Letter from an object

Day 4: Letter from an object

Llythyr gan wrthrych

I’m a writer, poet and author. I’m also the Children’s Laureate of wales 2023 -2025. I hope to inspire a positive connection to literature by sharing my own work and encouraging others to explore creative writing for themselves.

I visit schools, libraries and festivals throughout the UK, and this has helped me develop workshops that are enjoyable and accessible. I believe literature and language has the ability to improve our lives. And I’m excited to be an associate artist for this exciting creative challenge.

We all have objects that we overuse, or perhaps overlook. When we switch perspective and become the object, there is so much to explore. so much to learn and imagine. This makes the writing playful, expressive, inventive and accessible. We learn about ourselves too, if we’re honest.

https://www.literaturewales.org/our-projects/alex-wharton/

https://www.instagram.com/alexwharton_/?hl=en

Dwi’n sgwennwr, bardd ac awdur. Fi hefyd yw Children’s Laureate Cymru 2023- 2025. Dwi’n gobeithio ysbrydoli cysylltiad cadarnhaol gyda llenyddiaeth drwy rannu fy ngwaith fy hun ac annog pobl eraill i archwilio ysgrifennu creadigol ar eu liwt eu hunain. Dwi’n ymweld ag ysgolion, llyfrgelloedd a gwyliau ar draws y DU, ac mae hyn wedi fy helpu i ddatblygu gweithdai hwyliog a hygyrch. Dwi’n credu bod gan lenyddiaeth ac iaith y gallu i wella bywydau, a dwi’n llawn cyffro i fod yn artist cyswllt ar yr her greadigol gyffrous hon.

https://www.literaturewales.org/our-projects/alex-wharton/

https://www.instagram.com/alexwharton_/?hl=en

Do

Write a short letter to yourself from the perspective of an object that you use, or maybe misuse everyday.

What object? A toothbrush, the car, the kettle, it could be anything.

What would the object say? is it annoyed, under-appreciated, is it running away? Maybe it has some advice for you.

Think like the object, BECOME the object! And give it a personality, a bit of character.

You could write a few lines or maybe a whole page. I wrote mine like a poem, you can do whatever you like.

Ysgrifennwch lythyr atoch chi eich hun o safbwynt gwrthrych rydych chi’n ei ddefnyddio (neu efallai’n camddefnyddio) bob dydd. Pa wrthrych? Brwsh dannedd, y car, y tegell, gall fod yn unrhyw beth. Beth fyddai’r gwrthrych yn ei ddweud? Ydy e’n ddig, ddim yn cael ei werthfawrogi ddigon, yn rhedeg i ffwrdd? Efallai fod ganddo gyngor i chi. Rhowch eich hun yn esgidiau’r gwrthrych! A rhowch bersonoliaeth iddo, dipyn bach o gymeriad. Gallwch ysgrifennu ychydig o frawddegau neu dudalen lawn. Ysgrifennais fy un i fel cerdd, ond gallwch chi ddewis beth i’w wneud.

Think

What did you learn about the way you use your objects and belongings? What did you learn about you?

This exercise invites us to think outside of the box, to reflect on a life outside of our own and express our findings, our ideas through words.

Beth ddysgoch chi am y ffordd rydych chi’n defnyddio eich pethau a’ch eiddo? Beth ddysgoch chi amdanoch chi eich hun? Mae’r ymarfer hwn yn ein gwahodd ni i feddwl y tu allan i’r bocs, i fyfyrio ar fywyd y tu hwnt i’n bywyd ein hunain a mynegi ein canfyddiadau a’n syniadau drwy eiriau.

Share

Read your letter out loud to a friend or family member.

Post it online.

Invite them to think of their own objects and belongings, and what they would say – if they could.

#TheJanuaryChallenge

Read our top tips for accessible sharing on social media.

Darllenwch eich llythyr yn uchel i ffrind neu aelod o’r teulu. Rhannwch e ar-lein. Gwahoddwch nhw i feddwl am eu heiddo eu hunain, a beth fydden nhw’n ei ddweud – petaen nhw’n gallu. #TheJanuaryChallenge