A small writing practice for this week

Just five minutes is enough

Hi friends,

The ceaselessly dark and drizzly month of January has finally come to an end. Brighter days are on the horizon, even if they’re not quite here yet. If (like me), you’ve started your week feeling somewhat sluggish, this short, grounding writing practice might be exactly what you need.

Perhaps you’ve been meaning to write but haven’t quite found the time or headspace recently. Remember that it’s never too late to begin, and no amount of writing is ‘too small’ to be worthwhile. It all counts. It forces you to pause and reflect. It flexes those vital creativity muscles.

Let’s get started. This week’s invitation is simple:

Notice one moment today that feels ordinary — perhaps a sound, a smell, or a gesture — and write about it in detail.

It might be the way the kettle clicks off.
The smell of rain on the pavement.
The feeling of someone brushing past you on the street.

Take a mental note of it. Then, when you’re in a place where you can write (ideally with a notebook and pen), set a timer for five minutes.
Write only what you can see, hear, smell, or touch.
Try not to explain or interpret, just notice.

Often, it’s these small, unremarkable moments that hold the most texture. When we slow down enough to really look, they can become the seeds of stories, poems, or essays. Or they might be simply a way back into the habit of paying attention.

There’s no finished piece to aim for here. The practice is the point. Even just noticing the moment is enough.

I’ll be sharing more short prompts like this in future newsletters, alongside reflections on craft and creative practice, always designed to fit into real life, not take it over.

If you feel like it, you’re very welcome to reply to this email and share what you noticed, or how the exercise felt. I’d love to hear from you.