20 Ways to Keep Your Writing Inspiration and Creativity High

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a change so that
we don't stay in that place. Yet, many times we forget some
of the simple things that we can do for ourselves, quickly
and easily to bring our inspiration back and increase our
creativity.

1. If you usually type your first drafts, hand write them.
Nothing compares to the feeling the ink melting into the
paper and the surge of that creative flow.

2. If you spend too much time at the computer, take a break
every hour. Go for a walk or just sit outside in the sun.
Even five minutes in a winter sun does wonders for a mood
and creativity.

3. Flip through magazines or books. Their colors and ideas
will give you sparks and switch your attitude. Blue and
green can reduce your stress levels by 30% or more.

4. Add strong smells to the room. Light scented candles
around you, visit the fruit isle at the grocery store, or go
to a store that is heavily scented. Find an orange or
strawberries and smell it. Both will change a mood or
create inspiration.Smells awaken your creativity. Smells
trigger memories and are a great method to rekindle stories
from the past.

5. Go see or rent an inspirational movie. Relaxation time
is important. You can even take your notebook and record
inspirational phases. Afterwards free write that those
phrases bring up from your subconscious.

6. Read a book that stirs you or sparks your creativity.
If you prefer, read poetry.

7. Look at bold and bright colors for a few minutes. These
change your mood.

8. Talk with a friend about your topic to flesh out ideas
and creativity. Record the conversation, with their
permission of course, and play it back to hear the little
nuances that you might have missed.

9. Write an e-mail to a friend to tell him or her what you
want to accomplish. If you are stuck, say so and ask for
help.

10. Check in with your vibrational energy and do something
to switch it into high gear. Take a shower. Go for a walk.
Turn on some music and dance naked for a few minutes.

11. Hire a virtual assistant to do some typing so that you
can stay focused on writing. You can fax your writing or
dictate it into the computer and send her a voice file for
transcription.

12. Go to church for the noon service or whisper a prayer
or two. This reconnects your energy with the universe and
replenishes what might be missing.

13. Complete an appreciation exercise. Pick something
around you, like the telephone, lamp, or pen. Talk to it
and tell it how much you appreciate having the electricity
to turn it on, the opportunity to write with a tool that has
the ink inside, not like a quill, or the softness of the
paper you write on. Be grateful for that you have and not
what you are missing. Or make a list of "count your
blessing" items.

14. Write a personal note to friends or family and tell
them how much you love them, appreciate their
thoughtfulness, or kindness.

15. Authentic, flat-out, raw laughter frees the psyche and
opens the creativity process.

16. Find a setting with lots of trees and flowers and feel
nature. If the weather permits, take off your shoes and
socks and feel the grass between your toes. Nature has a
way of freeing our spirit and renewing our soul.

17. If guilt or a passed incident has captured your mind,
write a "Dear Me" letter and ask yourself for forgiveness to
loosen it's grip and expand your freedom.

18. Are you use to writing in a quiet place? Find a
noisy place to write, like McDonald's or the mall. When
your space is noisy you will have to focus harder in order
to write with clarity.

19. Go for a quiet leisurely drive, listen to a favorite
CD. You can sing out of tune and no one will notice
(laughter aloud).

20. Do something nice for someone else that you wouldn't
normally do and be a gracious receiver of a hug.

That was exciting, wasn't it? Post this list in a
conspicuous place so that it is readily available when you
need it, right next to your writing area is best. Do one or
two of these daily and keep on writing. Your readers are
waiting to read your words.

Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing &
Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet
writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and
articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

Creative Kids, Not Kits Wall Street Journal (blog) They'll have plenty of years to color inside the lines; for now, I'd rather they be creative. Looking around your house, opportunities abound for such imperfect projects. Cooking is always a favorite; kids can do the measuring and the mixing.

CTV.ca

Designers in 1st Soweto Fashion Week inspired by South African township's ... Minneapolis Star Tribune Article by: DONNA BRYSON , AP JOHANNESBURG - Struggling but deserving designers will get a chance to show work inspired by the creativity and history of South Africa's most famous township in Soweto's first fashion week opening Thursday. South Africa's Soweto Gets Its Fashion WeekABC News all 177 news articles »

Hej, creativity! 4 bonkers Stockholm art projects San Francisco Bay Guardian What creative forms would you expect at the near-ends of the earth? My recent trip to Stockholm, Sweden was weird in the way that travel usually is, more just-like-home moments than alien fears realized of winding up cold and frozen because I forget to ...

PR Web

Chuck Cadle: Creativity key to effective leadership Knoxville News Sentinel However, there's a disconnect between the men and women being produced by our educational system and the creative talent corporate America requires to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Supply isn't meeting demand. n In a report, ... Creativity runs wild during Destination ImaginationWVLT Number Of Teams Earning Spot At Global Finals Up 10% From Last Year! Data Says ...MarketWatch (press release) Kids will get creative in Destination Imagination finalsLexington Clipper Herald WDEF News 12 all 25 news articles »

Creativity in the garden: Found objects, artworks can add whimsy, fun, beauty Washington Post SEATTLE — I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Sprinting past an alligator drinking a soda pop and a T-Rex playing guitar, I lean toward a family of colorful metal toadstools that come to my knee. “Aren't those great?” asks Jim Honold as he ushers me ... and more »

How to Get Creative with your Company's Financing NBC Chicago (blog) To get the idea undocked, they had to get "creative" with their financing, as Silvia says. It's nothing illicit -- just another way of getting people to invest if the banks want. I gave Silvia a call while he was en route to Cincinnati to deliver a ...

DDB Worldwide Announces the Acquisition of London-based adam&eve MarketWatch (press release) The newly formed agency brings together two agencies with celebrated creative reputations. adam&eve, winner of Campaign and Marketing magazines' Agency of the Year awards in 2010, has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most successful ... and more »

New Autodesk SketchBook Ink App Delivers Stunning Creative Tools for iPad MarketWatch (press release) The SketchBook Ink addition to the SketchBook family increases the number of choices available to artists to express their creative visions in a digital environment. Unlike traditional vector drawing apps, SketchBook Ink enables users to produce very ... and more »

Creativity starts with a better education system The Nation The industry not only draws a large amount of foreign exchange but also enhances the creative environment. To remain competitive, countries like Malaysia and Singapore understand very well that they have to add value to their industries by adding ... and more »

Creative Workshops to Highlight Innovative Heritage Summer Camp Indo American News This camp will present a unique blend of activities that will enable the participants to get a taste of India's rich, ancient culture and all-inclusive spirituality, while at the same time engaging their creativity through special workshops such as ...