Val Andrews's Blog, page 2
May 30, 2024
Unlock the Magic of Storytelling with "Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing"
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
Storytelling is a timeless art form, one that bridges the gap between fact and fiction, reality and imagination. If you're a writer yearning to transform your lived experiences into compelling narratives, "Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" is your ultimate guide. This book is more than a manual; it's a masterclass in the craft of storytelling, designed to inspire, educate, and elevate your writing to new heights.
WHY CREATIVE NONFICTION?
Creative nonfiction is a genre that merges the factual accuracy of journalism with the expressive techniques of fiction. It allows writers to convey truth with the emotional resonance of a novel, making it a powerful tool for storytelling. Whether you're penning a memoir, crafting literary journalism, or exploring personal essays, this book offers invaluable insights into mastering the delicate balance between reality and imagination.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
"Creative Nonfiction" delves into the core elements of narrative craft, providing practical advice and inspiration for writers at every stage of their journey. Here's a glimpse of what awaits you inside:
* Historical Context: Gain a deeper understanding of the roots and evolution of creative nonfiction, learning from the masters who have shaped the genre.
* Subgenre Characteristics: Explore the defining features of various subgenres, supported by extracts and examples from critically acclaimed works.
* Inspiration Techniques: Discover methods for finding inspiration in your surroundings and transforming those sparks into substantive ideas.
* Theme Development: Learn how to identify the central theme of your book and outline your narrative to bring that theme to life.
Narrative Structure: Understand the different types of narrative structures and choose the one that best suits your story.
* Point of View: Get tips on selecting the narrative distance and point of view that enhance your book's central theme.
* Literary Techniques: Master the techniques for writing compelling narratives and unforgettable characters.
* Unique Voice: Develop your unique voice as a writer, ensuring your stories stand out.
* 14-Day Draft Plan: Follow a structured plan to complete a full first draft of your manuscript in just two weeks.
* Feedback Integration: Learn how to integrate feedback from subject matter experts and beta readers effectively.
* Research Guidance: Conduct thorough research and evaluate the credibility of your sources to strengthen your narrative.
* Revision Strategies: Develop a robust revision and editing plan, ensuring your manuscript is polished and credible.
* Reader Engagement: Identify and engage your ideal reader while maintaining your integrity as an author.
* Publishing Tips: Navigate the publishing ecosystem with confidence, and launch your book successfully in three phases.
* Long-Term Success: Stay ahead of social, political, and technological trends impacting the genre and ensure your long-term success as an author.
WHY THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
"Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" is not just a guide; it's a clarion call to the storyteller within you. This book urges you to embrace the power of your unique perspective, inviting you to join a lineage of writers who bridge worlds, connect souls, and capture the complexities of the human experience.
Imagine being able to write stories that not only engage but enlighten, stories that resonate with authenticity and emotional depth. This book equips you with the tools and techniques to do just that, transforming your writing process into an act of magic where every word is a spell cast upon the world.
JOIN THE JOURNEY
As the future unfurls with promise and potential, "Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" stands as a sentinel at the gateway to literary innovation. For the writer who wants to tell stories that touch lives, this guide is your compass to a world where narrative is an act of magic.
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
Storytelling is a timeless art form, one that bridges the gap between fact and fiction, reality and imagination. If you're a writer yearning to transform your lived experiences into compelling narratives, "Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" is your ultimate guide. This book is more than a manual; it's a masterclass in the craft of storytelling, designed to inspire, educate, and elevate your writing to new heights.
WHY CREATIVE NONFICTION?
Creative nonfiction is a genre that merges the factual accuracy of journalism with the expressive techniques of fiction. It allows writers to convey truth with the emotional resonance of a novel, making it a powerful tool for storytelling. Whether you're penning a memoir, crafting literary journalism, or exploring personal essays, this book offers invaluable insights into mastering the delicate balance between reality and imagination.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
"Creative Nonfiction" delves into the core elements of narrative craft, providing practical advice and inspiration for writers at every stage of their journey. Here's a glimpse of what awaits you inside:
* Historical Context: Gain a deeper understanding of the roots and evolution of creative nonfiction, learning from the masters who have shaped the genre.
* Subgenre Characteristics: Explore the defining features of various subgenres, supported by extracts and examples from critically acclaimed works.
* Inspiration Techniques: Discover methods for finding inspiration in your surroundings and transforming those sparks into substantive ideas.
* Theme Development: Learn how to identify the central theme of your book and outline your narrative to bring that theme to life.
Narrative Structure: Understand the different types of narrative structures and choose the one that best suits your story.
* Point of View: Get tips on selecting the narrative distance and point of view that enhance your book's central theme.
* Literary Techniques: Master the techniques for writing compelling narratives and unforgettable characters.
* Unique Voice: Develop your unique voice as a writer, ensuring your stories stand out.
* 14-Day Draft Plan: Follow a structured plan to complete a full first draft of your manuscript in just two weeks.
* Feedback Integration: Learn how to integrate feedback from subject matter experts and beta readers effectively.
* Research Guidance: Conduct thorough research and evaluate the credibility of your sources to strengthen your narrative.
* Revision Strategies: Develop a robust revision and editing plan, ensuring your manuscript is polished and credible.
* Reader Engagement: Identify and engage your ideal reader while maintaining your integrity as an author.
* Publishing Tips: Navigate the publishing ecosystem with confidence, and launch your book successfully in three phases.
* Long-Term Success: Stay ahead of social, political, and technological trends impacting the genre and ensure your long-term success as an author.
WHY THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
"Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" is not just a guide; it's a clarion call to the storyteller within you. This book urges you to embrace the power of your unique perspective, inviting you to join a lineage of writers who bridge worlds, connect souls, and capture the complexities of the human experience.
Imagine being able to write stories that not only engage but enlighten, stories that resonate with authenticity and emotional depth. This book equips you with the tools and techniques to do just that, transforming your writing process into an act of magic where every word is a spell cast upon the world.
JOIN THE JOURNEY
As the future unfurls with promise and potential, "Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing" stands as a sentinel at the gateway to literary innovation. For the writer who wants to tell stories that touch lives, this guide is your compass to a world where narrative is an act of magic.
Creative Nonfiction: How to Blend Reality with Imagination in Your Writing
May 26, 2024
What causes creativity in childhood?
According to mainstream science, human creativity is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including brain structure and function, dopamine levels, personality traits, cognitive processes, emotional state, and environmental factors. Each of those factors, on their own, are complex enough, but when you add them all together, to varying degrees, applied in unique ways, you probably get an infinite combination of possibilities for individual creativity making it almost impossible to explain why a person is creative and in what context their creativity shines.
EARLY INFLUENCES
If I were to pinpoint one influence or one moment in time in my life, when my creativity was stimulated, it would have been when I first read: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". At seven years of age, I was probably open to influences more than any other time in my life. (Mainstream science seems to suggest that seven is the age when our cognitive processes finally become clear.)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
I own many copies and versions of the book, each with their own unique style of illustration, and I love them all. They are my babies, in a way. Some forty years later, I still read them and every time, I am struck by the genius of the writing and the plot. Having written a series of magical adventure stories for children aged 7-12 years, I now understand how and why "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has stood the test of time, surviving as an icon of creativity and imagination.
WHY IT'S SO AMAZING
Imaginative World-Building: Carroll creates an entirely unique and whimsical world filled with fantastical creatures, bizarre rules, and surreal landscapes. Wonderland defies logical conventions, inviting readers into a realm where anything is possible.
Original Characters: The book introduces memorable and eccentric characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit. These characters are not only distinct and imaginative but also challenge conventional character archetypes.
Playful Use of Language: Carroll employs wordplay, puns, riddles, and nonsensical poetry, showcasing a deep creativity in language and storytelling. The poem "Jabberwocky" is a prime example of his inventive use of made-up words and imaginative scenarios.
Surreal and Absurd Logic: The narrative structure and the events in Wonderland follow a dream-like, often illogical progression, which mirrors the fluid and unpredictable nature of a child's imagination.
Encourages Imagination: The fantastical elements of the story encourage children to use their imagination, envisioning the curious and often bizarre scenes described in the book.
Promotes Creative Thinking: By presenting a world where normal rules do not apply, the book encourages children to think outside the box and consider alternative perspectives and solutions to problems.
Engages with Playful Ideas: The whimsical and humorous tone of the story, along with its playful ideas, can inspire children to approach life with curiosity and a sense of playfulness.
Stimulates Interest in Language: Carroll’s inventive use of language can spark an interest in words and storytelling, prompting children to play with language and create their own stories and poems.
Exploration of Identity and Curiosity: Alice's journey is also a metaphor for self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, themes that can resonate with children as they explore their own identities and curiosities.
CONCLUSION
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is undoubtedly a creative masterpiece. Its imaginative world, original characters, and playful use of language not only highlight Lewis Carroll’s creativity but also have the power to stimulate creativity in children. The book invites young readers to explore their own imaginations, think creatively, and embrace the whimsical aspects of storytelling, making it both a creative work and a tool for fostering creativity.
Why is this important? What do you think?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
EARLY INFLUENCES
If I were to pinpoint one influence or one moment in time in my life, when my creativity was stimulated, it would have been when I first read: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". At seven years of age, I was probably open to influences more than any other time in my life. (Mainstream science seems to suggest that seven is the age when our cognitive processes finally become clear.)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
I own many copies and versions of the book, each with their own unique style of illustration, and I love them all. They are my babies, in a way. Some forty years later, I still read them and every time, I am struck by the genius of the writing and the plot. Having written a series of magical adventure stories for children aged 7-12 years, I now understand how and why "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" has stood the test of time, surviving as an icon of creativity and imagination.
WHY IT'S SO AMAZING
Imaginative World-Building: Carroll creates an entirely unique and whimsical world filled with fantastical creatures, bizarre rules, and surreal landscapes. Wonderland defies logical conventions, inviting readers into a realm where anything is possible.
Original Characters: The book introduces memorable and eccentric characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit. These characters are not only distinct and imaginative but also challenge conventional character archetypes.
Playful Use of Language: Carroll employs wordplay, puns, riddles, and nonsensical poetry, showcasing a deep creativity in language and storytelling. The poem "Jabberwocky" is a prime example of his inventive use of made-up words and imaginative scenarios.
Surreal and Absurd Logic: The narrative structure and the events in Wonderland follow a dream-like, often illogical progression, which mirrors the fluid and unpredictable nature of a child's imagination.
Encourages Imagination: The fantastical elements of the story encourage children to use their imagination, envisioning the curious and often bizarre scenes described in the book.
Promotes Creative Thinking: By presenting a world where normal rules do not apply, the book encourages children to think outside the box and consider alternative perspectives and solutions to problems.
Engages with Playful Ideas: The whimsical and humorous tone of the story, along with its playful ideas, can inspire children to approach life with curiosity and a sense of playfulness.
Stimulates Interest in Language: Carroll’s inventive use of language can spark an interest in words and storytelling, prompting children to play with language and create their own stories and poems.
Exploration of Identity and Curiosity: Alice's journey is also a metaphor for self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, themes that can resonate with children as they explore their own identities and curiosities.
CONCLUSION
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is undoubtedly a creative masterpiece. Its imaginative world, original characters, and playful use of language not only highlight Lewis Carroll’s creativity but also have the power to stimulate creativity in children. The book invites young readers to explore their own imaginations, think creatively, and embrace the whimsical aspects of storytelling, making it both a creative work and a tool for fostering creativity.
Why is this important? What do you think?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
May 25, 2024
Unlock Your Creative Potential with the "Creative Spirit" Online Course
Creative Visualization: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice
Are you ready to embark on a journey that will elevate your creativity, deepen your spirituality, and enhance your overall wellbeing?
Based on the book, Creative Visualization: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice
The "Creative Spirit" online course is designed to help you achieve just that. This unique course uses guided visualizations to unlock your imagination, offering a plethora of tools and techniques to generate new ideas and integrate them seamlessly into your creative practice.
Discover the Power of Creative Visualization
At the heart of the "Creative Spirit" course lies the powerful technique of creative visualization. But what exactly is creative visualization, and how can it benefit you? Creative visualization is a method that uses the imagination to create images and scenarios in the mind, which can then be used to manifest those visions into reality. This technique is not only a powerful tool for generating new ideas but also for enhancing your overall creative process.
In this course, you will learn:
(1) Techniques for Creative Visualization: Understand the fundamentals of creative visualization and how to apply them to capture new insights and ideas.
(2) Integration of Ideas into Creative Practice: Discover methods to seamlessly incorporate these new ideas into your existing creative projects, ensuring a constant flow of innovation.
(3) Unification of Creativity and Spirituality: Explore fun and engaging ways to align your creative practice with your spiritual journey, fostering a deeper connection to both.
(4) Overcoming Creative Barriers: Gain access to quick and easy techniques for breaking through common creative blocks, allowing you to maintain a steady stream of inspiration.
When you enrol in the "Creative Spirit" course, you will receive:
(1) Course Booklet: A comprehensive guide that complements the online materials, providing you with a handy reference as you navigate through the course.
(2) Inspiration & Creativity Series: Enjoy free downloads of all books in our Inspiration & Creativity series, offering additional resources to fuel your creative journey.
Why Choose the "Creative Spirit" Course? If you are committed to developing your creativity, finding new sources of inspiration, and learning how to integrate fresh ideas into your practice, you will love this course. Here’s why:
(1) Lifetime Access: One of the best features of the "Creative Spirit" course is that it offers lifetime access. This means that you can revisit the materials as many times as you like, ensuring that you can benefit from the content at any stage of your creative journey.
(2) Continuous Growth: Creativity, like life, is ever-evolving. The course is designed to support you through different phases of your creative process, providing relevant advice, suggestions, and exercises that can be revisited whenever you need a boost.
