Here are some more detailed instructions for the collaborative manuscript project that we are beginning to undertake. More to come as we progress: 1) Think of some significant moments in your personal or family history. Choose one that has a particular and memorable location. In 25-100 words write this story. The more poetic and succinct the better. Separate one short line from the whole. This might be a quote, or climax, or denouement… something that sums up the memory or perhaps expands it to your present context, etc…. Please add your story as a comment to this post.

2) Next, think of a path you have memorized having traveled it repeatedly. It should be a route that is not simply a straight line, and that returns to its starting point (to make a loop). Make a drawing of this path from memory as a map, as accurately as possible. Then print off a satellite or internet map source of this same path, carefully highlighting or tracing it in some way to make it prominent. 3) Gather visual references (or create your own!) that connect with your narrative. Organize these elements into a compositional structure that flows naturally from the story.

Incorporate several visual ways of bringing order and richness to your piece: line, rhythm, balance, scale, texture, value, color (ie. limited palette), pattern, framing, layers, transparency, grid, diagram, contrast, emphasis…. For inspiration from those who have gone before, click here. Final size of the page should be 8×10 inches and vertical. Convince me/us that you have considered every square inch of the composition. This does not necessarily mean you have to “fill” all the space, but that you have thought about and taken care with the whole. Enjoy yourself in the making!

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