I just returned from a small writer's workshop/retreat at the ocean. It was a time to recharge the creative batteries and learn new things about the craft. In one session, the instructor said she was going to give us (me and at least a dozen other people) a single word, and then we were to write about it for twenty minutes. I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but the word turned out to be "Conan." Conan? What was I supposed to do with that? At first all that came to mind were images of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the famous barbarian. Then another possibility occurred to me. Here's part of what I wrote:
Conan. That's what the want-ad said. I needed a job, badly, and I was past the point of being too picky. So, I read on. Wanted: trustworthy person to job-share a position serving as nanny to 3 angelic children. Hours flexible. Benefits negotiable. Experience with preschoolers required. "Oh, I get it. Conan means co-nanny." ... I flipped open my phone and made the call. "After all, what's the worst that could happen?" I thought, trying to banish visions of Sesame-Street-gone-bad from my head.
It was a fun exercise with surprising results. Even though we all started with the same, very-specific word, we each came up with something completely different. No two interpretations were at all alike. Who would have thought Conan could be so inspirational?
My goodness! I would not ever come up with that idea. All I could think of was the late night talk show host since the word was spelled with a capital "C". How creative you were!
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