What Is "What It Is"?

i have really been enjoying this book by lynda barry. it's about how to do creative things, especially writing. i know that the answer is to stop reading self-help books and start doing creative things, but i am addicted. plus, for some reason i haven't taken a creative writing course since possibly ever, so the basic advice in this book really helped me. an excerpt:

"we notice that when people tell the story of their lives it often sounds like an obituary -- a lot of general information but almost no images. we notice also that journal writing has a rather similar quality to it, only instead of information we find a lot of writing about our feelings. the main feeling is discontent and worry, outrage, regret, despair, complaints, vague questions about life, hope of a transformation...we find a lot of writing, but almost no images!"

whoah. i mean, duh. i mean, umm...i guess this is kind of obvious but i have never really thought about it before. her main method is to just write, using very simple words as prompts. i was previously aware of writing prompts, but mostly things like "what i did on my summer vacation," which tend to produce dry results like those mentioned above. so, i have really found this book interesting, not to mention that it is full of fun cartoons and pictures and a magic cephalopod.