Creative Writing
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Cities are some of the most wasteful places we inhabit. We are throwing away things all the time. This collective waste goes to landfills, recycling facilities, into the ocean. Some of it decomposes and becomes a part of the environment around us. In many cities, waste has become an obvious issue. Without an efficient waste management system, our cities’ garbage would pile up at considerable rates, impacting the daily lives of all. The way we manage waste is also largely informed by our cultures. Some place more importance on urban cleanliness, while others employ looser societal regulations on waste disposal. How does your city metabolize its waste? Is garbage something that you come across often, or is it mostly hidden from plain sight? In what ways does the city’s garbage personify the city?
Writing Prompt 1
Look into your garbage bin and write a poem about what you see. Do you perceive these things differently now that they have been disposed of? If a stranger were to investigate your garbage bin, what can they infer about you?
Writing Prompt 2
Spend a day where you pay particular attention to people throwing away things. Do you find anything or anyone particularly interesting? Write a scene about someone throwing away something that caught your eye. Dive into this character’s thought process; consider why they want to throw away that object. Slow down time.
Writing Prompt 3
Write a story where the protagonist is a waste collector. Consider what kind of waste collector they are. Do they work for a company? Or do they pick up bottles to sell? Or maybe they purchase old electronics from people? They do not even have to be human. They could be rats eating up people’s food waste, or a smart machine that sorts and recycles clothing.