(3) Holistic Approach: By balancing creativity, spirituality, and wellbeing, the "Creative Spirit" course offers a holistic approach to personal and professional growth. This balance is essential for sustained creativity and overall happiness.
Benefits of Creative Visualization
Creative visualization is not just about dreaming; it's about making those dreams a reality. Here are some benefits you can expect:
(1) Enhanced Creativity: By regularly practicing creative visualization, you train your mind to think outside the box, leading to more innovative ideas and solutions.
(2) Improved Focus: Visualization helps in honing your concentration, allowing you to focus better on your creative tasks.
(3) Stress Reduction: Engaging in guided visualizations can be a form of meditation, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm and wellbeing.
(4) Greater Confidence: As you see your visualized ideas come to life, your confidence in your creative abilities will grow, encouraging you to tackle even more ambitious projects.
Testimonials from Participants:
(1) Jane S., Artist: "The 'Creative Spirit' course has been a game-changer for me. The guided visualizations are incredibly powerful, and I've been able to integrate new ideas into my artwork in ways I never thought possible."
(2) Mark T., Writer: "I was struggling with writer's block, but the techniques I learned in this course helped me break through those barriers. Now, my writing flows more naturally, and I'm more connected to my work than ever before."
(3) Linda M., Musician: "Balancing my creative practice with my spiritual journey has always been a challenge. This course provided me with the tools to unite the two, and the results have been transformative."
How to Get Started:
Enrolling in the "Creative Spirit" course is simple. Visit our website and sign up today to begin your journey towards a more creative, balanced, and fulfilling life. With lifetime access, you can explore the materials at your own pace and revisit them whenever you need a spark of inspiration.
Creative Visualization: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice
Are you ready to embark on a journey that will elevate your creativity, deepen your spirituality, and enhance your overall wellbeing?
Based on the book, Creative Visualization: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice
The "Creative Spirit" online course is designed to help you achieve just that. This unique course uses guided visualizations to unlock your imagination, offering a plethora of tools and techniques to generate new ideas and integrate them seamlessly into your creative practice.
Discover the Power of Creative Visualization
At the heart of the "Creative Spirit" course lies the powerful technique of creative visualization. But what exactly is creative visualization, and how can it benefit you? Creative visualization is a method that uses the imagination to create images and scenarios in the mind, which can then be used to manifest those visions into reality. This technique is not only a powerful tool for generating new ideas but also for enhancing your overall creative process.
In this course, you will learn:
(1) Techniques for Creative Visualization: Understand the fundamentals of creative visualization and how to apply them to capture new insights and ideas.
(2) Integration of Ideas into Creative Practice: Discover methods to seamlessly incorporate these new ideas into your existing creative projects, ensuring a constant flow of innovation.
(3) Unification of Creativity and Spirituality: Explore fun and engaging ways to align your creative practice with your spiritual journey, fostering a deeper connection to both.
(4) Overcoming Creative Barriers: Gain access to quick and easy techniques for breaking through common creative blocks, allowing you to maintain a steady stream of inspiration.
When you enrol in the "Creative Spirit" course, you will receive:
(1) Course Booklet: A comprehensive guide that complements the online materials, providing you with a handy reference as you navigate through the course.
(2) Inspiration & Creativity Series: Enjoy free downloads of all books in our Inspiration & Creativity series, offering additional resources to fuel your creative journey.
Why Choose the "Creative Spirit" Course? If you are committed to developing your creativity, finding new sources of inspiration, and learning how to integrate fresh ideas into your practice, you will love this course. Here’s why:
(1) Lifetime Access: One of the best features of the "Creative Spirit" course is that it offers lifetime access. This means that you can revisit the materials as many times as you like, ensuring that you can benefit from the content at any stage of your creative journey.
(2) Continuous Growth: Creativity, like life, is ever-evolving. The course is designed to support you through different phases of your creative process, providing relevant advice, suggestions, and exercises that can be revisited whenever you need a boost.
(3) Holistic Approach: By balancing creativity, spirituality, and wellbeing, the "Creative Spirit" course offers a holistic approach to personal and professional growth. This balance is essential for sustained creativity and overall happiness.
Benefits of Creative Visualization
Creative visualization is not just about dreaming; it's about making those dreams a reality. Here are some benefits you can expect:
(1) Enhanced Creativity: By regularly practicing creative visualization, you train your mind to think outside the box, leading to more innovative ideas and solutions.
(2) Improved Focus: Visualization helps in honing your concentration, allowing you to focus better on your creative tasks.
(3) Stress Reduction: Engaging in guided visualizations can be a form of meditation, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm and wellbeing.
(4) Greater Confidence: As you see your visualized ideas come to life, your confidence in your creative abilities will grow, encouraging you to tackle even more ambitious projects.
Testimonials from Participants:
(1) Jane S., Artist: "The 'Creative Spirit' course has been a game-changer for me. The guided visualizations are incredibly powerful, and I've been able to integrate new ideas into my artwork in ways I never thought possible."
(2) Mark T., Writer: "I was struggling with writer's block, but the techniques I learned in this course helped me break through those barriers. Now, my writing flows more naturally, and I'm more connected to my work than ever before."
(3) Linda M., Musician: "Balancing my creative practice with my spiritual journey has always been a challenge. This course provided me with the tools to unite the two, and the results have been transformative."
How to Get Started:
Enrolling in the "Creative Spirit" course is simple. Visit our website and sign up today to begin your journey towards a more creative, balanced, and fulfilling life. With lifetime access, you can explore the materials at your own pace and revisit them whenever you need a spark of inspiration.
Creative Visualization: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice
May 24, 2024
Boost Your Productivity and Well-being with "Art for Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process and Using It"
Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
Creativity is closely linked to emotional and mental well-being. Engaging in creative activities has been shown to reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve overall mental health. "Art for Happiness" offers insights into using creativity as a tool for managing stress and enhancing well-being, making it a valuable resource for professionals looking to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Harnessing the Power of Visualization and Goal-Setting-The book delves into the use of creative visualization and goal-setting, powerful techniques that can significantly boost your professional growth. By visualizing your goals and using affirmations, you can harness the law of attraction to bring your aspirations to fruition. This process not only improves your artistic skills but also enhances your intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
Building a Creative Culture in the Workplace-
"Art for Happiness" emphasizes the importance of fostering a creative culture in the workplace. It provides strategies for creating an environment where creativity can thrive, including the effective management of time, the creation of vision boards, and the recycling of ideas. By integrating these practices, organizations can encourage innovation and enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.
Testimonials from Professionals-Readers from various fields have praised "Art for Happiness" for its practical and transformative impact.
One reader noted, "This book is well-researched, concise, and very educational. The exercises spark creativity and are applicable to both personal and professional development. It's a must-read for anyone determined to accelerate their creativity."
