Prompt #45: Obsessions

The 1980's brought the term obsession front and center. Whether we were singing along with the Animotion tune on MTV or becoming entranced by the creepy Clavin Klein perfume ads, obsessions became a part of the 1980's vernacular. Not hard to believe the "Me Generation" would see obsessions as complimentary, but in 1990 California became the first state to criminalize stalking- the creepiest crime of obsessive behavior. And soon we would begin hearing a lot more about OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

But while not all obsessions are complimentary, neither are they all harmful. Natalie Goldberg offers to us the suggestion of listing our obsessions once in a while. Some obsessions change and there are always more, she says. Some are thankfully forgotten.

Writers end up writing about their obsessions. Things that haunt them; things they can't forget; stories they carry in their bodies waiting to be released. She asks her writing students to make lists of their obsessions. This way they can see what they spend their time thinking about consciously and unconsciously.

After you write them down you can put them to good use. You have a list of things to write about. And your main obsessions have power; they are what you will come back to in your writing over and over again... They probably take over your life whether you want them to or not, so you ought to get them to work for you. (p. 49)

For this month's prompt, start with some pre-writing utilizing Goldberg's exercise of making a list of your obsessions. Go beyond things you "really like" and get to those things you always think about. Do as she says and put those obsessions to work!

Write an essay, a poem, a character sketch using one of your obsessions, or create a story with a character who adopts your obsession. Make it work for you however you want. Write what you want... give into the obsession.

Here's one of those creepy Calvin Klein ads to get you in the mood. Enjoy...

Reference: Writing Down the Bones; Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg