Creative Instigation

Creativity Exercise: You Have a Dream

2013-05-15T04:22:00.000-05:00

You have a dream -- and NPR wants to hear about it! Here's info straight from NPR's Facebook page:

This summer is the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Michel Martin of NPR's Tell Me More wants to know about YOUR dream today – for the world, your family, or yourself.

Email tellmemore@npr.org, and describe for us the speech you would give.

Be sure to include your name and contact information and we might feature you and your speech on the air for a special summer series leading up to the big anniversary.

You do have a dream, right? Remember the old song lyrics: You gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how are you gonna have a dream come true?

Creativity Tips: Meander

2013-05-09T04:22:00.000-05:00

Did you miss me? Tom and I spent the last week in Miami, with a one-day jaunt to Key West. Very fun. Very relaxing. We were right on the beach, and it was gorgeous.

Every morning, I went out for a power walk on the beach. Great exercise. Of course, I was disappointed that there weren't more shells, but I found a few shells and some coral, and I played:

I made a flower. Pretty, no?

Finally, near the end of the week, I decided to meander down the beach. And you know what? When I slowed down, I saw all the teeny-tiny beautiful shells I was missing.

Let's say the wine glass is there for perspective.
Yeah. That works.

I enjoyed the power walks -- I really did. But I am glad that while we were still there, I took the time to slow down and look down. There is so much beauty in the world, just waiting to be seen. I hope you see it. I hope you meander.

Creativity Tips: A Lesson from Ted Kooser

2013-04-26T04:22:00.000-05:00

Every morning when I check email, I have delightful offerings for the ULTIMATE CAMI! and aids that will CURE SNORING! and at least one or two URGENT tracking notices from a fake FedEx.

On the bright side, I also find a legitimate email from The Writers Almanac, a delightful service that sends me a poem every morning along with fascinating literary tidbits.

Yesterday's email included a story on Ted Kooser, the U.S. poet laureate who flunked out of graduate school and spent 35 years working in insurance. I'll pick up the almanac story from there -- Kooser is speaking:

"I worked every day with people who didn't read poetry, who hadn't read it since they were in high school, and I wanted to write for them."

Every morning, he got up at 4:30, made a pot of coffee, and wrote until 7. Then he put on his suit and tie and went to work. By the time he retired in 1999, Kooser had published seven books of poetry, including Not Coming to Be Barked At (1976), One World at a Time (1985), and Weather Central (1994). He resigned himself to being a relatively unknown poet, but he continued to write every morning. Then, in 2004, he got a phone call informing him that he had been chosen as poet laureate of the United States. He said: "I was so staggered I could barely respond. The next day, I backed the car out of the garage and tore the rearview mirror off the driver's side." As the poet laureate, he started a free weekly column for newspapers called "American Life in Poetry."

When you really, really, really want to do something creative, you do it. The question is: How much do you want it?

Creativity Tips: Happy Birthday, Crayola!

2013-04-24T04:22:00.000-05:00

A rose is a rose is a rose, but a crayon is not a crayon is not a crayon. I know. I've bought the cheap versions. They ain't Crayolas. So I always keep a big box* of Crayola crayons on hand. After all, you never know when you might want to draw a work of art.

Given my lifelong love for Crayola, this post is a natural for me -- even though I must tell you right upfront that the good folks at Crayola sent me info, asked for a post, and will reward me with a box of crayons. That's right. That's my price. Give me a box of one of my all-time favorite creativity tools and I will write about you.

In my own defense, this isn't just any box. I've been promised the 110th birthday pack! Because Crayola is celebrating its 110th anniversary. So, if you're counting, they're even older than I am.

To get the party started, follow my lead, go to their Facebook page, and enter for the chance to win a trip to the all-new Crayola Experience!** Hang out with Green this spring. Party with Orange, the color of creativity. You might even get close to Red.

Speaking of Red, I love the crayon's favorite quote: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." That's from Walt Disney, who knew a thing or two about creativity. And, as I discovered looking around the site, Red doesn't like Visine. I'll let you figure out why.

*BIG BOX. Always buy the BIG BOX. Life is colorful.

** You win. You take me. It's pretty simple.

Creativity Tips: Celebrate You

2013-04-22T04:22:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday! I love birthdays. OK, that's not exactly right. Let me try again.
I LOVE BIRTHDAYS.

Yeah. That's better. And here's my birthday wish: Celebrate yourself. Celebrate this very moment and the unarguable fact that you are here and that every day of life is a day overflowing with possibilities for joy and happiness and love and all the wonder that so easily gets lost in the day-to-day noise of life.

Sure, there's shit. Shit happens. What of it? Fun happens. Good happens. You happen. Celebrate!

