Pyramid Writing Strategy (August 2020)

Pyramid Writing Strategy (August 2020)

Are you not quite sure what to write about or how to get started ?

Try this personal pyramid strategy.

• Identify a general topic, something you would like to further understand. It can be specific or vague.

• Draw a triangle with one block on the top level. In this block place your answer to the question:

           How do I want to feel when I go to sleep tonight ?

• In the two blocks on the 2nd level, place your answers to the question:

          What are the two greatest obstacles that I am facing ?

• In the three blocks on the 3rd level, place your answers to the question:

         What sources of support are available to me ?

• In the four blocks on the 4th level, place your answers to the question:

         What strengths do I have for dealing with stressful times ?

When you have finished, you will have ten options for what to write about.

You can then write about any or all of them.

Be open to where your writing may take you. Your writing may or may not relate to the original topic.

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Example topic: How does the person in this example deal with their frustration about COVID restrictions ?

LEVEL 1—How does the person in this example want to feel when they go to sleep tonight ?

LEVEL 2—What are the two greatest obstacles that the person in this example is facing ?

LEVEL 3—What sources of support are available to the person in this example ?

LEVEL 4—What strengths does the person in this example have for dealing with stressful times ?

Adapted from Robert McDowell’s personal pyramid, found in – Poetry as Spiritual Practice