Wool sweaters, Tibetan Yak
Advice is great, but advice on its own won’t make you a better writer. We become better writers by writing and it’s always easier to write when we’re inspired. To that end, a creative prompt using an ordinary item.
wool sweaters, Tibetan yak | an exercise in storytelling
This week’s ordinary item: Wool sweaters from Oliver Charles
What are they? These are wool sweaters made using a fiber called khullu which comes from the underbelly of high elevation Tibetan Yak.
Two yaks on a mountain, then what?
While we have a tendency to make the story about ourselves, thinking of all the places we’ll go in these sweaters and how warm we’ll be in even the harshest conditions, there is always another side.
In this case, the other side is high up on a mountainside, where two yaks live.
The same two yaks whose soft under down will grow in the fall, shed in the spring, and then eventually be collected, processed and turned into khullu fiber.
This is the fiber used by Oliver Charles (big thanks to them for allowing us to feature them), to create their wool sweaters. After reading about the process, we were left with one question - who are these two yaks?
The task for you is to come up with a creative short story about these two yaks. (see below for a few tips to keep you focused)
Remember: have fun with the exercise, push the boundaries, look at this “ordinary” item in an uncommon way. Most importantly, write something!
Two yaks are on a mountain, then: __________________ .
Not sure where to start? Some prompts to get the creativity flowing…
What are their names?
Are they related? What is the relationship between the two of them?
Do they understand that their wool gets turned into sweaters? Do they wish they could wear sweaters?
What things in life give them joy?
What hopes and dreams do they have?
Do they ever get called mean names?
What’s the most interesting thing they’ve ever found while wandering the high mountainsides?
Add to this story — what happens next? Leave a comment and let us know.
Inspire someone else — share this page with a friend or colleague.
LOOKING FOR A STRATEGIC COPYWRITER TO ASSIST YOUR TEAM?
My name is Derek and I write all kinds of things for businesses of every size in many different industries. Do you have a writing or strategy need? This is what I love to do.
Send me an email: derek@plain.run