Weekly Writing Prompt No. 49

Do you know how big your digital footprint is?

I created my first writing prompt on the Hysteria Writing Competition website in January 2022, just over two years ago. I’ve been writing them weekly, with just one or two breaks ever since, and they have been at home here on Substack since November 2022.

In the beginning, they were a way for me to wonder about, and practice, the art of creative writing. Over time, they became an exercise that allowed me to consider some of the bigger issues of life from a real or fictional perspective.

They have been the only consistent thing on my Substack site. The essays I intended to write have not materialised, the courses I wanted to add are similarly still lurking somewhere in the depths of my mind, and the writing support I planned to offer has been sadly lacking, for which I apologise.

I could offer all sorts of reasons for the above, but that’s not really the point. Instead, I am committing to writing one prompt every week. My aim is to use them to examine my own unexamined life, if you want to do the same you are welcome to do so; but you may prefer to approach them from a purely fictional perspective to develop that creative writing muscle we all know needs exercise.

So, with all that now said and put aside, take these prompts as you find them. Share your thoughts if you wish, use a journal if you prefer, or just consider and ponder the questions over your favourite beverage. Alternatively, you might wonder how a character or situation in a fictional world may react to the same question. Perhaps it might lead to a novel someday!

So have fun, enjoy the process and write heaps.

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In early December last year, I ran the first Digital Wisdom Workshop for a small group of participants. I had no idea what, if anything, would work as my aim was solely to raise awareness about the effects of the digital soup we all find ourselves floating in.

I’m pleased to say it went well, the attendees said they got a lot out of it and made some significant changes to their digital health as a result.

By far the most useful part of the day according to everyone was when we used old-fashioned paper and pens to draw our digital footprints.

This was a sobering experience for everyone, even me who already had an idea of what to expect.

The purpose of the exercise was to see, on paper, the consequences of living a digital life, not so we would throw it away but so we could understand how things linked together and connected to create our own experience of the digital world as it is.

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The Prompt

Today, this is less about writing and more about reflection, as I encourage you to draw your own digital footprint.

1. Set aside about 30 minutes for this exercise.

2. Take a sheet of paper, I’m sure there is some on a printer nearby if necessary, and a few coloured pens.

3. Put a symbol representing you in the centre of the paper - I drew a little head with hair, you might be far more artistic than I could ever hope to be.

4. Next, write in all the online services you use, however infrequently. This could be online shopping sites, banking apps, phone apps, email providers, search engines, social media accounts, video conferencing, streaming services, education sites, and software or email providers like Microsoft.

5. Draw a line from each one back to your symbol in the middle.

6. Now join them together wherever they share information. For example, if you shop online does that service store your bank account or credit card details for convenience? Do you use Google to sign in to Facebook or Substack?

7. Be honest! No one will see what you do unless you choose to share it with them.

8. Reflect.

9. Write. Note down how you feel about what you now see. How do you (or your character) feel? What are the consequences, intended or otherwise of your footprint? Do you want to make any changes, and if so what will you do? These are not the only questions you might find useful.

My effort will be added to the comments later.

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The Weekly Newsletter

Something to do ..

I am hosting a second Digital Wisdom Workshop on 24th February in deepest, darkest West Dorset. If you would like to join me you can find out more about the workshop on my website here: https://lindaph.co.uk/event/digital-wisdom-how-to-be-happier-safer-and-private-online/

I also work with clients one to one, and you might prefer this especially if you don’t happen to live close to Dorset. If you would like to know more, you can visit this page on my website and fill out the form to have an initial conversation: https://lindaph.co.uk/booking-one-to-one/

With love, light, and laughter
Linda
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(Image by Beate from Pixabay)