Whimsy

Jessie: In New Hampshire where there is a fresh layer of snow blanketing the village

I don’t know about all of you but, from time to time, I feel a bit like my creative well is in danger of running dry. It has been a very productive year for me in my writing life and I have noticed that there is only so much dipping out I can do before I have to find ways to replenish my supply.

It has become a predictable ebb and flow of my work life and over time I have developed a strategy that seems to be the most efficient at getting those creative juices flowing once more. In a word, whimsy. Yes, Lord Peter will do for a start, but there are a bunch of other ways I have found to refresh my enthusiasm. There is just something about looking at life through a lighthearted lens that seems to bring everything back into alignment, at least for me. If you are feeling in need of some whimsy in your own life, maybe one of these will work for you too!

Looking online at images of sweaters for dogsVisiting a hat shop and trying on everything that tickles my fancyMaking rainbow-inspired food like unicorn sushiTrying out a new sort of art supplies like a box of metallic watercolor paints Knitting something cheery and different like a pattern from Field Guide to Knitted Birds by Arne and Carlos. Borrowing or purchasing a stack of books that are in a genre I don’t usually read or that simply strike me as fun Viewing online webcams like the ones at the Monterey Bay AquariumPutting less frequently played records on the turntable and turning up the volumeListening to fun and creative podcasts like It’s a Wonderful LieBuilding online jigsaw puzzles

Readers, what feels like whimsy to you? Writers, how do you refill your creative well?