To say the world and therefore life has been a little complicated and messed up over the past few years would be an understatement. From Climate to Covid, Vaccinations to inVasions these times are not quite as straightforward as some might like. And my mind struggles to find any simple solutions. And so…
This week’s creative prompt is Tangle. Each week we begin with a single word and expand it to inspire writing fiction, journaling and other creative activities. These creative prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some inspiration for creative work, personal development and even a little self-care.
Not only is the world a little tangled but my own life feels the same. Like a piece of string that appeared straight and stretched out is actually twisted and rolled up into a ball. It can be unpicked I am sure, but at the moment everything feels entangled… and I love that version of the word.
When things get tangled, untangling is the only thing to do if you want to get anywhere.
Tangle, tangled, entangled
Definitions
tangle — verb; twist into a confused mass, make complicated or confused or become involved in a conflict
noun; a confused mass, a confused or complicated state or a fight, argument, or disagreement
tangled — adjective; twisted together untidily, complicated and confused
Related
entangle, snarl, catch, entwine, intertwine, intertwist, twist, ravel, knot, enmesh, coil, mat, jumble, muddle, disorder, web or come into conflict, become involved, have a dispute, dispute, argue, quarrel, fight, row, wrangle, squabble, contend, cross swords, lock horns
Antonyms
untangle, disentangle, unravel
Tangle is summed up for me as a mess. Fortunately, most messes can be cleaned up.
Let the prompt ‘tangle’ inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:
- writing fiction
- journaling
- art journaling
- songwriting
- photography
- painting
- composing
- blog posts
- art therapy
- anything that could use a little nudge to begin
Writing prompt
A Fiction Writing Prompt exploring the word tangle to stretch the literary muscles. No rules. No word counts. Simply write and explore.
It was a mess, distinct yet entangled. It needed sorting.
Writing Prompt Expanded
When things get messy we have a choice, leave it or clean it up. Depending on the situation one may be easier than the other. Some messes are more serious than others, they may have far-reaching consequences both for ourselves and others.
That’s what this prompt is all about. There’s a mess and your protagonist has decided that it needs to be cleaned up. So let’s explore.
- What is tangled?
- Why are they tangled?
- How can they be untangled?
The context for this prompt is entirely up to you. The challenge is to create the mess and work out how to sort it. This is what all basic plots are. There is a situation and your character or characters have to resolve it. The situation can be personal, major or minor, or it could be on a global scale. The choice as always is yours.
Enjoy and may your words flow untangled as they first create and then resolve the messy situation.
Quick fiction writing
Set a time limit, use the following random prompts and write a short piece of fiction.
- Character: retired lady
- Place: bedroom, getting ready to go out
- Item: two gold necklaces… tangled
Journal prompt
When I get in a mess, and I often do, I open up my journal. I write down how I feel, any relevant details and then see if I can work out what to do. However, it is easy to think that everything that is tangles is negative. Sometimes we want or even need to be entangled. Being tangled can be intentional and good for the soul.
Three ideas for your journal
- twist and roll up a pieces of string or twine, dip in paint or ink and print
- draw a squiggle of a line over a page and keep doing it until you have a mess… can you highlight any shapes?
- is there a situation in your life than needs untangling? Create a plan
Theory of General Creativity
I now have ‘tangle’ written on the board above my computer. I am confident it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. Life is messy and tangled and life is art and art is life; entangled creativity.
- capture tangles items with your camera
- tangle and mix up items, colour and even sounds that don’t normally go together and see what happens
- untangle and keep elements apart in your visual art
Let ‘tangle’ inspire your music, photography, and painting this week.
Finally…
As always, these creative prompts are optional and entirely open to your interpretation. Use them as a starting point for a short story, a moment in your journal, something a little more grandiose or any creative project or idea.
As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me #thecreativeminimalist on any social platform.
Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
namaste
d
xox
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