Another reviewer highlighted the book's relevance to non-artistic professions: "Val Andrews provides insights that apply across the board for those of us who bring something out of nothing. Her practical advice on increasing and maintaining creative productivity is invaluable."
Start Your Creative Journey Today-Unlocking your creative potential can lead to a more productive, fulfilling, and balanced life. Whether you are an artist, writer, business professional, or entrepreneur, "Art for Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process and Using It" is your guide to harnessing the power of creativity.
Get your copy today and start transforming your professional and personal life through the power of creativity. Embrace the path to greater productivity and well-being with "Art for Happiness."
Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
Creativity is closely linked to emotional and mental well-being. Engaging in creative activities has been shown to reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve overall mental health. "Art for Happiness" offers insights into using creativity as a tool for managing stress and enhancing well-being, making it a valuable resource for professionals looking to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Harnessing the Power of Visualization and Goal-Setting-The book delves into the use of creative visualization and goal-setting, powerful techniques that can significantly boost your professional growth. By visualizing your goals and using affirmations, you can harness the law of attraction to bring your aspirations to fruition. This process not only improves your artistic skills but also enhances your intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
Building a Creative Culture in the Workplace-
"Art for Happiness" emphasizes the importance of fostering a creative culture in the workplace. It provides strategies for creating an environment where creativity can thrive, including the effective management of time, the creation of vision boards, and the recycling of ideas. By integrating these practices, organizations can encourage innovation and enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.
Testimonials from Professionals-Readers from various fields have praised "Art for Happiness" for its practical and transformative impact.
One reader noted, "This book is well-researched, concise, and very educational. The exercises spark creativity and are applicable to both personal and professional development. It's a must-read for anyone determined to accelerate their creativity."
Another reviewer highlighted the book's relevance to non-artistic professions: "Val Andrews provides insights that apply across the board for those of us who bring something out of nothing. Her practical advice on increasing and maintaining creative productivity is invaluable."
Start Your Creative Journey Today-Unlocking your creative potential can lead to a more productive, fulfilling, and balanced life. Whether you are an artist, writer, business professional, or entrepreneur, "Art for Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process and Using It" is your guide to harnessing the power of creativity.
Get your copy today and start transforming your professional and personal life through the power of creativity. Embrace the path to greater productivity and well-being with "Art for Happiness."
Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
May 23, 2024
Unleashing the Power of Sensory Writing: Transform Your Stories with Vivid Detail
Sensory Writing: How to write unforgettable stories by including sensory detail at the right time and in the right way
Are you a writer who wants to captivate your readers and leave a lasting impression? Do you want your stories to resonate deeply and evoke powerful emotions? If so, our new book, "Sensory Writing", is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of using sensory detail to create immersive and compelling narratives.
Unlock the Secret to Immersive Storytelling
In the vast realm of storytelling, the difference between a tale that merely informs and one that truly captivates lies in the the sensory details. "Sensory Writing" is crafted to help writers of all levels—from budding novelists to seasoned authors—enhance their storytelling by leveraging the power of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This book offers practical advice, engaging exercises, and illuminating examples to seamlessly integrate these sensory elements into your writing.
What You'll Discover Inside:
Foundational Principles: Understand why sensory writing is essential for crafting compelling stories.
Step-by-Step Guides: Learn how to harness the power of the five senses to enrich your narrative.
Avoiding Pitfalls: Discover strategies to ensure your sensory details support, rather than overwhelm, your story.
Genre-Specific Advice: Get insights on using sensory descriptions tailored to the genre you write, complete with examples of great sensory writing in each of the main genres.
Practical Exercises: Sharpen your observational skills and transform your approach to descriptive writing.
Enhancing Characters, Settings, and Plots: Learn how sensory writing can make your story memorable and engaging.
Advanced Techniques: Explore lesser-known tools and techniques to enrich the sensory detail in your stories.
Why Sensory Writing Matters
The power of sensory detail lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create vivid mental images, making the reader feel like they're part of the story. Sensory writing bridges the gap between the reader and the characters, fostering an emotional investment that transcends mere interest in the plot.
What Readers Are Saying:
"This book captivated me from the very introduction, offering a refreshing take on the art of storytelling through a lens that many writers, including myself, often overlook: the power of sensory detail. It's not just a guide; it's an immersive experience that reshapes how you perceive writing and reading."
"I found the sections on empathy and emotional resonance especially compelling. The book explains how sensory details can bridge the gap between reader and character, fostering an emotional investment that transcends mere interest in a plot."
"This book is a delight! Her advice is so useful. Her work is well-grounded in psychology. She uses abundant well-chosen examples from classics to provide strong examples of sensory detail in writing."
"This book is very well-written, well-organized, full of detailed examples, and revelatory on many levels. It is an excellent resource and engaging read for any writer wanting to optimize the emotional impact of their literary works."
Practical and Engaging:
One of the standout features of "Sensory Writing" is its practicality. It's not just theoretical musings; it's a manual packed with actionable advice for writers at any stage of their craft. Through examples and clear explanations, it guides you on how to weave sensory details into your narrative, making your writing not only more vivid and engaging but also more memorable and impactful.
Embark on Your Sensory Writing Journey
"Sensory Writing" is more than just a writing manual; it's a journey into the essence of storytelling. By learning to skilfully weave sensory details into your work, you'll not only captivate your readers but also leave a lasting impression that echoes beyond the final page. Whether you're looking to refine your craft or understand the deeper layers of the stories you love, this book offers invaluable insights and practical tools to enhance your writing.
Sensory Writing: How to write unforgettable stories by including sensory detail at the right time and in the right way
Are you a writer who wants to captivate your readers and leave a lasting impression? Do you want your stories to resonate deeply and evoke powerful emotions? If so, our new book, "Sensory Writing", is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of using sensory detail to create immersive and compelling narratives.
Unlock the Secret to Immersive Storytelling
In the vast realm of storytelling, the difference between a tale that merely informs and one that truly captivates lies in the the sensory details. "Sensory Writing" is crafted to help writers of all levels—from budding novelists to seasoned authors—enhance their storytelling by leveraging the power of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This book offers practical advice, engaging exercises, and illuminating examples to seamlessly integrate these sensory elements into your writing.
What You'll Discover Inside:
Foundational Principles: Understand why sensory writing is essential for crafting compelling stories.
Step-by-Step Guides: Learn how to harness the power of the five senses to enrich your narrative.
Avoiding Pitfalls: Discover strategies to ensure your sensory details support, rather than overwhelm, your story.
Genre-Specific Advice: Get insights on using sensory descriptions tailored to the genre you write, complete with examples of great sensory writing in each of the main genres.
Practical Exercises: Sharpen your observational skills and transform your approach to descriptive writing.
Enhancing Characters, Settings, and Plots: Learn how sensory writing can make your story memorable and engaging.
Advanced Techniques: Explore lesser-known tools and techniques to enrich the sensory detail in your stories.
Why Sensory Writing Matters
The power of sensory detail lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create vivid mental images, making the reader feel like they're part of the story. Sensory writing bridges the gap between the reader and the characters, fostering an emotional investment that transcends mere interest in the plot.
