Spurts and Spots of Inspiration
I'm still here! Blogging is not as high a priority as getting ready for Christmas.
We finally got our tree up. Thanks, family! I usually head that project, but didn't feel like it at all this year. I was grumpy and asked them if they would do it. Thank goodness they agreed to put it up. (Maybe they just didn't want to deal with Ms. Grumpy.) I got a little more shopping done and made some Christmas cards. Maybe I'll be ready for Christmas by the 24th!
Usually when I'm feeling overwhelmed by work, church, or life in general, my creativity wanes. I don't have the mental ability to think about much at all, because my mind is spinning. This time, though, I had to be creative. I have a few projects coming up so I made myself do some creative thinking and planning. Here's what I discovered:
1. Sometimes I have to force myself to be creative. I can't really force creativity, but I can make myself sit down and give it a try. The only time that doesn't work is if I'm really tired. I'm amazed at my brain some days. When I think I'm out of ideas and not "in the mood," I make myself sit down and write something. Pretty soon the words (or at least the ideas) start flowing. Not always. And, it's not always very good. But, I get something on the computer - and that's the point of BIC (butt in chair.) Just sit there and do it!
2. I know some of the things that make me creative. I have little things I do that almost always spur an idea. For example, I was getting ready for the kids' book club that meets today, and I wanted some games. A combination of thinking of common games that kids like while scanning passages of the book and thinking of the basic elements of the book led to two great games. Once the ideas started flowing, I had to make myself be done. I could've designed an entire teacher's activity guide, but that wasn't my project. So, I stopped and moved on to the next thing.
3. Carry a notebook and pen. I don't stop and write down every idea I ever had, or someone would insist I be medicated. Honestly, thoughts pop up at all times of day, and I can't catch them all. I had a great Easter idea during a Christmas-type sermon yesterday afternoon (it was a candlelight Advent/Christmas service with lots of music - inspiring!) I had a first line to a picture book. I got out my notebook to write that down - just that much. I would use it later, maybe. Then, I pulled my notebook back out at least two more times, because I had rhyme and rhythm coming to me regularly. I'm not a poet, so I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know if I'll get it worked out, but I have a great start to a picture book sitting in my purse right now.
4. I have to be aware of ideas to be creative. I've heard people ask where writers get their ideas. I think I may have even asked the question years ago. Now, I almost laugh. How can I not have ideas? They're everywhere! Everywhere! I just need to look for them as I go about my day. If I intentionally watch for teaching ideas, for example, they'll practically jump up and bite me. If I am not looking for them, I won't notice, and won't feel inspired.
My next project is a book club for December Secrets by Patricia Reilly Giff. That's going to be a piece of cake. I already have a cute little craft project. All I need is a game or two, and I'm set. Then, I need to focus on my pizza devotion for some Coloradoans (is that the word?) I may have to read my Bible while eating pizza and see what happens.
We finally got our tree up. Thanks, family! I usually head that project, but didn't feel like it at all this year. I was grumpy and asked them if they would do it. Thank goodness they agreed to put it up. (Maybe they just didn't want to deal with Ms. Grumpy.) I got a little more shopping done and made some Christmas cards. Maybe I'll be ready for Christmas by the 24th!
Usually when I'm feeling overwhelmed by work, church, or life in general, my creativity wanes. I don't have the mental ability to think about much at all, because my mind is spinning. This time, though, I had to be creative. I have a few projects coming up so I made myself do some creative thinking and planning. Here's what I discovered:
1. Sometimes I have to force myself to be creative. I can't really force creativity, but I can make myself sit down and give it a try. The only time that doesn't work is if I'm really tired. I'm amazed at my brain some days. When I think I'm out of ideas and not "in the mood," I make myself sit down and write something. Pretty soon the words (or at least the ideas) start flowing. Not always. And, it's not always very good. But, I get something on the computer - and that's the point of BIC (butt in chair.) Just sit there and do it!
2. I know some of the things that make me creative. I have little things I do that almost always spur an idea. For example, I was getting ready for the kids' book club that meets today, and I wanted some games. A combination of thinking of common games that kids like while scanning passages of the book and thinking of the basic elements of the book led to two great games. Once the ideas started flowing, I had to make myself be done. I could've designed an entire teacher's activity guide, but that wasn't my project. So, I stopped and moved on to the next thing.
3. Carry a notebook and pen. I don't stop and write down every idea I ever had, or someone would insist I be medicated. Honestly, thoughts pop up at all times of day, and I can't catch them all. I had a great Easter idea during a Christmas-type sermon yesterday afternoon (it was a candlelight Advent/Christmas service with lots of music - inspiring!) I had a first line to a picture book. I got out my notebook to write that down - just that much. I would use it later, maybe. Then, I pulled my notebook back out at least two more times, because I had rhyme and rhythm coming to me regularly. I'm not a poet, so I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know if I'll get it worked out, but I have a great start to a picture book sitting in my purse right now.
4. I have to be aware of ideas to be creative. I've heard people ask where writers get their ideas. I think I may have even asked the question years ago. Now, I almost laugh. How can I not have ideas? They're everywhere! Everywhere! I just need to look for them as I go about my day. If I intentionally watch for teaching ideas, for example, they'll practically jump up and bite me. If I am not looking for them, I won't notice, and won't feel inspired.
My next project is a book club for December Secrets by Patricia Reilly Giff. That's going to be a piece of cake. I already have a cute little craft project. All I need is a game or two, and I'm set. Then, I need to focus on my pizza devotion for some Coloradoans (is that the word?) I may have to read my Bible while eating pizza and see what happens.
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