Tag: spark creativity

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Embrace the Wait

Survival Tips for the Waiting Part of Writing Tip #10 – Keep your creative juices flowing

During this busy season it can be difficult to find time for creativity. The left side of our brains are on overdrive—making lists and checking them twice, decking the halls, roasting chestnuts, and ensuring a holly jolly Christmas for every boy and girl, way into the silent night. Here are some fun ideas to keep the right side of your brain jingling all the way, during the most wonderful time of the year.

  1. If you’re scheduled to attend a particularly boring or stressful holiday event, party, or gathering (come on, admit it, no one is immune) spice up the drudgery by mentally hijacking the event and making it your own creative playground. Designate yourself the secret narrator of the meeting. First, choose a genre. If you want to really exercise your storytelling muscles, choose one that is outside your comfort zone. Then, from the time you enter the venue, mentally compose a literary masterpiece based on your observations. (Note: don’t verbally act as narrator. People will think you’re nuts!) As you meet new people, plot them into your story. As narrator you have the power to transform the mundane into mystery, chaos into comedic, and an obligatory gathering into an opportunity for creative genius.
  2. This is the season of giving, so we might as well give creatively. Some of the best gifts I’ve ever received are ones that didn’t cost much monetarily but were worth their weight in gold when measured in thoughtfulness. For those most important people in your life, why not give them the best of your God given talents. Use your way with words to create a personalized scavenger hunt with clever clues that lead to a gift. Write a poem and use a program like Canva to set it attractively, then frame the treasured keepsake for your loved-one to enjoy. Compose a song, hire someone to set it to music, and record it for family or friends. The gifts that are cherished the most are ones that are given from the deepest part of us.
  3. Use your literary skills to spin a yarn about the origin of an obscure holiday tradition. My first writing award was presented to me in the seventh grade. The challenge was to write a creative story, 500 words or less, that explained how zebras got their stripes. A zany tale that featured the Keebler Elves won me second place, and I’ve been hooked on writing ever since. This is a great time to prepare publishable pieces for next Christmas, so don’t hold back. Let your creative juices flow.
  4. I’ve saved the best for last. During this holiday season press in to the One who gave you your creative gifts. From a very young age I’ve felt the gentle and gracious pull of the Father calling me to worship. I was eight years old, sitting on the shag carpet in front of our console television watching a Christmas special. A carol I’d heard many times before came to life for me during that program. As the choir sang, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” I dropped my face to the floor and began to weep. My mother was alarmed and tried to comfort me. But I had no words to explain to her what was happening. God was drawing me to Him—to adore him. And I had to. He deserved my adoration, my worship, my whole heart. When I consider how often I’ve failed Him and others since that sacred moment, and that He, already knowing every future fault, still called me to that privilege and honor of His presence, I’m humbled and long for the heart of that eight-year-old worshiper again. When we abide in Him and He in us—there’s no stopping Him from creating in and through us the fruit that will last.  

Scripture: John 15:4

Fun Fact: One of the easiest ways to get back into the creative flow is by using writing prompts. According to Writer’s Digest writing prompts, “force us to take a premise and find creative avenues to turn it into a story. They allow you to break out of funk you’ve been trapped in and enter an entirely different arena—likely one that you hadn’t considered before.” I’ve used them before, and it works! Here’s a link to some that might help:

Annette Marie Griffin is a award-winning writer who speaks at local women’s group meetings and women’s retreats on the topic of biblical womanhood and finding our identity in Christ. She is the Operations and Events Coordinator at a private school for special needs students and is the editor of their quarterly newsletter. She has written custom curriculum for women’s retreats and children’s church curriculum for Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas where she served as Children’s Ministry Director and Family Program Director for over twenty years. She and her husband John have five amazing children and two adorable grands. She’s a member of Word Weavers International, ACFW, SCBWI, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Writing Institute.

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Guest Posts

The Inspiration Behind the Idea

It can happen in an instant!

That swell of energy that has your brain cells sparking like loose cable wires on an out-of-control train.

Or at least in my head it does.

Though I can hardly say I am, “wired correctly…” Something happened up there. A smack in the head. A fall off the bike. A sports injury. Mother says it’s, “a gift.” But that’s mom’s for yah — always trying to insist that you are one of the special ones.