What Readers Are Saying:
"This book captivated me from the very introduction, offering a refreshing take on the art of storytelling through a lens that many writers, including myself, often overlook: the power of sensory detail. It's not just a guide; it's an immersive experience that reshapes how you perceive writing and reading."
"I found the sections on empathy and emotional resonance especially compelling. The book explains how sensory details can bridge the gap between reader and character, fostering an emotional investment that transcends mere interest in a plot."
"This book is a delight! Her advice is so useful. Her work is well-grounded in psychology. She uses abundant well-chosen examples from classics to provide strong examples of sensory detail in writing."
"This book is very well-written, well-organized, full of detailed examples, and revelatory on many levels. It is an excellent resource and engaging read for any writer wanting to optimize the emotional impact of their literary works."
Practical and Engaging:
One of the standout features of "Sensory Writing" is its practicality. It's not just theoretical musings; it's a manual packed with actionable advice for writers at any stage of their craft. Through examples and clear explanations, it guides you on how to weave sensory details into your narrative, making your writing not only more vivid and engaging but also more memorable and impactful.
Embark on Your Sensory Writing Journey
"Sensory Writing" is more than just a writing manual; it's a journey into the essence of storytelling. By learning to skilfully weave sensory details into your work, you'll not only captivate your readers but also leave a lasting impression that echoes beyond the final page. Whether you're looking to refine your craft or understand the deeper layers of the stories you love, this book offers invaluable insights and practical tools to enhance your writing.
Sensory Writing: How to write unforgettable stories by including sensory detail at the right time and in the right way
January 11, 2023
2022: The year A.I. tools came to independent creators
I began 2022 with the intention to engage with the ecosystem of the creator economy, interact with others, and look beyond my own creative projects. It's a decision I'm pleased I made because in July, the artificial intelligence (A.I.) tools I had been waiting for suddenly became available.
As a novelist, I explored Sudowrite, an A.I. platform that uses GPT-3 (generative pre-trained language processing, version 3) to assist writers. If feeling 'blocked' a writer could open the tool and type in something like: "Her eyes glistened in the sunlight" and instantly receive a more poetic and descriptive paragraph to work with. Or they could enter a command like: "Write the opening scene to an Indiana Jones movie but with dinosaurs and big blue Avatar people" and the tool would produce something fascinating.
Several A.I. art-making tools also became available. Referred to as 'text-to-image' tools, these things will create an image based on the keywords the user enters. For example, I could enter: "black cat sitting on a chair" and the tool would produce something that represents those words. Additional keywords can be used to ensure the image is created in a specific style. I could enter: "black cat sitting on a chair, hyper detailed, cinematic lighting, in the style of Pablo Picasso, using a triadic colour scheme". The combinations are endless, which means the possibilities are endless. The most commonly used generative art tools have been Stable Diffusion, Midjourney and DALL.E 2 but there are many more of the market.
For musicians, there are also a range of A.I. tools that can be used to compose scores in any genre and with the sounds of any musical instrument. One of the most well-known tools is Magenta Studio by Google which offers the musician 5 different creative modes to choose from before diving into the creation process.
The great controversy is, of course, provoked by the fear that machines will replace humans and put us all out of work. Personally, I find that viewpoint disappointing because A.I. tools are just tools. Like a paintbrush, a keyboard, or a laptop, they simply give us more options during the creative process.
Smart independent creators seem to be embracing these tools and using the outputs as a starting point, not an endpoint. An artistic image created by an A.I. can be uploaded to the artist's Photoshop software, enabling them to embellish the image before releasing it for sale. In fact, the embellishment is the only way an artist can avoid the currently murky area of copyright infringement.
In his book: "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 technological forces that will shape our future", author Kevin Kelly refers to A.I. tools with optimism and says: "This is not a race against the machines. If we race against them, we lose. This is a race with the machines. You'll be paid in the future based on how well you work with robots. It is inevitable."
He is, of course, drawing upon the broader context for the adoption of A.I. tools, beyond the artistic examples I have outlined above. A.I. tools are currently being used to train people in high-risk professions such as aviation and surgery, and to multi-task in high-pressure environments like healthcare. A global shortage of qualified healthcare professionals is already being met with multi-tasking A.I. tools that can analyse a patient's X-rays while simultaneously reading their medical history. And so much more.
It's an exciting time to be alive, in my opinion.
As a novelist, I explored Sudowrite, an A.I. platform that uses GPT-3 (generative pre-trained language processing, version 3) to assist writers. If feeling 'blocked' a writer could open the tool and type in something like: "Her eyes glistened in the sunlight" and instantly receive a more poetic and descriptive paragraph to work with. Or they could enter a command like: "Write the opening scene to an Indiana Jones movie but with dinosaurs and big blue Avatar people" and the tool would produce something fascinating.
Several A.I. art-making tools also became available. Referred to as 'text-to-image' tools, these things will create an image based on the keywords the user enters. For example, I could enter: "black cat sitting on a chair" and the tool would produce something that represents those words. Additional keywords can be used to ensure the image is created in a specific style. I could enter: "black cat sitting on a chair, hyper detailed, cinematic lighting, in the style of Pablo Picasso, using a triadic colour scheme". The combinations are endless, which means the possibilities are endless. The most commonly used generative art tools have been Stable Diffusion, Midjourney and DALL.E 2 but there are many more of the market.
For musicians, there are also a range of A.I. tools that can be used to compose scores in any genre and with the sounds of any musical instrument. One of the most well-known tools is Magenta Studio by Google which offers the musician 5 different creative modes to choose from before diving into the creation process.
The great controversy is, of course, provoked by the fear that machines will replace humans and put us all out of work. Personally, I find that viewpoint disappointing because A.I. tools are just tools. Like a paintbrush, a keyboard, or a laptop, they simply give us more options during the creative process.
Smart independent creators seem to be embracing these tools and using the outputs as a starting point, not an endpoint. An artistic image created by an A.I. can be uploaded to the artist's Photoshop software, enabling them to embellish the image before releasing it for sale. In fact, the embellishment is the only way an artist can avoid the currently murky area of copyright infringement.
In his book: "The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 technological forces that will shape our future", author Kevin Kelly refers to A.I. tools with optimism and says: "This is not a race against the machines. If we race against them, we lose. This is a race with the machines. You'll be paid in the future based on how well you work with robots. It is inevitable."
He is, of course, drawing upon the broader context for the adoption of A.I. tools, beyond the artistic examples I have outlined above. A.I. tools are currently being used to train people in high-risk professions such as aviation and surgery, and to multi-task in high-pressure environments like healthcare. A global shortage of qualified healthcare professionals is already being met with multi-tasking A.I. tools that can analyse a patient's X-rays while simultaneously reading their medical history. And so much more.
It's an exciting time to be alive, in my opinion.
