Creative Marinating

It's true, I've been doing a lot of creative cross-training with my photography for the past few months. Interspersed with non-fiction deadlines, real estate chaos, and family ups and downs, my children's writing ethic has been on vacation for a while.

But now that school is starting, I have a workshop to attend and an author's event coming up. Plus I owe my critique group something wonderful, which I have yet to write. 

I need to quit marinating and get ideas on paper. I have a couple of projects in mind, but I need to give myself a deadline. I never miss actual (publishing) deadlines. Perhaps before this year's November Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo), I will get at least 2 stories fleshed out and ready for critique. Then I'll have a full head of creative steam to begin the PiBoIdMo challenge! Yes! I'll do it.

How do you get motivated after days, weeks, or months of creative downtime? Want to be deadline partners? Let's stop marinating and start producing. -Q

Summertime Fun for Writers

Since most writers are told to write what they know, you would think it a simple process, right? Well, not really... since what we know might not be applicable to the age group or genre we are targeting in our writing. OR we may have exhausted the topics we know well and need fresh ideas.

What to do? I try to get out during the summer and discover new ideas, destinations, and activities that stimulate my writing. 

Never learned how to swim, knit, or play checkers? Take lessons, read a DIY Pinterest post or get a friend to teach you. New experiences help you gain new ideas and insights that stir the creative pot. 

I call it creative cross-training. I take one day off from the day job every week or two, grab my camera, and explore an activity or place I am unfamiliar with. It's a blast and gets the wheels turning. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. -Q