P.S.
This is a pic of me and Eva, about 38 years ago. I thought I was fat. Seriously. Look at me. I thought I was fat. So here's the birthday gift I want from you: Do NOT waste a moment of this precious day being harsh to yourself. Promise me. Promise? Good! Now, if you want, go have a piece of birthday cake in my honor and enjoy every bite.

A Poetic Response to Boston

2013-04-18T04:22:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest advantages of being a writer is having an immediate way to vent emotions. I had planned to take this poem draft to my writers workshop last night, but the workshop was cancelled. So, you can be my workshop! Let me know what you think, if there's something you'd change, whatever. Thanks!

For Jaleeza, at 33^rd and Troost

She watches TV, sprawled on her tummy,

on the floor. Mommy says it’s safer

than the couch. That’s all she says

but Jaleeza knows

stray bullets fly high.

She hugs the floor and worries.

Her mom, on the couch,

her brother in the kitchen.

Where’s the baby?

She tracks their movements.

You never know. You never know.

Jaleeza watches the news

prostrate on the floor.

She prays Martin wasn’t scared

before the bombing.

He was 8. Same as her.

She stares at Boston’s finish-line panic,

over and over, wondering why

those people didn’t know

crowds are dangerous, strangers will kill you,

and the world is a marathon of terror.

Creativity Tips: Perception is NOT Reality

2013-04-16T04:22:00.000-05:00

You are more beautiful than you think.

And the world is full of good, kind, caring people. In Boston. And in Baghdad.

Friday Fun: What All Writers Know

2013-04-12T04:22:00.001-05:00

Creativity Tips: Father Knows Best

2013-04-10T04:22:00.000-05:00

When I graduated from the University of Missouri, my father gave me a note with this quotation from Calvin Coolidge:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

I woke up this morning and thought, "Daddy was right."

It's so easy in today's instant-gratification world to expect immediate results, and be disappointed when we don't get them. But the wonderful thing is, with persistence, we can realize amazing results.

I'll give you a personal example tied to the lessons learned from my two years of exercising. Time matters. I am seeing dramatic shifts in my appearance, strength and flexibility -- and it feels like they just instantly happened! Last week, I didn't look like "this." Today, I do.

Of course, it didn't happen instantly. It took years. It took persistence. Who'd have thought?

Same thing with creative endeavors. I haven't written my Great American Novel yet because I haven't had the persistence to stick with it. Heck, I haven't even been persistent with my poetry -- publishing takes time. You have to look up names and contact info, send it out in the right form, send it out again. And again. And again. I want a quick email and YES!

Yet, I know, the world is full of writers who sent their manuscripts out hundreds of times before hearing YES!

So, here's the thing. Unless -- until -- you stick with it, whatever it is for you, you have no idea what you might achieve. No idea how incredible your accomplishments can be. Start today by embracing the concept that you're in it for the long haul. Be persistent. Be determined.

Press on, my friends. Press on.

Friday Fun: Make Your Own Trading Cards

2013-04-05T04:22:00.000-05:00

Baseball season is on! Perfect time to make your own trading cards. For sports. Reading. Famous people. Infamous people. Your people. Abstract concepts. Abstract art. Whatever!

Go play! Happy weekend!

Creativity Tips: Step Away from the Scale

2013-04-03T04:22:00.000-05:00

How do you measure success?

My whole life, I've measured physical success by numbers on the scale. Gain a pound or two? I'm a huge and hideous failure. Lose a pound? Yes! Time to celebrate.

But then something happened. I started exercising. Regularly. With Shanna and the most fabulous group of women imaginable -- supportive, encouraging, diverse, smart, friendly. Great people. And over the past two years:

I lost numerous inches off various body parts.*
I lost two dress sizes.
I didn't lose an ounce.

Wow. I look better, stronger. I feel better, healthier. And the damn scale hasn't moved AT ALL. So I did the most creative thing I could do: I changed my mind. I stepped away from the scale.

What's that mean to you? Simple. How we measure success matters. And your measurement tool has to work for you.

Maybe your father wanted you to have a C-level title. Maybe your mother wanted you to marry a wealthy man. Maybe you're a CEO married to Mr. Moneybags. So, the folks are thrilled. That's not the point.

Are you happy? Do you feel successful? Do you remember the last time you were proud of yourself?

Consider your definition of happiness and success. If it's working for you, great! If not, get creative. Measure better.

* No. Not those parts. For some reason, I never lose inches off those parts.

Friday Fun: Things that Make Writers Laugh

2013-03-29T04:22:00.000-05:00

And, on a completely unrelated note -- but totally related to me -- Happy Birthday, Kate!!! And happy weekend to all of you!

