Tag Archives: creativity

A Sunday afternoon writer’s retreat–Here’s the more detailed plan…

workshop-1425446_1280

I’m down to 4% on my laptop and I’m using that to get my in gear to finish this post…

So, the more detailed plan for today…

1. Pep Talk on Paper [just a quick riff to get me going]

2. Inspiration from books:

Will try to include excerpts

3. YouTube/SkillShare/Podcasts

Productivity Sessions: [At least 10 minutes apiece; probably 15—interspersed between short inspiration and online skill development/refresher sessions]

  • Retire/Renew Blog Posts
  • ESL Course Module
  • New project: My take on the NFL Network’s RedZone, only I do lightning fast updates on six different kids in a fictional classroom.
  • Teachers Pay Teachers Project: Find graphics/images that pertain to my project
  • At least two segments on my other children’s writing project

Coffee and chocolate cake somewhere in the middle

**

Gee what are the odds the results will look entirely different from the carefully crafted plan above?

The earlier post—

Yep, get the cooking and other distractions out of the way.

Free up the afternoon

In preparation:

  1. create a playlist of YouTube/SkillShare videos to boost my confidence and expertise
  2. set writing goals–# of words, # of posts, # of minutes actually writing/editing
  3. tools for first draft work [camera, audio recorder]
  4. coffee and home-baked goods nearby

Other necessities:

  • A readiness to change locations if it’s called for. [Move to a coffee shop, a city park, the backyard]
  • Phones are off/airplane mode
  • A timer to maintain focus

Let’s see how it goes.

Here’s the plan. A Sunday afternoon writer’s retreat…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Yep, get the cooking and other distractions out of the way.

Free up the afternoon

In preparation:

  1. create a playlist of YouTube/SkillShare videos to boost my confidence and expertise
  2. set writing goals–# of words, # of posts, # of minutes actually writing/editing
  3. tools for first draft work [camera, audio recorder]
  4. coffee and home-baked goods nearby

Other necessities:

  • A readiness to change locations if it’s called for. [Move to a coffee shop, a city park, the backyard]
  • Phones are off/airplane mode
  • A timer to maintain focus

Let’s see how it goes.

Words of inspiration from Jill Badonsky

I have two of Jill Badonsky’s books: The Awe-manac and The Muse Is In

Until tonight, I had not opened this newsletter forwarded to me by my wife the same month I left my job almost two years ago. Just one of those emails that slipped by…
I hope the quote nudges you forward in your creative pursuits…

jill badonsky quote with background

If you believe it’s time to give that creative calling inside of you a shot, honor it in some really small way today.

Start by asking “What do I love about my creative passion?” and “What one really small thing I can do to get started?”

Just asking these questions, even without having an answer, will begin to shift your energy toward the thoughts and actions that make it easier to get to your passion.

Once you light that fire, you will shine so brightly, there’s a chance one or two souls will stop their bickering and be inspired to do the same–you will be a catalyst of creative passion. — Jill Badonsky

Writing prompts–Where do they come from?

writing prompts circle cloud

  1. We saw no reason why he poured that stuff in the tank, but it seemed to work.

  2. “Quick. Tell me two good reasons why we should be together!”
    “Uhhh, two?”

  3. The 80’s came and went, but left this guy on our doorstep.

  4. “Right about now would be a good time to buck up and tell the truth.”

  5. We were ju-u-uust about there…

  6. “You really don’t see the problem here?”

  7. “Let’s get a little less selfish here.”

  8. In this case, patience would not be the solution.

  9. “Your behavior was more than a little provocative.”
    “You’re blaming me instead of the guy with the gun?”

  10. “You’re going to need someone to help you navigate these waters.”
    I smirked. “And I assume that someone is you.”

Where do these ideas come from?
Some of my sources…

  • Listening to [eavesdropping] on others’ conversation.
  • Reading novels.
  • Reading the newspapers.
  • Listening to TV dialogue.
  • Looking through lists of nouns and verbs.

 

For more ideas how these warmups might help…How to use writing prompts by Emily Wenstrom.

Play takes over…

Another tip from 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity.

[My apologies to those who read this when I accidentally posted it on Thursday night.

Sometimes, I’m such a techno-shlub.]

Alison Motluk on New Scientist suggests:

“Be more playful. Horsing around may be better in the long run than hunkering down.”

Horsing around…sounds good to me.

So it was back to toying with some video, audio, and text.

 

 

Writers Horoscope January 3: Your random experiments continue.

 

 

Another video writing prompt, spurred by another tip from 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity. 

This one courtesy of Alison Motluk on New Scientist…

“Be more playful. Horsing around may be better in the long run than hunkering down.”

 

Writers Horoscope December 24: Today, experiment randomly.

 

Yet another tip from Joel at Lifehack from 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity.

Today’s random experiment: A video-based writing prompt.

 

Writers Horoscope December 20: Today, your non-conformist gene kicks in.

SW trooper dolls with Elmo cropped

You break away from the evil empire of ‘the conventional’.
You write Chapter 1 of a cozy romance. You outline an overthrow of an evil intergalactic dictator. You pen a love poem…to pizza.

Even if the Elmo in you stays for a day, savor your departure.

Even better, document and share it. Share it here, even!

 

Writers Horoscope December 18: You’re on the alert for new material.

peephole

Even with other active projects [and possibly because they’re growing a little stale], you keep your eyes and ears open.

I was killing time in a department store yesterday and decided there must be something I could conjure up. And I did…

kohls notes attempt three

The face-tucking seems a little desperate, I admit, but it was first draft material and, come on, don’t tell me there aren’t some people that evoke that kind of reaction. ;->

Writers Horoscope December 17: You have a newfound appreciation…

for literacy.

***

Got this message in my inbox. I guess it was written well enough to escape the ‘Junk’ folder.

online scam

I have believe that these people didn’t bother to hire a proofreader. [Strikes me as a side hustle opportunity for those with a shaky moral compass.]

I better check with my bank to see if they have temporarily suspend my account.