Scribble & Scrawl 15 Minute Challenge: Litany Against Your Bad Habit

In the interest of keeping things fresh around here I would like to introduce a space for us to play. I will be posting a challenge each week and it may take a little while for my hatchling of an idea to sprout but I’ve heard these things take patience and measured hitting of the refresh button.

I propose a 15 minute writing challenge (you may use 20 if you need to make a caffeinated beverage or do some kind of warm up stretches and/or dance beforehand). Each week(ish) I will post a prompt and, when you choose, you may create and post your 15-minute composition in the comments. I’ll highlight the best posts and their blogs at the end of the week.

The important features of the challenge are that you don’t exceed the time limit and that you don’t stray tooooo far off task. The time limit is for two reasons, the first being that impromptu compositions are charming and rare. The second is that while I whole-heartedly endorse the art of procrastination, I’d like you to be able to get on with your day. Think of this more as an alternative to poking your eye out with a pen as a way of bringing variety to a long stint at your desk or whatever your daily activity may be.

Format is up to you. Humour will rank very highly. If I have to remove your comment because it would offend my very open-minded and not at all conservative mother… well you get the idea.

When you truly need a break, the only place to look for inspiration is elsewhere.

This week’s challenge is to write a Litany Against Your Bad Habit. For example, I am going to refer you to the Litany Against Fear from Frank Herbert’s Dune, beautifully showcased in this freshly pressed post from Rollings Reliable, Brownies with Bite. Maybe you have a problem with nail-biting, drinking from the carton, leaving your socks on till last, ignoring the laundry basket or your deadlines. I will not judge. But maybe you can help yourself?

In the interest of getting things rolling, I will start with mine.

Litany Against Rumination

You are thinking again. Stop.
Stop thinking.
Do something.
Write. Make tea and breathe.
Breathe in and out and in and out and out and out and out.
Are you still thinking?
Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
Hamlet said that.
You are not now, nor will you ever be, Hamlet-crazy.
But the crazy man has a point.
Stop thinking. Goose. Eat chocolate if you must.
Tomorrow you will know more.
Likely, understand less.
And pickles are a constant.

Let the musings begin.