The Map in the Hollow

1. Compose an opening paragraph that centers on a small, hidden space, perhaps a tea tin, a birdhouse, or the hollow of a tree. Fill this container with something unexpected and bright, like a collection of glass marbles or a tangle of teal silk thread. 2.

Write about an object of navigation, such as an old compass or a hand-drawn map, that points toward a place that shouldn't exist. Let the tone stay light and curious as you describe the needle spinning toward a chimney made of salt or a garden that only grows at night. 3.

Explore the feeling of following this path by describing one small, physical sensation of the journey. You might mention the weight of sand in your pockets or the sudden, warm smell of woodsmoke from a distant roof.

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