Creativity Tips: Take a Balanced Approach

2013-03-28T04:22:00.000-05:00

Take a quick look at this post from Shanna on balance. Go ahead. I'll wait. La-ti-da-ti-da-ti-da.....

Back so soon! Oooh. You're a fast reader. Very good. Now, to Shanna's point, I can't count the number of times I hear people say, "I'm not creative." Truly. I hear it all the time. All. The. Time. I used to always launch into a big, positive, creativity-affirming speech. Now, I do the speech if I'm in a good mood. Other times, I just roll my eyes.

But for you, today, I'll be good. Listen up, my dear: You are creative. Just as we are all excellent at practicing balance, we are all excellent at practicing creativity.

Heck, I can prove it to you:

Think of a great story from your childhood or teen years.
Tell the story to someone.

What's creative about that? What's not?!? Deciding on the story and the audience are acts of creative selection. How you tell the story -- the words you choose, the inflections you use -- all creative acts. Storytelling itself is one of the most creative practices in the world.

Do I believe I'm creative? Absolutely. Do I believe you're creative? Damn straight. And I believe that's a balanced approach.

Creativity Tips: In Praise of Boredom

2013-03-27T04:22:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you were bored? For me, it was in a meeting. And my mind did what it always does when bored -- wander. I doodled. I came up with a few poem ideas. I wrote opening lines for a novel while smiling and nodding dutifully at the meeting leader.

If familiarity breeds contempt*, boredom breeds creativity. Release the need to fill every moment with activity. Relax. Be bored. See what happens!

*Reminding me of the ever-popular take on this: Familiarity breeds.

P.S. for any clients who might read this: No. It was not your meeting.

Creativity Tips: Write a New and Improved Profile

2013-03-25T04:22:00.000-05:00

Writing a post at 11:30 p.m. after watching Les Miz for three hours could be dangerous ... I may get up Monday morning and see a thousand typos. But, I'm in the mood to write, so here goes a quickie:

Look at your profile on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn or wherever. When was the last time you updated the info? Are the verbs active? Have you trimmed extraneous words? Does every word, every character count? What are you calling yourself? What have you forgotten? Are you a speaker? A blogger? A mentor? An instigator? Are you a volunteer? A yogi? A singer? A poet? A jim-dandy-cracky snow shoveler?

Consider what you do that makes you really proud of yourself. Too humble for that? Sigh. Fine. What do you do that would make me really proud of you? Is that listed?

Update, people. You're evolving all the time. Your profile should too.

I may even follow this advice myself this week. Although, truth be told, I'm much better at giving advice than taking it. I'm a mom. It's my job.

Happy Monday!

P.S. No, I did not mean that kind of quickie. Seriously, people. What are you thinking?

Friday Fun: God Hates Kittens

2013-03-22T04:22:00.000-05:00

So, for those of us who welcome the Sabbath on Friday evening, it's always nice to kick the day off speaking directly for the Big Guy:

Does your God hate puppies? Ponies? Bunnies? No problem. Just visit godhatesgoods.com

Now, before you get upset, God Hates Goods is poking fun at the Westboro Baptist Church and its infamous God Hates Fags placards. (I will say this. The signs are most often spelled correctly, since the words are short.)

Unfortunately, since I live in the Sunflower State, I have to admit that Westboro is a Kansas phenomenon. However, on the bright side, so is this.

Happy weekend! Go play with a God-forsaken chipmunk for me.

In Honor of John Mark Eberhart

2013-03-20T04:22:00.000-05:00

Kansas City's literary world lost a great talent and an enthusiastic advocate this week with the death of former KC Star reporter/books editor/poetry promoter John Mark Eberhart. In his honor, look here for my favorite poem re: cancer from Raymond Carver. And an equally beautiful "response" from Carver's widow, the poet Tess Gallagher.

I think John Mark would have liked both poems.

Rest in peace, John Mark.

Friday Fun: Paper is Not Dead

2013-03-15T04:22:00.000-05:00

Because it's Friday. Because print is not dead. Because paper is definitely not dead.

Thanks to Maureen for the link!

Creativity Tips: Something There Is ...

2013-03-11T04:22:00.000-05:00

Paterae by Jean Wender

Jean Wender's show at the Kansas City Artists Coalition's Underground Gallery does exactly what great art should do: It stops you in your tracks and makes you reconsider your view of the world.

Jean's pottery is not glazed. It's not raku. It's something beautifully different. I consider it pottery poetry ... so this post from Jean describing her work makes perfect sense to me.

"Something there is that does not love a wall."

