Happy New Year!
We are rocking 2013 on The Resolutions Tour!
Join my friend Maggie Jaimeson as she tells us how she'll be ...Taking Time for Those OTHER Creative Passions
Meanwhile, I'm over @ Linda Mercury's Blog talking about how I Live the Literary Life, and you can too!
'Diversity Provokes Serendipity'
Creative people sometimes have a hard time diversifying their passions. For many years, my novel writing was my ONLY Creative Passion.
Because I worked full-time in another profession, I felt I only had time for one creative endeavor. I gave up singing in the choir. I gave up sewing (I used to make my own clothes). I gave up acting—even in small community theater.
It’s true that my time was extremely limited. However, I formed a habit of not doing anything else in order to focus my outside time on writing.
Now that I am writing full-time I still haven’t made time for any of those other creative passions. Why? Because pursuing only one thing—particularly writing—becomes too insular. I already know that my best ideas for novels come out of mashups of a variety of ideas that, when put together, make something unique. Serendipity is an innovation engine, and serendipity needs diversity. Not only diversity of creative pursuits, but diversity in the people I encounter and the places I go.
How many of the most amazing things that have happened to you have happened because of an overheard word, an accidental encounter, a connection made by a friend? Serendipity is the antithesis of control and a huge friend to creativity.
Beginning in November I joined a book group. Would you believe I’ve never belonged to a book group before? It’s amazing. I get to read things I would probably never make time to read, and I get to learn from a diverse group of men and women how they think about books and story.
In 2013 I’m thinking of doing something musically again. Not sure what yet, but there are lots of opportunities. As for sewing and acting, not this year. Maybe when I’m truly retired.
In 2013 I’m thinking of doing something musically again. Not sure what yet, but there are lots of opportunities. As for sewing and acting, not this year. Maybe when I’m truly retired.
How do you diversify your creative pursuits? Leave a comment!
Contact Maggie: Website | GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Blog
Many thanks to Maggie for stopping by. Join me tomorrow for another romance author's take on Creative Passions.
And be sure to tour the other blogs below to find out how I'm going to fulfill each of these New Year's Resolutions.
Many thanks to Maggie for stopping by. Join me tomorrow for another romance author's take on Creative Passions.
And be sure to tour the other blogs below to find out how I'm going to fulfill each of these New Year's Resolutions.
THE RESOLUTION TOUR - January 1 - 9, 2013
Jessa Slade - Get Organized
Paty Jager - Volunteerism
Linda Mercury - Creating a Literary (or Creative) Life
Jenna Bayley-Burke - Eat Healthier
Cassiel Knight - No More Procrastination
Cathryn Cade - Take Time for those OTHER Creative Passions
Su Lute - Reduce Stress: Find and Follow Your Bliss
Jamie Brazil - Shrink My Closet
Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Cathryn. I'm loving this Resolve 2013 tour. Each author has chosen a resolution that makes me think. And that is a good thing. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of Julia Cameron's "Fill the Well" approach and seek out those new experiences that always yield creativity. But the hard part is actually carving out the time, saying, okay I'm taking THIS DAY off and purposely not moving toward any goal, not making a to-do list... and just BEING in that day.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I can't imagine having another creative pursuit... my days are maxed. I have started doing morning pages to try to fill the well and center myself, but that isn't really another creative pursuit. And when I do get time, (COME ON MARCH!)I will be volunteering somewhere. I'm a hopeless dogooder:)
ReplyDeleteTeri
Maggie,
ReplyDeleteI so agree that we MUST find time for other fun besides writing. Just like any magnificent obsession, it can chew us up and ... okay enough of that metaphor!
Suffice to say I'm taking some time off today to go to the local Sportsmen & Women's show with the guys. LOL, at least it will get me out of the house.
Cathryn
I think you need the outside influences to help make your writing grow. The other outlets gives your brain a chance to work in a different way and recharge the "batteries" to then come back and rejuvenate your writing. When I do other tasks even if they aren't creative, my mind will wander and before I know it a scene will pop into my head that makes sense to the story or helps me understand the character and how to proceed with the story. I'd never have a well written book if I just sat in front of the computer and wreote continuously. I need the outside influences to help me discover things about my characters and the plot.
ReplyDeletePaty,
DeleteI'm sure Maggie will have thoughts, but what you've said here really struck me.
So true! When I'm stuck in a book's plot, and wander off to read another book, watch a movie or read non-fiction, somehow something will just 'pop' out of that for me, and I'll realize which way my own story needs to go. Amazing.
Cathryn
I went dancing last night for the first time in too long. Such fun! And I am very creative about my dance moves. Not good, mind you, but creative :)
ReplyDeleteI am part of two book clubs. One is a straight romance book club that meets at the local library. The other book club is a group of former co-workers and the books are vastly different. It gives me the opportunity to read books, outside the romance genre. But nothing beats a Happily Ever After...
ReplyDeleteI think that even people who believe they have NO time, make time subconsciously. WHen I was the busiest--working 60+ hour weeks and writing on the side--I had many times where I struggled to fit it all in. When it became overwhelming I "procrastinated" doing things. I'd watch a TV program that I didn't even care about, or found a reason to go out to dinner, or stayed up all night reading a book. These were all my subconscious telling me I needed a break. (Much easier to see this after the fact)
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear writers telling me they are struggling to make their daily pages or word counts, I often find they are distracting themselves with other things-- child's school play, catching up with a friend, making that rum cake. This is a sign you need a break. The key is to somehow plan for these things in your life. You are going to take them anyway, so why not give yourself permission in advance instead of beating yourself up over doing it when you "promised" you would stay tied to the computer 24/7.
Thank you Maggie for a post that truly resonates with me! I've been enjoying all of the Resolution Tour posts but yours hit me where I live. While I know from experience that I require plenty of diverse experiences to keep my creative juices flowing I sadly find little time for them between my time and energy consuming day job and writing. Just carving out time to write frustrates me so I've been allowing everything else to fall by the wayside. Thank you for the much needed kick in the pants! This will be my NY resolution this year.
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to give a good kick, Monica. I'm also really good with wet noodle whips. No charge, of course. :)
ReplyDelete