Writing Exercise: The Ritual of Return

Writing Exercise: The Ritual of Return

Key Techniques to Develop

1. Anchoring through repetition: Use recurring language, imagery, or structure to shape a practice that feels grounded, rhythmic, and revisitable.

2. Meditative attention: Focus on writing as observation—on small, present details rather than invention or analysis.

3. The unfiltered self: Let go of audience awareness and polish. Write for clarity of attention, not publication.

Writing Prompt (500 words)

Begin with the phrase: “This is where I begin today…” and write continuously for 500 words without editing, outlining, or pausing to evaluate. Your only rule is presence: attend to what you notice right now—your body, your thoughts, a sound, a tension, a wish, a question.

Avoid storytelling, planning, or reflection on past events. Instead, let the page become a tuning fork. Write what you sense. Write what arises. If the mind drifts, return to the opening phrase or invent your own recurring line to re-anchor yourself.

Let the writing end not on a conclusion, but on a breath—mid-thought, mid-sentence if necessary. Resist wrapping up. Let the fragment stand.

Evaluation Criteria

Strong response:

• Maintains flow and presence without switching into explanation or narrative mode.

• Uses simple, concrete language that reveals authentic perception or emotion.

• Shows consistency of attention, even when the mind wanders.

• Honors the open-endedness of practice—no moral, no insight forced.

Weak response:

• Slips into performance or editorializing.

• Relies on abstract language or philosophical declarations without grounding in sensation or present experience.

• Tries to end with a summary, conclusion, or artificial “lesson.”

• Feels rigid, overly composed, or overly self-critical.

Workshopping and Revision Questions

• Where did the writing feel most present, least filtered? What made that moment feel alive?

• Did any repeated phrases or images emerge that could become a daily anchor?

• What moments felt too constructed? Were you writing toward an idea instead of from sensation?

• How did the physical experience of writing change as you moved through the exercise?

Recommended Reading

From The Right to Write by Julia Cameron – the chapter “The Meditation of the Page.”

This short passage models writing as spiritual return, not product-making. It encourages daily practice as a tuning-in rather than an output. The voice is unfussy, deeply personal, and centered on writing as a ritual of attention.

Concrete Example

Strong:

This is where I begin today. My back itches where the shirt sticks. The cat blinked at me and I blinked back. I want coffee but not yet. A sentence floats up—no, it’s not mine. The hum of the refrigerator is loud today. I don’t know what I’m looking for. This is where I begin again.

Weak:

This is where I begin today. I’ve been thinking about how I should really write more often. Writing is so important for the soul. We often forget to check in with ourselves. Today I’m going to write about how we all need peace and quiet. I should do this every day. Writing helps me understand myself better.

AI Disclosure Statement:

This writing prompt was created in collaboration with ChatGPT, an AI model by OpenAI, to support creative practice. ChatGPT assisted with idea generation and drafting; the final text was edited by the author. The illustration was created using Google Gemini.