Truth be told, I have no clue how my brain works. Nor do I understand ideas… So what help can I be? Well, for one thing, I can recall where these ideas originated from.

For instance…

The other day I was sleeping next to my beautiful Guatemalan wife. Born in, you’ve guessed it, America. When suddenly she started sleep talking — but not in English – in Spanish. And like the ignorant fool I am, I understood nothing.

But it sparked an idea, which got the gears turning.

Dreams are a great place to spark ideas.

A fascinating article on dreams states that we dream, on average, forty minutes a night. Just think about how many ideas you can spark from all those dreams! Hardly any… Why? Because the article also states that we forget 95% – 99% of those dreams.    

So why tell you then?

Because there is still that one to five percent.

Now, before you roll your eyes at me, which I know some of you are doing, hear me out on this…

If you keep a small notepad and pen next to your bed (or in my case, my phone with Google Docs quickly accessible) when you have one of these ahah! dreams, you can quickly jot it down before you lose that idea completely.

Something that has happened to me on more than one occasion…

…at one time, a hit song that could’ve made me a Rockstar. 

Now what if you’re not a dreamer or you don’t have a wife who speaks Spanish in her sleep… Then what?

Simple.

Get away from the computer and get your tail outside.

Like you see me doing here 🙂

Nature is powerful — a place of dreams — And, you guessed it, ideas.

In my novel The Iron Alchemist our hero, Boone Rigger, lives in a city called Lone Creek. Surrounded by lush forests, jagged peaks, and… wow! It’s just like the image above. Hmm… You see what I am getting at here? Where I get my inspiration?

If you want to make your settings feel real you must be willing to explore outside your mind — to find places that spark new ideas.

But that’s not enough…

You must also submerse yourself in Culture.

Now I’m not telling you to live with the natives of Guatemala, and connect with their ancestors, in order to write a best-selling novel about Mayans.

Though that would be pretty impressive.

What I am saying is to get out there and try new foods, watch documentaries about different cultures, travel outside your neighborhood; just do something out of your comfort zone.

Luckily for me, I am blessed.

I live in LA and work at a hospital where I get to connect with people every day — from all across the world — born in different times of the 20th and 21st century. All with knowledge, ideas, and stories of their own–

That sparks ideas that inspire me.

People, nature, culture, and conversations are just a few things that will inspire you… But the key is to pay attention. Don’t stay lost in your head. Stop and allow yourself to embrace the world around you.

Now get out there and take action!

And let me know in the comments below what inspires your ideas.

Erich Whiteside is a successful Wattpad Star who is currently part of their Paid Stories Program. He also writes folklore for the video game Rift of Raigard. And is in the process of finishing his novel ‘The Iron Alchemist’  which can be found on Wattpad. He is married to his beautiful wife, and together they spend their time going on adventures and exploring the world.

Find me on Twitter @ErichWhiteside

Categories
The Intentional Writer

Do You Consume Art Wisely?

The intentional writer

Remember that old saying, You are what you eat? Just as the food we consume affects the overall health of our body, so the art we consume affects the overall health of our creative output. We are an amalgam of all we have seen and experienced.

Which means what we consume matters. A lot.

Because, as Solomon so aptly put it, there is nothing new under the sun. The best artists understand that their most original art comes from intentionally borrowing good ideas from other artists and adapting them in their own unique way for their own particular purpose.

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic.” Jim Jarmusch (as quoted in Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon)

How to consume art with purpose

Don’t imbibe indiscriminately

The wise artist of any genre is intentional about what they consume because it will affect their creative efforts, for better or for worse. We need to seek art that will stretch us, inspire us, and make us think. We need to find masters of our genre and spend time with them—not to imitate but to absorb and transform. We need to view the literature and other art around us with the mindset of what is worthy of being borrowed and what is not.

Seek out anything that sparks joy

I have found the question, “does this spark joy?” to be helpful in many areas of my life (not just decluttering my home). You might prefer to rephrase the question to ask what intrigues, what resonates, what stirs your creative soul. When you run across art that sparks interest or appreciation—books, movies, visual arts, music, décor, whatever—take the time to absorb it. Don’t waste brain cells trying to assess the merits or importance of what strikes you. (Even amateur art or hack writing may speak something worthwhile into your subconscious.) Instead of judging, ponder why something struck you. Or simply accept that your subconscious knows what it’s about and trust it to reprocess all the good inputs into something beautiful.

