4 Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

Hello to all my creatives, this post is for you. I mostly write and am working on a new novel. This is slow going, because I am still working on how to structure a story and keep it going till the end. It is much harder than it sounds, but all writers are constantly getting better… what we like to call ‘perfecting our craft’. I imagine many creatives have a similar stance. So, today, I want to talk about a few ways I like to spark, or even reignite, my creativity.

  1. Change of scenery. I work at a desk in my home office and by office, I mean the corner I keep my computer and desk in. Because of have young kids, this doesn’t always lend itself to productive actions. It also means a lot of my writing gets done in the evening, especially during the summer. When I really need to keep going with the story, I like to grab my laptop and try the park or even the ubiquitous coffee shop. Some like it for the people watching, that they then use in their writings. But mostly, I use it as an opportunity to zone out to the sound of my keys and the voice of the story. 
  2. Change of story. This might sound counter to what you are trying to accomplish at that time. Yet, often putting down your current project to start or continue another, gives your brain a chance to stretch in a different way. Then when you come back to the current work, your words may flow a bit better. As a writer, my brain is often thinking about characters in the background, so leaving and returning often has given my brain time to work on any problems without me being totally present. It is like when you get those flashes of insight and great ideas when you are in the shower. Mostly, that’s because you are not laser focused on the problem and have moved on. So, then your brain can work out the sticking points.
  3. Change of background. This one sounds weird and really similar to changing your scenery. But I use it in a different manner. Background for me is often the sounds of a home with kids arguing, televisions going, and interruptions even though I am supposed to be in a ‘no talk to Mommy’ zone. Some people write with music and have whole play lists devoted to their book. Or they just use it as white noise so they can focus. If you usually work to background noise, maybe try working in a place where there is no noise. Maybe you will hear that character who couldn’t get through your background. If you normally work in a  mostly quiet environment, you can try music, or the television on a channel that doesn’t distract you but, can focus you. You don’t have to have a work in progress (WIP) play list, you could just put on a music genre you enjoy. The different stimuli may spark a new idea or direction, or just focus the one you are on.
  4. Put it down and pick up a book. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the story we are trying to create for the page that when we get stuck, we feel like we can’t stop. We have a goal and are adamant about reaching it. Yet, that isn’t always realistic, so when all else fails me, I pick up a book. Most writers I know love to read, and they don’t just read the types of books they write. Going off into a new world provided by a book just gives me a respite from the work of writing.

Now, these four ideas are certainly not unique and you may have heard of one or all, but I hope you got some new ideas about how you can avoid the occasional burn out of perfection. These are mostly ideas for writers, but I can see where others could adapt the ideas for their own use. Let me know what types of things you use to spark your creativity and keep it alive. I look forward to hearing from you.

3 Books of My Late Summer Reading To-Do List

Have you been reading this summer? I spend a lot of time reading, a host of genres. Really anything that captures my attention I will try. I even have that terrible feeling of guilt to finish books I don’t really like. So, I generally have a never-ending books to read list that grows daily as I find more interesting stories I want to give a try. This summer I meant to catch up on some books I had on my list from earlier in the year and read one parenting book in regards to my 2e children. Well, like many of you probably, summer was a blur of fun, pools, beaches, camps, and video games. While the kids did all of that, I found myself gravitating to quick and fun reads with tons of HEAs. So, I didn’t get to some of those books I originally planned on, but I read other great stories, so it isn’t a bust! Now, as we have only a few weeks before back to school here in Central Florida, I am re-committing to finishing these three books.

  1. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi – this book has had a lot of great buzz. Many writers I enjoy following made me aware of Ms. Adeyemi before the publication in February. Then I saw the viral video of her unpacking her first box of bound books and I knew I wanted to be a part of her expansive love of words. This fantasy tells the story of one girl’s journey to reintroduce magic to her world along with fighting the ruling monarchy. Grand new world with interesting characters and qualities, check. There are wonderful takes on mythology, religion, and culture, so sign me up to be immersed in this newly imagined world where a girl is fighting to save us all. And, it is now a summer read on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show, which is awesome exposure for the author. This is a must read on my list and I can’t wait to jump into Orïsha through the pages of this novel.
  2. Cedric The Demonic Knight by Valerie Willis – in the vein of transparency, I personally know Ms. Willis but haven’t read her work before. This is the first in the Cedric Series and was published a few years ago. Here we get to go on another adventure into a fantasy world built with folklore, myths, and history from the 12th century. It is filled with beasts and demons, where Cedric battles himself in an epic choice quest. I always find it fascinating the many ways writers use and interpret folklore and myth. I am excited to finally read this fantasy world.
  3. The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D. – as you know through many of my posts, I have twice exceptional (2e) kids and sometimes that means things don’t go so smoothly. One of the psychiatrists in our lives suggested I read this book to better equip myself and our family with understanding behaviors, identifying triggers, and solving problems in a proactive manner. I have read the first couple of chapters and I see us in almost every paragraph. So, I look forward to reading this popular parenting guide that has been useful to so many others and recommended by those we entrust with our physical and mental health.

Now that I have this goal, I’m planning to finish by September 30th. Stay tuned to see if I can do it.

The Cost of Hanging Out

I have a medical condition called Fibromyalgia. Not much is known about this condition which causes widespread pain in your soft tissue and joints. It is also a diagnosis of last resort. What that means is, many other conditions have been tested for and discarded. What is absolutely does not mean, is that Fibromyalgia is not real. It takes years of research and a measurable number of complaints to name a condition, even if many have been living with the symptoms all their lives. Not having a name for something doesn’t wipe it from existence.

The most common symptom list that I think covers them well is the one found on WebMD. No, I don’t nor do I recommend, diagnosing yourself on a website, but it does have good information to supplement all the info you didn’t catch when your doctor diagnosed you. So, back to that symptom list. It includes:

  • Muscle pain, burning, twitching, or tightness
  • Low pain threshold or specific tender points
  • Draining fatigue
  • Trouble concentrating and remembering, called “fibro fog”
  • Insomnia or not sleeping well
  • Feeling nervous, worried, or depressed

Lucky me, I have all of those. I have had them for almost as long as I can remember, but a definitive diagnosis was years in the making.  One of the many things I have had to adjust, even more the older I get, is how active I can be. My active list isn’t limited to exercising, which is what people tend to think of when you use the word “active”. My list includes household chores, numerous errands, exercise, field trips, and hanging out with friends. All of these things can inadvertently send me to bed for days or more. That is where I find myself today.

Yesterday, family friends had a small gathering at their home, it included the whole family. Since this was also a fireworks viewing party, it involved standing outside watching the kids set off personal displays and walking down the block to view the city’s fireworks display in celebration of America’s Independence Day. Today, I can barely function. My whole body is a flaming, open sore and I know that nothing much will be done by me. I have a lot of guilt about the times I am experiencing extreme pain and can’t push through my day. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but many people with chronic illness suffer from depression and anxiety and guilt. I feel bad that the cost of three hours of a low-key house party has me curled up in bed wishing for strong pain relief. I also wish I had some magic answer here. I don’t, me and many others, have to live this life daily. We constantly battle the want to do things with how it may affect us and what we absolutely need to do.

I am learning to manage saying no when I am already low on spoons. You can read about the famous spoon analogy here. It is the equivalent of having a low emotional or physical bucket from which to pull. I also am working on balancing having fun and what it may cost me. Now to work on the guilt of being chronically ill and I may just come to grips with my limitations yet.