Fellow creatives, science says there are hormones behind the pleasure of adult coloring books.
It just might be time to go buy some crayons and colored pencils. :)
Secondhand Inspiration
Muhammad Ali as Poet.
“Mrs. Moore and I are going to write a sonnet about my upcoming fight…”
Among the countless stories floating around the internet about the late legendary Muhammed Ali, this one has a literary lean, documenting a meeting between poet Marianne Moore and Muhammad Ali.
https://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2016/06/poet-marianne-moore-meets-muhammad-ali-im-a-poet-too-he-says/
Where's Your Novel?
From a fiction standpoint, I’m a flash fiction/short story writer. As a result, I’ve often been confronted with the question, “But where’s your novel?”
So although I’m far from being a famous short story writer, I can identify with Amber Sparks’ article on Electric Literature: “Let Us Now Praise Famous Short Story Writers (And Demand They Write a Novel).”
Words Unlocked.
From NPR: Young poets in juvenile corrections – and their poems of fury, loss and beauty.
Cult (Books) of Personality.
Cult books, as with films that are considered cult favorites, often contain elements of the extreme, bizarre, or subversive--their power to inspire and persuade seemingly just on the edge of propriety. That is why I thought it would be great to share this awesome top-fifty list of cult books. These books are great to put into your personal reading queue, and I bet some will spark some original ideas for your own writing. Happy reading!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/50-best-cult-books/
30 Non-Fiction Books a Well-Rounded Person Should Read
Bookmarked for future use: Paul Nowak from Iris Reading has compiled a great list of 30 Non-Fiction Books a Well-Rounded Person Should Read.
As a person who devours reading material, I sometimes wonder if there are books I’ve missed that can help in my never-ending quest to become better-rounded. At a glance, this list can be a great place to start. I was happy to see I’ve already read some of these. I see the value in spending some time with the others and maybe even revisiting ones that I studied previously. Happy reading!
Remembering Prince.
From Electric Literature: Catherine LaSota asks authors to reflect on Prince.
http://electricliterature.com/dearly-beloved-authors-pay-tribute-to-prince/
Counterintuitive advice.
A plea for writers to please stop thinking: an interview with Kathryn Harrison by Joe Fassler.
One great quote from this interview: “And I don’t sit there waiting for that perfect, beautiful sentence, because I know I’m going to sit there forever.” So true, so true.
Protect Yourself Against “Non Writing”
From Poets & Writers: Rita Mae Reese discusses how to fight off “non-writing,” which she likens to a virus. Interesting quick read.
Why Writers Run.
Since I’m training for a race in early June (and maybe another one later in the summer), this one hits home for me - The Atlantic‘s Nick Ripatrazone looks at why writers run. I definitely agree with the sentiment that, “the steady accumulation of miles mirrors the accumulation of pages...”
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/why-writers-run/415146/
Secondhand Inspiration: Advice for Younger Writers
A recent blog post from Jane Friedman includes some excellent writing advice for the children and teens in our lives. I think it is worth passing along to younger writers as a bit of encouragement and guidance.
The post also presents adults with a viable question: Should the writing advice we give to children or teenagers differ from the advice I give to adults? Check out the link and find out Jane’s insight on this.
https://janefriedman.com/writing-advice-for-children-and-teens/
Secondhand Inspiration: Writer Podcasts
It can be easy to get a tad overwhelmed by all the podcasts that are out there. But here’s a useful list of podcasts that are recommended “for writers, word nerds, and book lovers.” Check out Crystal King’s post for Grub Daily. There’s bound to be a few podcasts on this list that will interest you, and maybe even motivate you.
https://grubstreet.org/grub-daily/podcasts-for-writers-word-nerds-and-book-lovers/
Goal setting.
The focus in 2016 is to not allow my intermittent trickle of creative work get subsumed under the rising tide of other things – the day job and other general life stuff that inundates my existence.
To continue doing what makes me happy in terms of writing and creativity, and not what I feel like I should or shouldn't be doing…according to writing world, academia, friends, family, or others. I finally found my voice in 2015, and I don’t plan on shutting up just because that voice doesn’t match what’s popular in modern writing.
To create with purpose and goals, but not to let them become the master of me.
What are your goals – creative or other?
Productivity.
From the BookBaby blog: Here’s seven writing tips to increase your productivity. Productivity is a recurring problem for all writers, so these tips may serve as inspiration to push you towards being more industrious in your creative endeavors.
Day Jobs.
From the Electric Lit blog: Here’s a fun infographic on day jobs that inspired famous authors.
A little bit of motivation for those of us who hold down a career while also slogging through the morass of a writer’s life.
http://electricliterature.com/the-day-jobs-that-inspired-famous-authors/
Secondhand Inspiration: Writers of the World
Check out bestselling novelist Warren Adler’s new website Writers of the World, an archive of personal essays from different writers about their creative processes. It is sure to inspire and motivate. And if you are so inclined, you can also submit your own personal story about why you write.
Apathy.
Writing when you feel like…meh.
It is something all writers face - what do you do when it’s time to write and you just don’t feel like it? For those moments when you just aren’t feeling motivated, here are seven remedies for writer’s apathy, from a posting on the BookBaby blog. I plan to use this advice for my own writing endeavors – maybe you can, too.
Secondhand Inspiration: Get to Work.
The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.
- Émile Zola
Spark: How to Find Inspiration
Sometimes the intent to write is there, but maybe you lack the motivation needed to put words on paper. If that is the case, find inspiration by taking a quiet moment to observe the world around you and within you.
Read more about this method of stimulating yourself to write in this posting from the BookBaby blog by Jim Dempsey. Then put his advice to good use. Be inspired!
Kids Who Die.
Put together by ColorofChange.org, this video uses "Kids Who Die", the chilling poem by Langston Hughes that was intended to illuminate the wrongs of lynchings during the Jim Crow era.
This video, narrated by Danny Glover, shows how Mr. Hughes' words still hold merit today, especially when projected on the backdrop of Michael Brown and the Ferguson uprising, as well as all the other police vs. black lives tragedies that have occurred in recent times.
Please watch this video. If you are inspired or touched by it, share the link with others.
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5127?t=1&akid=4643.82806.H-2Nus