Develop a bad attitude.  Think of a subject which could be sentimental, predictable, a cliché, such as a child’s birthday party, meeting an old friend, decorating a Christmas tree, making a Valentine’s day card, watching your child sing in the choir, walking your dog, buying  a kitty, going to the beach, watching the sunset at the beach… Now think of an approach to the subject that’s irreverent, perhaps sarcastic, angry, perverse or downright ghoulish.  Write about the subject expressing this attitude.

In your daily life, be alert to the oddball, quirky ways you see things, people, happenings… jot them down in your notebook.

Have your ever been on a date, seen a movie or taken a vacation that was supposed to be fun, but wasn’t?  Did you develop a bad attitude?  Wonderful!  Write about it. Think also, of a family member or acquaintance of whom most people approve, but you do not—or vice-versa.  Write about that person and your view of him or her. You can subject celebrities to the same treatment.

List the “shoulds” of your life:  what you were taught by parents, peers, the media, about how you should behave.  Then write how you actually feel or would like to behave.  Refer to specific instances.

Adapted from: True Stories: Guidelines for Writing From Your Life by Rebecca Rule and Susan Wheeler Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann 2000