Category: creativity
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If you haven’t heard, Sir Anthony Hopkins’ (the actor) composition, “and the waltz goes on,“ go here and take a listen. Why? Because it shows us something special. This man, this actor who has reached every height of his career, still wants something else. I believe he started out as a Music person and then…
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Here’s an easy way to spark some creative thinking and problem-solving. Pick a card, any card. Every card has a different object. Figure out its story. Does everyone want it? Is it causing problems? Conflict? How will you resolve things? How will you solve the problem? Answer those questions with the story. Then, transfer those…
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(Today’s Show Up! Journal power words): Make your mind your inspiration and make your body your instrument. That’s how you create, make art, and change the world. All the thoughts and inspiration in the world don’t mean diddly unless you use them to do something, unless you make them express something. If you don’t use…
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Today’s Show Up! Journal power words. Each of us is an artist. We don’t have to hold a paintbrush or a guitar to be one. We can create art in how we think, what we say, and what we do. As long as these things come from that passionate place inside each of us, that…
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I took the bus home from a day-trip to New York last night. While riding back to DC, I posted an image last night of a person who was driving while texting. I called him a dipsh*t because he was driving and also doing something on his phone. In my mind, if you are driving…
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I have been thinking a lot of about time in the last few days. I have embarked upon a new meditation practice. I’m starting small and dedicating only ten minutes a day (five in the morning and five in the evening). The time allotment might seem too short for some, but it has a purpose.…
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Yesterday, when I promised to write about this topic, I thought I would be rarin’ to go. I’m amazed how insidious that self-doubt can be. I’ll do anything to avoid getting my butt in the seat and doing the work. I’ll walk the dog, I’ll meditate (again). I’ll drink more water. By themselves, these things…
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I’m reading Steven Pressfield’s excellent book, “The War of Art.” If you have any desire to pursue your art, run towards this book with open arms. So far, it’s amazing, validating, and oh so frustrating. Pressfield points out all the hidden places we run to keep ourselves from working on our art/craft. I’ve winced more…
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I recently read Derek Siver’s excellent, short book, “Anything You Want.” One of the chapters is titled, “If not hell yeah, then no.” It means that unless you are excited to do something, don’t do it. Say no. Then, you leave yourself open to cool new opportunities that you will be thrilled to accept. I…
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Well, of course, I would quote one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite movies. That’s Han Solo from the Empire Strikes Back. When I was thirteen years old and seeing it for the first time, that line solidified something in me. It started my love affair with pushing my boundaries. I’ve jumped…
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Yesterday, I facilitated my “Present Out Loud” workshop at Balticon (the Maryland Regional Science Fiction/Fantasy convention). The workshop is on how to present/read your work at bookstore events, interviews, audio narrations, and workshops. We worked on breath technique, voicing, characterization, and how to differentiate your narrator from your characters and their dialogue. But mostly, we…
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When you create, sensitivity is a must. But when you are trying to sell what you’ve created, it can be downright dangerous. This is what has me thinking this morning before I head out to another day at Balticon (The Baltimore Science Fiction Convention at which I am a presenter/participant this year). I’m about to…
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Yesterday was a crazy day in my life. I had to complete two vastly different projects. First, I was presenting my “Let’s Talk Clouds” workshop at a local middle school. As the Earth Lady, I work with schools to help students jump-start their interest in science, specifically Earth Science. Then, I switched gears and released…
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I feel like I’ve joined the rest of you in the 21st century. I’m signing up for paperless billing (I can handle getting everything via email and still pay all my bills and do all my accounting, right? Right? I’m not so brain-fried that I can’t manage that, I hope.) It’s always interesting to me…
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Why I take vacations I don’t do it often, but it turns out I need the recharge time. I’m crawling back to myself on this break. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my roles in the lives of my friends, my clients, my students, and the world at large. The big revelation? I…
