Hermit crabs and you

Weekly writing prompt #182

Hermit Crab Cup, 1972 — Ken Price

The essence of creativity comes from drawing unexpected connections between different realms.

I never saw Hamilton (musicals make me squirm), but the blend of hip-hop and 18th-century American history created a novel concept and storytelling approach to recast the life of Alexander Hamilton. The production earned instant acclaim and went on to collect multiple Tony awards, a Grammy, and even the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (among many other accolades).

Another example I think about often is Bill Nye. A year into his career as a Boeing engineer, he discovered he enjoyed making people laugh so began moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. On weekends, he volunteered as a “science explainer” to kids at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center. Upon meeting Carl Sagan and hearing his observation on the need for children’s science programming… well, the rest is history.

Outcomes that catch fire don’t just follow the basic formula A + B = C. It’s more like A + Z = [magical third thing that transcends its context]. One way to apply this principle as a writer is with the hermit crab essay, so called because of its unexpected blend of content and form. For example, what might your essay include if you wrote it in the style of album liner notes, a patient intake form, a dictionary definition, or a classifieds ad? Let’s find out!!

Some more forms to get your gears turning:

• doctor’s note

• Zillow listing

• report card

• business memo

• lab report

• Hallmark card

• error message

• recipe

• Instagram caption

• menu

• horoscope

• to-do list

…Basically any text you lay your eyes on. Next time, notice its form and ask yourself what kind of message could I creatively communicate with this? All part of the work of leaning into our gaze.

Now go write,
Jamie

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📝 This week’s writing prompt

In the style of a WANTED poster, write about something you desire in your life that you would pay a handsome reward to obtain. 

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Last week’s submissions: Beauty/terror

If you submitted last week, check out the rest 👀

“For there are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt” — Audre Lorde