These words of Robert Frost beautifully express my rejection of putting a glaze on my pots. I love working with clay: the yielding fullness of clay in its raw state; its suppleness on a potter's wheel; the subtle sheen of a burnished surface. My hands have coaxed this entity into existence in a series of almost ritualistic steps. To encase a piece in a layer of glass strikes me as a betrayal of this precious relationship. Much better to leave the surface open and porous, receptive to the marks and colors that result from a saggar or a sawdust firing, open and receptive to the touch of a hand.

--- Jean Wender, 2013

Go see Ceramic Work by Jean Wender at the Underground Gallery, Kansas City Artists Coalition, 201 Wyandotte, KCMO 64105. The show closes March 29; gallery hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

P.S. Full disclosure: I love Jean. She is one of the kindest, gentlest, smartest, funniest, honest people I know. But that's not why I'm promoting the show. I'm promoting the show for the art, which -- in this case -- naturally reflects the beauty of the artist.

Creativity Tips: Falling isn't Failing

2013-03-05T04:22:00.000-06:00

My buddy Vanessa sent me this link to a wonderful post about Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar night tumble -- the best fall in history.

The post is such a good reminder: It's never the fall that matters. We all fall. It's how we get back up that counts. And isn't it lovely to see what friends come running to help?

Thanks, Vanessa!

Creativity Tips: It's a New Week. Paint.

2013-03-04T04:22:00.000-06:00

Creativity Exercise: Occupational Hazard

2013-02-28T04:22:00.000-06:00

Look at that keyboard. I type so much, I've worn off the letters on M and N, and V and C are about to go. I guess it's an occupational hazard.

And that brings us to our exercise today! Get out your camera, your phone, your drawing pen, whatever, and illustrate your own occupational hazard. If you don't have a 9-5 job, consider the hazards of life -- everything from icy streets to excessive solitude.

That's step one. Step two? Reconsider. Is it really a hazard? Or the key to something fun? For example:

I've worn off the letters on M and N
V and C are about to go

could be the start of a wonderful poem. It's all a matter of perspective ...

The Opposite of Snow Day

2013-02-27T04:22:00.000-06:00

So, yesterday I heralded a snow day and then gave you advice on how to work at home. Mo called me on it. Mo is right.

A snow day is a snow day is a snow day. The list of tips on how to work at home successfully is valid and useful -- but not applicable to a day off.

My bad. If today is a snow day, go play! Catch some snowflakes on your tongue. Why should kids have all the fun?

Snow Day! Seven Tips for Working at Home

2013-02-26T04:22:00.000-06:00

As I write this, snow is falling -- again -- in Kansas City, and lots of my friends are making plans to work at home. Welcome to my world! And, because we're buds, I'm going to share my top seven tips for working at home successfully:

Get up and get going. Set the alarm and get to the office on time -- even if the office is upstairs, downstairs or at the dining room table. On the bright side, you can save time by going to work in your jammies or sweats. Yep. I bill in my jammies. Make all the jokes you want.
If you have a landline, ignore it. You're at work. Let the machine take the message and call mom back later. If you don't know what a landline is, you're a pup and I'm jealous. Go away. (Fine. Stay. Hang out with us geezers and maybe we'll both learn something.)
Enjoy social media. But ... and this is an important but ... don't let it suck you in just because there's no one around. Limit your time on Facebook, Twitter, or any other site you wouldn't loiter on at the office.
Take a lunch break. Everyone needs a break. Including you.
Don't think you can take care of the kids, do the laundry, play with the pets, make dinner, and work. When you're at work, be at work. When you're at home, be at home. Even if you work at home.
Treat the kitchen like a break room. If you need coffee, go get it. If you need a snack, go get it. Don't dawdle. Don't stand at the refrigerator and graze. Working at home can be an invitation to gain weight. Consider yourself warned.
Walk away at 5 p.m. Or 6 p.m. Or whenever you would typically walk away. One of the dangers of working at home is that you can work all the time. All the time. Trust me on this -- I've been doing it for more than 10 years. WALK AWAY.

And here's a bonus bunch of tips on what to do after work: Build a snowman. Build a fort in the living room. Light a fire. Play Scrabble -- which is not Words with Friends. Put a puzzle together. Make soup from scratch. Make s'mores.

And if you're really looking for a diversion, start a blog.

Creativity Tips: Give Yourself Space

2013-02-25T04:22:00.000-06:00

You know how seedlings don't grow well if you plant them too close to one other? Fires won't burn if there's not enough air between the logs. There's no musical score without the rests.

The plants, the logs, the notes -- they all need space. And so do we.

It's a new week, my friends. Give yourself the space you need to grow, to blaze, to soar.

Happy Monday!