December 28, 2022
Writing nonfiction: a personal journey
Like most people, my creative journey began as a child. Drawing, painting, and playing on a mini keyboard, I would follow my creative bliss. But when I entered my pre-teens, my creative impulses got snuffed out by a belief that what I was creating was stupid, so I stopped all forms of creative expression.
Several decades later, and with a devastating personal loss, I engaged with my creativity again. It started with a friend’s suggestion that I attend art therapy to help me through the grief I was struggling with. Another friend took me to a weekly Buddhist meditation group. The combination of the creative work and spiritual work rapidly improved my wellbeing and I’ve continued to notice the inextricable link between the two. There is something about clearing the mind in a calm, meditative space that opens it to receiving fresh ideas and inspiration for creativity.
Clearing the mind makes way for the myriad ideas to fall from the ether. I like to think of ‘the ether’ as the great oneness of all things. As philosopher Alan Watts would say: “I am a unique expression of the oneness of all things” and I wholeheartedly agree. I also believe that every creative output (i.e., a story, a chapter, a painting, a piece of music etc.) has its own identity as a unique expression of the great oneness and that anyone can access it.
Silencing the inner critic during those moments of inspiration is essential, to ensure it does not kill the creative expression before it has taken its first breath. But when the creative energy has been completely expunged, it usually helps to invite the inner critic back into the studio, because it can offer guidance on what we can do better.
The creative process is, of course, different for everyone and it can change over time. It never ceases to amaze me how fluid creative energy can be and how people perceive their own creativity. It was from this place of fascination that I asked several creative people in my network to share with me the nuances of their creative practice.
From those interviews, my first solo book was born. Titled: "Art for Happiness: Finding your creative process and using it", the book helped me, and my readers, to understand some of the common themes in the lives of professional creatives, including:
* A regular creative practice was vital to their wellbeing because of the joy, satisfaction, and sense of agency it brought to their lives.
* There was a clear interdependence between: personal well being, spiritual peace, and creativity.
* Being in nature was consistently mentioned as having the power to elevate all three: wellbeing, connection with spirit, and creativity.
* Other sources of creative inspiration included the work of other artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and poets etc.
* Childhood memories were also mentioned as a strong source of inspiration. Whether those memories were ‘good’ or ‘bad’ did not seem to matter, they were still a source of inspiration.
* A willingness to experiment, coupled with self-belief and a commitment to continuous improvement shone through as enabling factors for the professional creatives I interviewed.
Around the time I published that book, my spiritual practice was evolving, and I became interested in creative visualisation. While contemporary interpretations of the term focused on visualising one’s future success, I was more interested in exploring how the discipline of creative visualisation can enhance a person’s creative practice. From the interviews I conducted, and the academic research I undertook, I learned:
* Creative visualisation exercises, like dreams, can reveal our inner guides as they lead us through a scene or experience.
* Aspects of our own subconscious, these guides can be called upon to provide inspiration for our creative work whenever we need them.
* The act of capturing what we have seen during a creative visualisation exercise can bring an extra layer of texture to the inspiration we’ve drawn from the exercise.
* It is the act of writing about it, drawing it, speaking about it etc. that calls forth our own interpretation of what was visualised, and therefore exercises our creative thinking.
* Letting the vision sit alone for a while after we have captured it can give the vision some time to percolate through our conscious mind before we start to bring it to life in our creative practice.
A year or so after publishing "Creative Visualisation: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice", I found myself reflecting on the life event that had brought me back to my creativity. Finally, I felt ready to confront that phase in my life, to re-acquaint myself with the pain, and write about it. But writing my own experience was not enough. I was also curious about the ways other people use their creative practice as a method of recovering from grief and loss. And I wanted to pull those findings into a book that would be useful to anyone struggling with grief. This meant the book had to be short, sweet, and easy to read because people who are in deep grief usually find it difficult to absorb more than a few sentences at a time.
So that’s how the book "Beyond Blue: Creative Approaches to Releasing Grief and Flying Free" was born. Although it’s a short book, it offers a summary of the research on grief: the types of grief, the phases of recovery and the possibility of personal growth beyond grief. The people I interviewed for the book included professional writers, artists, and an art therapist. Key themes that emerged from our interviews included:
* Creative work offers a sense of agency to the person doing the work. The very act of holding a pen, or a paintbrush, or pressing the fingers onto a keyboard can offer the creator a sense of control. That feeling of control can be incredibly therapeutic for someone who is suffering from a loss or other trauma.
* The sensory and tactile aspect of making music, painting, weaving, or any other artform, offers an embodied mode of accessing difficult feelings. More so than talking about difficult events, expressing the feelings in a nonverbal way can be a faster and more direct route to releasing difficult feelings.
* The experience of being in the moment, fully present to what is being created, allows the creator to gently separate from, and observe, the difficult feelings associated with the grief.
The subject of the creative work can offer the creator a means of reframing the connection they once had to what has been lost.
* Reframing has therapeutic value during the process of recovery because it helps the griever to put some distance between the loss and their feelings about it.
* Creative work calls upon all aspects of the self – the intellectual, physical, and spiritual – and therefore offers the opportunity for integration between those aspects.
The research I had undertaken to write these three books unsurprisingly included reams of findings from publishing psychological studies, some of which I had quoted and referenced in my books. When I looked back on that discrete bulk of intel, I sw a fourth book emerging: one that would present a summary of that material.
Titled "Inspired Creativity: Insights from Experts on the Psychology of Creativity", the book felt like a closing of the loop of the journey of exploration and discovery I had been on.
Looking back on the 4-year period in which I write those 4 books, I now understand the key role they played in helping me to integrate the parts of myself that had been obliterated by grief and trauma. The physical, spiritual, creative, and intellectual dimensions of my psyche were finally reunited, and they continue to work together to help me live my best life while doing what I love.
Several decades later, and with a devastating personal loss, I engaged with my creativity again. It started with a friend’s suggestion that I attend art therapy to help me through the grief I was struggling with. Another friend took me to a weekly Buddhist meditation group. The combination of the creative work and spiritual work rapidly improved my wellbeing and I’ve continued to notice the inextricable link between the two. There is something about clearing the mind in a calm, meditative space that opens it to receiving fresh ideas and inspiration for creativity.
Clearing the mind makes way for the myriad ideas to fall from the ether. I like to think of ‘the ether’ as the great oneness of all things. As philosopher Alan Watts would say: “I am a unique expression of the oneness of all things” and I wholeheartedly agree. I also believe that every creative output (i.e., a story, a chapter, a painting, a piece of music etc.) has its own identity as a unique expression of the great oneness and that anyone can access it.
Silencing the inner critic during those moments of inspiration is essential, to ensure it does not kill the creative expression before it has taken its first breath. But when the creative energy has been completely expunged, it usually helps to invite the inner critic back into the studio, because it can offer guidance on what we can do better.
The creative process is, of course, different for everyone and it can change over time. It never ceases to amaze me how fluid creative energy can be and how people perceive their own creativity. It was from this place of fascination that I asked several creative people in my network to share with me the nuances of their creative practice.
