Ways to Foster Imagination

With every post I write, I hope to help you discover inspiration for those times when you might experience creative block, when you’re in a funk or when you just need that perfect, tantalizing idea to give your project momentum. Inspiration is a bit like creative candy – it’s not necessary to getting the project[…]

The War of Art, Part 3: Invoking Your Muse

I’ve given you excerpts from Steven Pressfield’s cut-through-the-crap-and-get-busy book The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles over the past few weeks.  Today, I leave you with a final installment, and I hope that you will run your little fingers over to your favorite book-purchasing website and pick it[…]

Inspiration by Osmosis

A Writing Funk I’m writing a book…okay, several. Typically, my most productive time writing is when I escape the house full of children and chores to camp out at some local coffee place while pounding away at the keys. But even though I leave to be “alone,” I prefer to be “alone” with company, so[…]

The War of Art, Part 2: Becoming a Professional

We’ve all said it at least a million times: “If only I could get motivated, I would get started on this book/redecorating project/degree/workout!”  How often have we just kept searching for that one thing that will make us finally get off our duffs and take action on that idea that we have?  If you’re like[…]

The War of Art, Part 1: Resistance

There comes a time in your life when you reach a crossroads.  You have a task/painting/manuscript/project in front of you.  You know that it is within your power to push forward and accomplish it… and yet… I’ve found myself in this place so many times I get frustrated every time I think about it.  While[…]

The Creator’s Image

In my early twenties, I began writing about a girl named Sunny in what I thought would be my first novel. I found my inspiration for her name (also to be the book title) from Frank Sinatra’s song by the same title. I loved that song. I listened to it in the car, in my[…]

Guest Writers

For me, being inspired is all about looking outside of myself. Even when I dig deep inside to search for inspiration, which shovel I use is influenced by someone else. “No man is an island” and Creatives need others. This is why I’ve asked a few like-minded friends to share what inspires and motivates them[…]

Start with the Mundane

  The Blank Page   When I was a child, I loved to draw. I spent many hours every day with a sketchpad and colored pencils. It was my go-to activity during Sunday school and church – something about keeping my hands busy helped free my mind to listen (a trick that still works for[…]