Keep an inspiration file

Don’t allow random bits of inspiration to be lost. Find a way to capture them. Take photos of whatever catches your eye and then transfer them to your inspiration file. Keep pads of paper within arm’s reach so you can jot down sentences, dialogue, or concepts as you come across them. The more intentional we become at collecting whatever inspires us, the more likely those bits of brilliance will end up enhancing our creative thoughts.

Reverse Engineer

“It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.” Jean-Luc Godard

Study masters in your genre. Take a piece apart and figure out how the parts were put together. Dig into the details and ask questions like:

  • What techniques has the author/artist employed here?
  • Why does this work?
  • What strikes me the most?
  • How is this piece unique?

Can you adapt the same underlying structure or strategies in your work?

I hope I have inspired you to seek out art of all genres. The more you fill your creativity tank wisely, the more creative your writing you will become.

Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a story to tell the world. She loves to encourage fellow writers to be intentional about their craft and courageous in sharing their words with others. Lisa shares her words through dramas, Bible studies, historical mysteries, and her blog about intentional living. You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter and Twitter @LisaEBetz

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Inspiration From the Renaissance

Most authors will hit a dry spell at some point in their career. Whether they consider it “writers block” or just a season of life, inspiration runs short. Finding ways to get those creative juices flowing once more is a must for any writer.

Inspiration can come from anywhere around us. A recent trip to my local Renaissance Faire reminded me that we, as writers, sometimes need to look beyond the norm to find that extra boost of creativity. Here are a few ideas gleaned from my trip to the past.

Writing inspiration from a Renaissance Faire

Eat a turkey leg. For some, a faire of this magnitude is a great opportunity to dress up in costumes, fake an accent, eat unfamiliar foods, and embark in the make-believe. This same concept can be applied when searching for that extra spark needed to get into a character’s head or discover the perfect setting for your book. Having trouble finding what motivates your character that loves archery? Then sign up for archery lessons! Not sure exactly how to describe that ethnic food your character eats in chapter ten? Visit a restaurant to get the full experience. It’s easy to read what an activity or place is like from another person’s point of view on their personal blog, but you might find a different experience when you try it out for yourself.

Get immersed in a Shakespeare production. Ever notice you have lots of sci-fi ideas right after watching a movie or reading a book within that genre? Have you ever read multiple books in a row, with very similar premises, only to suddenly have the desire to write a companion novel within that same world? We often get inspired by the things with which we surround ourselves. If you’re writing a fantasy western novel, then watch as many movies and read as many books within that genre as you can. Your inspiration will get a boost and you’ll be ready to get writing in no time!

Buy a souvenir. Sometimes, using an item that reflects the atmosphere within my story, helps direct my thoughts where they should be. If writing a historical fantasy, try using a calligraphy pen to capture your thoughts. If it’s a futuristic space opera that holds your interest, invest in glow-in-the-dark decals of the stars, or photographs of space to decorate your writing desk. Anything physical you can use to bring back a spark of inspiration to your story can help.

God created us to be creative beings. There may be times when our inspiration seems lacking or even non-existent, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost our creativity. Find ways to jump-start the flow of those creative juices and get back to the heart of your story. Sometimes finding the right catalyst for your imagination means thinking outside the box.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mama to three daughters and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter @lauralzimm and at her website Caffeinated Fiction.

Categories
Copywrite/Advertising

4 Books that Fueled My Copywriting Imagination

Normally, when you search for a definition, you are looking for a way to narrow a term or concept. But the more I read about copywriting, the broader my understanding of copywriting becomes.

Copywriting is a boundless genre with limitless applications. Every time I bump into another copywriter and we swap writing stories, I am amazed at the uniqueness of his or her experience. I think to myself, “What a great idea! I’ll have to try that!”

The same happens when I “meet” another copywriter through reading their book.

Here are four books that fueled my copywriting imagination:

Writers for Hire: 101 Secrets for Freelance Success by Kelly James Enger. This book takes you step-by-step into the journey of freelancing. Most of the freelancing examples from the book are related to magazine article writing, but the concepts were useful for copywriting as well. Kelly emphasizes a personal touch by giving thank you notes to those she interviews, and she stresses the importance of keeping up on the business end of your writing life with invoices and paperwork.

