Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here . . .
An invitation (and a competition) to write a eulogy to an object.
In this letter, I am excited to share that I am the guest judge for this week’s London Writers' Salon writing contest, where I invite writers to compose a 500-word eulogy for an object. Writing about something from the perspective of real or imagined loss is an interesting exercise both as a creative prompt as well as an exploration of the self’s attachment to things. Below, I’ll share details about how to submit to the competition, and I will share my tips to get you started! I hope you join in! Submit by Friday 23 May.
Dear You —
I love the word eulogy, literally “good words” from the ancient Greek. Historically, eulogies were publicly orated texts to praise an individual after their death. In modern times, eulogies are shared by family and friends during funeral and memorial services.
While eulogies often carry a sense of solemnity and reverence, what happens when we approach the form creatively, with emotional resonance, yes, but also with humour, irony, or surprise?
This is the prompt for the
’s Weekly Writing Contest: Eulogy for an Object.
Here are a few tips I put together to help writers get started:
1. Start by making a list of ten objects that are no longer a part of your life. These could be:
Tangible: a childhood blanket, a wedding dress, a Walkman, a flip phone, a broken appliance, a pair of school shoes, the family car, a lost sock.
Intangible: a deleted playlist, a scent no longer encountered, a vanished neighbourhood, a forgotten childhood memory.
Symbolic: an old key, a concert ticket, a piece of jewellery now lost.
2. For each object, write a few phrases or sentences about why it mattered to you. Don’t overthink it; just let the memories surface. If you’re a visual thinker, try mind-mapping or sketching too.
3. Scan your list and pick the one object that is most surprising or striking; the one you are most curious about.
4. Describe your object using all five senses. What did it smell like? What was special about its shape and colour? Did it make a sound when handled? What did it feel like to the touch? What did it taste like, literally or metaphorically?
5. Describe your object as a mythical or animal creature. The eulogy historically has an elevated or even mythical tone in its praise and celebration of the lost person. How might you elevate your object? This could be fun and bring in an ironic and humorous tone to your eulogy. Have fun!
5. Expand on this now by writing the timeline of this object’s presence in your life. Consider:
When and how did it arrive in your life?
What experiences did you share with this object?
What did it represent for you? Consider the broader themes of home, childhood, identify, love, connection, transience.
What impact did it have on your life? How did it touch you and others?
When did things start to change?
How did it disappear or “die”?
What is life like without it?
What memories linger today?
6. Now begin composing and shaping your eulogy. You may like to look up some famous examples of eulogies available online (such as the one for Princess Diana). Be inspired by the language, form and tone. Consider the form: you could write this as a speech, a letter or a poem. Consider your tone: you could adopt a humorous, poetic, vulnerable or formal tone.
7. Final considerations: By composing a eulogy, we engage with memory, meaning and impermanence. How would you like this to affect your reader? What do you want them to you learn about the object, about you, and about your emotional relationship with the object? What’s the takeaway?
For all the details of the writing competition plus information on how to submit your piece, click below! And a big thank you to the talented
for inviting me and helping me with the challenge prompt!
Meet me in the comments
I’m thinking of running a 7 Days & 7 Eulogies which would work in the same way as the 7 Days of Joyful Death Writing. A different prompt each day to write a short eulogy to objects, ideas, persons. If you like this idea, do let me know in the comments. I’d be looking at an early June date.
Love this!