Hannah Vincent

In Rachel Cusk’s latest novel, a writer sets himself a daily task of thinking about an object that doesn’t mean anything to him and including that object somewhere in that day’s work. In the novel, the example Cusk’s character gives of such an ‘object’ is… a hamster.

The solid fact of an object with no emotional resonance for the writer can helpfully focus the writing. Of course, you may have a meaningful relationships with a hamster, in which case choose an alternative – and another the next day, and another the next day etc.