From those interviews, my first solo book was born. Titled: "Art for Happiness: Finding your creative process and using it", the book helped me, and my readers, to understand some of the common themes in the lives of professional creatives, including:
* A regular creative practice was vital to their wellbeing because of the joy, satisfaction, and sense of agency it brought to their lives.
* There was a clear interdependence between: personal well being, spiritual peace, and creativity.
* Being in nature was consistently mentioned as having the power to elevate all three: wellbeing, connection with spirit, and creativity.
* Other sources of creative inspiration included the work of other artists, musicians, writers, dancers, and poets etc.
* Childhood memories were also mentioned as a strong source of inspiration. Whether those memories were ‘good’ or ‘bad’ did not seem to matter, they were still a source of inspiration.
* A willingness to experiment, coupled with self-belief and a commitment to continuous improvement shone through as enabling factors for the professional creatives I interviewed.
Around the time I published that book, my spiritual practice was evolving, and I became interested in creative visualisation. While contemporary interpretations of the term focused on visualising one’s future success, I was more interested in exploring how the discipline of creative visualisation can enhance a person’s creative practice. From the interviews I conducted, and the academic research I undertook, I learned:
* Creative visualisation exercises, like dreams, can reveal our inner guides as they lead us through a scene or experience.
* Aspects of our own subconscious, these guides can be called upon to provide inspiration for our creative work whenever we need them.
* The act of capturing what we have seen during a creative visualisation exercise can bring an extra layer of texture to the inspiration we’ve drawn from the exercise.
* It is the act of writing about it, drawing it, speaking about it etc. that calls forth our own interpretation of what was visualised, and therefore exercises our creative thinking.
* Letting the vision sit alone for a while after we have captured it can give the vision some time to percolate through our conscious mind before we start to bring it to life in our creative practice.
A year or so after publishing "Creative Visualisation: Access your Imagination and Enhance your Creative Practice", I found myself reflecting on the life event that had brought me back to my creativity. Finally, I felt ready to confront that phase in my life, to re-acquaint myself with the pain, and write about it. But writing my own experience was not enough. I was also curious about the ways other people use their creative practice as a method of recovering from grief and loss. And I wanted to pull those findings into a book that would be useful to anyone struggling with grief. This meant the book had to be short, sweet, and easy to read because people who are in deep grief usually find it difficult to absorb more than a few sentences at a time.
So that’s how the book "Beyond Blue: Creative Approaches to Releasing Grief and Flying Free" was born. Although it’s a short book, it offers a summary of the research on grief: the types of grief, the phases of recovery and the possibility of personal growth beyond grief. The people I interviewed for the book included professional writers, artists, and an art therapist. Key themes that emerged from our interviews included:
* Creative work offers a sense of agency to the person doing the work. The very act of holding a pen, or a paintbrush, or pressing the fingers onto a keyboard can offer the creator a sense of control. That feeling of control can be incredibly therapeutic for someone who is suffering from a loss or other trauma.
* The sensory and tactile aspect of making music, painting, weaving, or any other artform, offers an embodied mode of accessing difficult feelings. More so than talking about difficult events, expressing the feelings in a nonverbal way can be a faster and more direct route to releasing difficult feelings.
* The experience of being in the moment, fully present to what is being created, allows the creator to gently separate from, and observe, the difficult feelings associated with the grief.
The subject of the creative work can offer the creator a means of reframing the connection they once had to what has been lost.
* Reframing has therapeutic value during the process of recovery because it helps the griever to put some distance between the loss and their feelings about it.
* Creative work calls upon all aspects of the self – the intellectual, physical, and spiritual – and therefore offers the opportunity for integration between those aspects.
The research I had undertaken to write these three books unsurprisingly included reams of findings from publishing psychological studies, some of which I had quoted and referenced in my books. When I looked back on that discrete bulk of intel, I sw a fourth book emerging: one that would present a summary of that material.
Titled "Inspired Creativity: Insights from Experts on the Psychology of Creativity", the book felt like a closing of the loop of the journey of exploration and discovery I had been on.
Looking back on the 4-year period in which I write those 4 books, I now understand the key role they played in helping me to integrate the parts of myself that had been obliterated by grief and trauma. The physical, spiritual, creative, and intellectual dimensions of my psyche were finally reunited, and they continue to work together to help me live my best life while doing what I love.
December 26, 2022
The way of the artist entrepreneur
FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS: A few days ago, I watched a replay of Marketing Consultant, Megan Macedo, talking about the artistic approach to business. She explained the difference between:
(a) The traditional entrepreneur's approach to business, which is to find an unmet need in the market and meet it
(b) The artistic entrepreneur's approach, which is to create stuff that calls us then send it into the marketplace
Anyone who has been successful in the traditional paradigm would find the artist's approach ridiculous, but as one who feels called to create from a place of uncertainty, I can say it simply cannot be helped.
For an artist, it is imperative to respond to the calling, to explore and discover and then explore some more. The urge lives in every fiber of our being, propelling us through every moment of our lives.
For the artistic entrepreneur, the question is not: "will it sell?" but "what's worth doing even if I fail?" Unlike the traditional entrepreneur, we do not have an elevator pitch but a personal story that allows others a glimpse of what motivates us.
To find our personal story, Megan suggests we plot our entire body of work along a timeline and identify:
🦊 Key moments of insight and resolution
🦊 Major turning points when our focus shifted
🦊 Underlying questions we were trying to answer in our work
🦊 The parts of our work we are most proud of
🦊 Things we have invested the most time, money and energy in
🦊 Wounds we might have been trying to heal
When we complete this exercise, we can:
🦄 Collate and group our findings
🦄 Look for patterns and themes
🦄 Identify which were personal and which were cultural
Our mission and purpose should then emerge so clearly, we can summarize it into a few sentences, thus having a personal story we can articulate.
I don't know about you, but I'm inspired to take on this exercise during the quiet moments of this 2022 festive season. And I'm definitely going to buy a limited edition copy of Megan's book "Uncertainty, Gentleness, Cultural Forces"
(a) The traditional entrepreneur's approach to business, which is to find an unmet need in the market and meet it
(b) The artistic entrepreneur's approach, which is to create stuff that calls us then send it into the marketplace
Anyone who has been successful in the traditional paradigm would find the artist's approach ridiculous, but as one who feels called to create from a place of uncertainty, I can say it simply cannot be helped.
For an artist, it is imperative to respond to the calling, to explore and discover and then explore some more. The urge lives in every fiber of our being, propelling us through every moment of our lives.
For the artistic entrepreneur, the question is not: "will it sell?" but "what's worth doing even if I fail?" Unlike the traditional entrepreneur, we do not have an elevator pitch but a personal story that allows others a glimpse of what motivates us.
