Q & A

Prompts & Exercises

A writing exercise—for prose or poetry—inspired by a very short story (613 words) published many moons ago (2004) by Deb Olin Unferth, whose new novel, Earth 7, is forthcoming in June from Graywolf Press.

Passport

Start by reading “Passport” by Deb Olin Unferth. Use this story as a template.

First, choose a question to put at the end of your story, essay, or poem. Then, start at the beginning and answer this question as you lead up to it.

Come up with your own question or choose from the following:

  • What did you do with your other?
  • Where exactly were you going?
  • Who does she think she is?

Add a changing refrain throughout, like in “Passport”:

  • “Her blue bathroom pass, her wave-through, her half-mast.”
  • “Her welcome parade, her tossed baton.”
  • “Her marked cards, her that for this, her dearly departure.”