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Write Where You Are
by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

I caught the writing bug when I was ten. I joined an essay writing contest where the topic was: "Where did you spend summer and what did you do?"

I wrote about the summer I spent with my grandparents. I described how my grandpa taught me to climb trees, and how soon after that, I discovered how scary it was to climb down from a branch 10 feet above the ground. I described how my grandmother brewed strong coffee, and how the aroma drifted and lingered throughout their little hut all morning. I described the long walks and spontaneous swims in the rivers I took with my aunts and uncles.

It was a simple topic, yet it had a tremendous impact on my life. I knew writing was what I wanted to do.

And now nearly 17 years later, I can still hear my grandpa's laughter, still smell my grandmother's coffee, still shiver at the memory of how cold those rivers were. Their little hut is forever etched in my memory.

I now make a living from writing and whenever I'm stuck and ideas seem to run out, I remember that summer. My grandparents may be gone but they left me with memories I can draw inspiration from. They left me a place where I can go back to: their home. In a way, they never really left.

And that's enough to make the words come out again. I re-discover the wonder of writing, remembering where I was the summer before I turned 10.

Here are 5 prompts to help you get started writing:

1. Where do you go when you want to get away from the pressures of life, family, work, etc?

2. In 150 words, describe the place where you are right now.
3. Where were you last summer?

4. Which room in your house do you spend most of your time?

5. In 400 words, create your ideal place.

Copyright © 2003 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ

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