There is a saying, "When you want to control your cow, give it a big field to wander in." Drop down to a deeper level and tell us all the details of your unhappiness. (Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones) Of course, I take it to mean, tell us all the details of your joy as well!
While it may seem contraindicated, to me, small stones work in much to same way, giving the writer the same kind of control but taking her there in a more finite way by having her concentrate on the minute ...
Wherein Small Stones became a River of Stones (January 2011) that are sometimes part of a Handful of Stones that are eagerly awaiting a chance to join another River of Stones in July 2011.