[identity profile] mbarker.livejournal.com
original posting 13 June 2009

Writers' Digest, August 2006, pages 30, 32 and 33, have an article by Joe Ortiz with some discussion of creativity followed by six -- a half-dozen! -- exercises. The title of the article is, "Supercharge Your Creativity."

From painting: Monet and the Stick

Claude Monet attached a brush to a long stick to avoid using comfortable, well-rehearsed methods. By breaking up his habits, and deliberately trying out new mechanics, he let himself play, experiencing impulse and expression.

Your task: "This game combines Monet's device with a Zen practice called 'walking meditation.' Take a passage you're having trouble with from your current project. Grab your notebook and a pen and take a walk. Let your mind bounce between your passage and the scenery around you. When a thought strikes, stop wherever you are and write one sentence. Then walk around again and repeat the process, allowing your mind to run free. When something pops into your head, stop again and write the next sentence. Continue walking and writing until the paragraph is completed. Take just five minutes."

Don't just sit there, get up and write!

Dancing in the light...
[identity profile] mbarker.livejournal.com
Original posting 10 May 2009

Writers' Digest, October 2004, pages 26 to 33, has a collection of short "nuggets of wisdom" related to getting published. Maria Schneider is the author of the compilation. Take a deep breath, and here we go:
"Stay in touch with the first impulses that made you start writing -- the pleasure of it and the interest of the story, and not so much the professional side of things. Remain close to that -- when you began writing and were intoxicated with it. If you do, the rest will come, as difficult as that may be." Jeffrey Eugenides
What makes you excited about writing? What makes you want to sit down and bash out a bunch of words? There's the craft and professional side of things, but there's also the fire, the thrill, the push. Flame wars... yes, they're bad. But at the same time, there's something there that makes you keep on pushing at it. Watch for those points of irritation, those excitement spots that make you want to rush into words -- and do something about them!

Write!

Come on, baby, light my fire...

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