Building a Storybrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. People don’t really read emails or websites. They skim them. It’s not facts and figures that capture a skimmers attention. Storytelling captures attention. Donald Miller teaches you the simple elements of storytelling and applies them to business copywriting so you can catch the attention of customers and consumers and inspire them to participate in the call to action. Brilliant.

How to Write Copy That Sells: The Step-by-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often  by Ray Edwards.  This book is very practical with how-tos and templates for emails, websites, direct mail, and more. Includes tips and guidelines for social media posts as well which is an often overlooked area of copywriting.

102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less: The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide by I.J. Schecter. This book opened my eyes to unique writing possibilities that I never would have noticed otherwise. Wherever there are words, someone was paid to write them. My kids get tired of me saying it, but whenever they read a billboard or the bag that contains their fast food meal, I say, “Someone was paid to write that, you know.”

Sigh.

“Yes. We KNOW, Mom!”

Also, don’t be shy at initiating to ask if a business needs a copywriter. Even a big company. Send out an email describing your experience and your interest in writing about their service or product. The worse that can happen is… nothing. They never write back. The best case scenario? You land an awesome copywriting gig.

You don’t have to write fiction to be a creative writer. Open your eyes and take a look around you. What words are needed? Could you be the one to write them? Search #copywriter on Twitter and ask what kind of copywriting others do. Meet new people. Share your stories. Inspire each other to use your imagination.

Rachel Schmoyer is a pastor’s wife, mom of four, and a copywriter. She also helps Christians find the simple truths in the complex parts of the Bible at readthehardparts.com. Her other writings and publishing credits can be found on rachelschmoyerwrites.com.

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Dear Young Scribes

5 Fun Writing Exercises for Teens to Spark Creativity and Develop Writing Voice

Thanks to my past teen self, I will never run out of book ideas. I spent those years writing pages of book/scene/character ideas—much of which were birthed through exercises that not only sparked my creativity, but developed my writing voice as well.

[bctt tweet=”5 Fun Writing Exercises for Teens to Spark Creativity and Develop Writing Voice #yalitchat #amwriting @tessaemilyhall “]

Here are 5 of my favorite writing exercises for teens that can spark creativity and develop writing voice:

1. Write fan-fiction.

Have you ever reached the end of a book and wished that it would continue? Or maybe you didn’t like the way it ended and would like to create an alternate one.

Whatever the case, fan fiction is a great way to expand your imagination, establish your writing voice, and have fun with your favorite characters and settings.

2. Participate in writing prompts.

On my blog, Christ is Write, I host a bi-weekly writing prompt contest for teens just like you.

My favorite prompts come from songs and photographs. In fact, the setting of my novel, PURPLE MOON, was inspired by a picture I came across of mountains outlining a lake.

As a teen, I spent my free time listening to my iPod on shuffle and writing a scene based on the song that played. Each time a new song came on, I would start writing a new scene.

3. Write in your journal every day.

Many authors, including Meg Cabot, proclaim that several of their story ideas come from their journals.

Try to write in your journal every day, even if it’s just a sentence. You could even try to turn one of your memories into a scene as well.

4. Write a book with a friend.

When I was a teen, my best friend and I wrote a book together. We didn’t plan the story.

Instead, we each created our own characters—so any time they would interact, we would take turns writing the dialogue. (Similar to playing Barbies, I guess you could say. 😉 )

Here’s a secret: One of my characters actually made her way into my YA novel, PURPLE MOON. (Cough, Hayden, cough.)

5. Make a list of potential book titles.

Listen to music. Read poetry. Is there a specific line that stands out?

You could also try to combine the titles of 3 of your favorite books to generate an entirely new title.

[bctt tweet=”It is now, during your teen years, that you can have fun with writing, without worrying about the career aspect of it.” #amwriting @tessaemilyhall “]

It is now, during your teen years, that you can have fun with writing, without worrying about the career aspect of it.

Keep your imagination open. Daydream often (just not during English class. Math class might be OK. — Kidding).

Take road trips, paint pictures, read books, and jot down any idea that pops into your head, no matter how bizarre.

Who knows? It might just turn into your future best-selling novel.

Any fun writing exercises for teens you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments!