1.  Write your own five pieces of personal advice that you would give to others. These cannot be mentioned in the song.  Example: My advice  Always carry a camera with you, you never know when you will need it.  Watch a black and white movie that was made in the 1940’s.  Laugh when you feel angry.  Spend time alone.  Pay real complements to strangers.  Write your own advice poem modeled after the song.  Focus on one particular subject.  Use the following format:

2. Title Write the most important piece of advice. List five pieces of advice, each of which must be at least one sentence in length. Two of the pieces must be explained in the poem. List five additional pieces of advice. These can be one word or longer. List a series of opposites. Write a normalizing statement or global statement. Restate the most important piece of advice. Do NOT write it word for word.

3. Photography Buy a good camera. Always have a camera with you. You never know when you might need it. Carry spare batteries and memory cards. Take pictures of the details. Photograph people and things that strike you as beautiful, funny, interesting. Take lots of pictures. You never know when you might get the perfect shot. Experiment. Remember the importance of light. Keep old photos safe. Take silly pictures. Be in pictures. Maybe you’ll become a professional; maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll master using an SLR; maybe you’ll only ever use a point-and-shoot. Maybe the world will see your photos; maybe only your friends and family will- either way, capture the memories that are precious to you. Remember, every picture tells a story, so leave behind a lifetime’s worth. But, trust me, buy a good camera.

4. Title Write the most important piece of advice. List five pieces of advice, each of which must be at least one sentence in length. Two of the pieces must be explained in the poem. List five additional pieces of advice. These can be one word or longer. List a series of opposites. Write a normalizing statement or global statement. Restate the most important piece of advice. Do NOT write it word for word. Photography Buy a good camera. Always have a camera with you. You never know when you might need it. Carry spare batteries and memory cards. Take pictures of the details. Photograph people and things that strike you as beautiful, funny, interesting. Take lots of pictures. You never know when you might get the perfect shot. Experiment. Remember the importance of light. Keep old photos safe. Take silly pictures. Be in pictures. Maybe you’ll become a professional; maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll master using an SLR; maybe you’ll only ever use a point-and-shoot. Maybe the world will see your photos; maybe only your friends and family will- either way, capture the memories that are precious to you. Remember, every picture tells a story, so leave behind a lifetime’s worth. But, trust me, buy a good camera.