story:
It's that season again, that cold season when my insides are freezing. No, not winter, it's summertime, and it's so cold here in the library - especially on Sundays.
I feel so lonely. For most months of the year I am doing what I was created to do - writing. Warm hands wrap around me, sometimes sticky, sweaty, warm hands of a student, nervous about a class presentation. I hear so much and learn so much here in the library as books are read out loud and classes are taught.
When the kids come back from summer break, the teacher always has them write about their favorite summer activity. Do you want to hear about the highlight of my summer?
Once a month, my room goes from cold and quiet and book-scented to suddenly feeling warm and alive, filled with the sound of conversation and the smells of lunch. The writers' group is in the house and I get to eavesdrop on their conversation all afternoon, sometimes for hours and hours! I get to hear about their lives, the books they're writing, and I learn about so much more. And I LOVE it when they sing for me.
That's what I would write about if the teacher gave me an assignment to tell about my summertime. But I won't be writing such a paper. After all, I'm just a dry-erase marker.