To find our personal story, Megan suggests we plot our entire body of work along a timeline and identify:
🦊 Key moments of insight and resolution
🦊 Major turning points when our focus shifted
🦊 Underlying questions we were trying to answer in our work
🦊 The parts of our work we are most proud of
🦊 Things we have invested the most time, money and energy in
🦊 Wounds we might have been trying to heal
When we complete this exercise, we can:
🦄 Collate and group our findings
🦄 Look for patterns and themes
🦄 Identify which were personal and which were cultural
Our mission and purpose should then emerge so clearly, we can summarize it into a few sentences, thus having a personal story we can articulate.
I don't know about you, but I'm inspired to take on this exercise during the quiet moments of this 2022 festive season. And I'm definitely going to buy a limited edition copy of Megan's book "Uncertainty, Gentleness, Cultural Forces"
December 13, 2022
Seven tips for using your dreams to inspire your creative projects
This is an extract from my book: Beyond Blue: Creative Approaches to Releasing Grief and Flying Free
Do you dream much? If so, do you use your dreams to fuel your creative practice? Here are some tips for squeezing even more out of your dreams and pouring the juice into your creative projects:
Tip 1: The second you awake, capture the first visual clues: colours, shapes, landscapes, movements, and symbols. Don't edit, just record everything in your notes and drawings and any other way you'd like to express them.
Tip 2: The narrative – something will have happened in your dream, so try to capture it as if you were writing a story. Start with the most significant images, describing them with your words and drawings.
Tip 3: A sense or feeling – you will have a general feeling or sense about the dream. Even if you can’t clearly put your finger on it, try to find some words or pictures that express this felt sense.
Tip 4: Sounds –If you heard anything in the dream, capture this too. Use your words to describe it. Try to reproduce it, too, and record it with your voice recording app.
Tip 5: Taste and texture – If you’re lucky, you might recall taste and texture. Try to describe them in your notebook.
Tip 6: Develop your dream body – bring any significant sensations from the dream into your physical life. You may wish to draw, paint, or sculpt any significant objects from your dreams thus bringing them to life.
Tip 7: Create – later that evening, before going to bed, do one single drawing, painting or sculpture that encapsulates your dream. You may need to think about it, but a spontaneous creation is usually best for keeping the creative energy flowing through you.
Do you dream much? If so, do you use your dreams to fuel your creative practice? Here are some tips for squeezing even more out of your dreams and pouring the juice into your creative projects:
Tip 1: The second you awake, capture the first visual clues: colours, shapes, landscapes, movements, and symbols. Don't edit, just record everything in your notes and drawings and any other way you'd like to express them.
Tip 2: The narrative – something will have happened in your dream, so try to capture it as if you were writing a story. Start with the most significant images, describing them with your words and drawings.
Tip 3: A sense or feeling – you will have a general feeling or sense about the dream. Even if you can’t clearly put your finger on it, try to find some words or pictures that express this felt sense.
Tip 4: Sounds –If you heard anything in the dream, capture this too. Use your words to describe it. Try to reproduce it, too, and record it with your voice recording app.
Tip 5: Taste and texture – If you’re lucky, you might recall taste and texture. Try to describe them in your notebook.
Tip 6: Develop your dream body – bring any significant sensations from the dream into your physical life. You may wish to draw, paint, or sculpt any significant objects from your dreams thus bringing them to life.
Tip 7: Create – later that evening, before going to bed, do one single drawing, painting or sculpture that encapsulates your dream. You may need to think about it, but a spontaneous creation is usually best for keeping the creative energy flowing through you.
December 12, 2022
Five questions to inspire you on this Majestic Monday
Wow. It's only 12 days to Christmas. How fast the year has gone and how hard we have all worked. Have you thought of a nice Christmas gift for yourself? Something you could become immersed in, inspired by, and moved to action? If so, you could start by opening your journal and scribbling your response to these questions:
Q1. Have you ever felt the urge to express yourself in a new or different way? If so, describe how. Write as much detail as you can about the ways in which you would like to express yourself. For example, this may be a shift from photography to painting, or you may be someone who’s always painted and now wants to make music, or you may be someone who’s never picked up any creative tool, but you know you want to. Whatever your desire or curiosity is, write about it now, in your journal.
Q2. Are you unsure about how to start this new mode of creative expression? Record in your journal the details of how and when you’d like to start this new way of expressing yourself. If you sense you don’t have all the details, just list as much as you can. If possible, draw pictures and / or shapes or symbols to represent your thoughts or make sounds in your recording device, whatever feels right to you.
Q3. Are you put off trying something new because you think you can’t do it? If so, then write about this in your journal. Be completely honest with yourself. List all the barriers you feel you may be facing. If you don’t think there are any barriers, then write a quick plan of how and when you’ll make a start on this new mode of expression. If you do think there are some barriers, then make a note of them, and decide how you’ll get around them.
Q4. Are you a skilled and experienced creator who feels blocked? If so, list all the things which you feel are blocking you. This could be anything from family commitments to a fear of failure to niggling health concerns or uncertainty about breaking into something new or simply a lack of inspiration to express yourself in a new way. Whatever it is, be completely honest with yourself and write about it in your journal.
Q5. What would you be prepared to give up, to become the creator you want to be? It may be less time with Mr. Netflix, or a tiny corner of your studio or kitchen table, or a certain amount of money which you will allocate each month to buying new creative tools. It might be a combination of these things or something else entirely. Whatever it is, make a note of it in your journal.
Taken from my book: Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
Q1. Have you ever felt the urge to express yourself in a new or different way? If so, describe how. Write as much detail as you can about the ways in which you would like to express yourself. For example, this may be a shift from photography to painting, or you may be someone who’s always painted and now wants to make music, or you may be someone who’s never picked up any creative tool, but you know you want to. Whatever your desire or curiosity is, write about it now, in your journal.
Q2. Are you unsure about how to start this new mode of creative expression? Record in your journal the details of how and when you’d like to start this new way of expressing yourself. If you sense you don’t have all the details, just list as much as you can. If possible, draw pictures and / or shapes or symbols to represent your thoughts or make sounds in your recording device, whatever feels right to you.
Q3. Are you put off trying something new because you think you can’t do it? If so, then write about this in your journal. Be completely honest with yourself. List all the barriers you feel you may be facing. If you don’t think there are any barriers, then write a quick plan of how and when you’ll make a start on this new mode of expression. If you do think there are some barriers, then make a note of them, and decide how you’ll get around them.
Q4. Are you a skilled and experienced creator who feels blocked? If so, list all the things which you feel are blocking you. This could be anything from family commitments to a fear of failure to niggling health concerns or uncertainty about breaking into something new or simply a lack of inspiration to express yourself in a new way. Whatever it is, be completely honest with yourself and write about it in your journal.
Q5. What would you be prepared to give up, to become the creator you want to be? It may be less time with Mr. Netflix, or a tiny corner of your studio or kitchen table, or a certain amount of money which you will allocate each month to buying new creative tools. It might be a combination of these things or something else entirely. Whatever it is, make a note of it in your journal.
Taken from my book: Art For Happiness: Finding Your Creative Process And Using It
