Writing Prompt: Tell a story out loud. Walk in circles, a zig-zag, any pattern as if you're having a long phone conversation. And speak out loud. Really wax poetic—stuff as many images, rhymes, slant rhymes, and metaphors as possible while describing your story. Talk as fast as you can and don't let yourself get hung up, embarrassed, or stop. When you're five minutes are up, sit down and write as much as you can remember (or record yourself). Then prepare for a whole lotta editing.

NOTE: There is an error in this episode's introduction. William Evans’ most recent book is not Still Can't Do My Daughter's Hair (2017), but We Inherit What the Fires Left (2020).