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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » The Writing Life » Page 82

The Writing Life

Creativity Sparks

By Karen Ballon October 19, 2016
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Thank all of you for the blessing of your shared thoughts, encouragement, and condolences on my blog last week. As I suspected, many others have been in this place of struggling to wrench creativity from the jaws of emotional/spiritual/physical fog. Your suggestions echoed my own, from giving yourself time to setting a timer, to just writing anything to get words on paper (I even decided writing out the grocery list qualified <gg>).

I went through a similar struggle after my mom died back in ’02—and I was on a book deadline. It was awful. A year or so later, as I thought through that struggle, I decided to make a list of the things that spark my creativity. I was surprised to discover that some are simple—such as smelling a fragrance that takes me back to childhood—and many don’t have anything to do with actually writing. But in doing them, I often find scenes or stories or even just the expression of emotions sending me to the keyboard.

I’ve added to my list over the years as I’ve discovered new sparks, and I’m finding that this list has been so helpful to me now. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to do the same. When you’re not in the struggle, and even when you are, make a list of your most effective Creativity Sparks.  Then, in those days when you can’t think straight, you have something tangible that can be a springboard. No, not all of the ideas will work during the hard times. But if even one can do so, that’s a victory.

Here are a few of my Creativity Sparks:

  • Sit in a dimly lit room, put on music and crank the volume so loud you feel it in your bones.
  • Go outside and watch the birds.
  • Take macro pictures (what I mean by this is to take super close-ups)
  • Take a nap
  • Watch a movie
  • When you watch a movie, ask yourself why you like/dislike a certain character
  • Fix hot chocolate with marshmallows and savor it
  • Hug your dog. Close your eyes and feel the softness of his fur. Lean your face against him and listen to his breathing.
  • Study the colors of the leaves
  • Float in the pool and watch the clouds
  • Look through pictures on gettyimages.com until you find a face you want to write about

If you don’t have one already, why not start your own list today.  It doesn’t have to be long. Just one or two sparks can, well, spark even more ideas. And you may be surprised what a lifesaver this list can be when you’re lost in the fog.

 

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Category: Creativity, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Real Life is Edgy

By Dan Balowon October 18, 2016
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A major topic of discussion among writers of all types of Christian books is the issue of how far is too far when showing someone’s life before they surrendered to Christ, and how real you show their journey of sanctification once they exit the broad road. It’s called the “edge.” A lot of writers want to write with an edge, with real language and situations to make it more like real life. After …

Read moreReal Life is Edgy
Category: Art, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Edgy, The Publishing Life

Writing through the Fog      

By Karen Ballon October 12, 2016
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You may have noticed I haven’t had a blog posted here since losing my dear dad a few weeks ago. I want to thank all of you for your kind expressions of sympathy and your encouragement. You blessed me a great deal. God has held me close, granting me wondrous touches of His kindness and peace. Though grief hits me at unexpected times—such as last night, while I was clearing off the kitchen counter …

Read moreWriting through the Fog      
Category: Personal, The Writing LifeTag: The Writing Life, Writers Block

The Writer’s Prayer

By Dan Balowon October 4, 2016
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Mainly because he isn’t around to defend himself, I am going to take issue today with the great Saint Augustine of Hippo.* Intellectually and spiritually I know he would eat my lunch, so I waited sixteen hundred years after his death to be sure it was safe. Also, since Augustine didn’t speak and write in English, but Latin, I assume his writing lost something in the translation. If he were to come …

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Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Prayer, The Writing Life

Not All Opinions Are Valid

By Dan Balowon September 13, 2016
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Today I am opening myself up for criticism from anyone who knows me well and could identify the times I spoke or wrote about something when I had no idea about what I was communicating. The blogger’s curse…to fill space, we venture into uncharted territory. I confess starting to write a post for this agency’s blog and getting halfway through before realizing I had no idea what I was talking about. …

Read moreNot All Opinions Are Valid
Category: The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Qualifications

Book Topics That Will Always Be Needed (Unfortunately)

By Dan Balowon August 30, 2016
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With hundreds of thousands of new books published every year in the U.S., very few are on topics never previously covered. In the Christian publishing world, a quick glimpse back in history will reveal similar patterns of behavior and spiritual need no matter when you decide to stop your time machine. While many things change, some never change…like people. Look to Scripture as the starting point. …

Read moreBook Topics That Will Always Be Needed (Unfortunately)
Category: Creativity, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Book Topics, Creativity

The Accidental Pharisee

By Dan Balowon July 19, 2016
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Anyone who spends even a little time reading the New Testament discovers the only times Jesus got really angry was when he confronted religious people who were so far off the intended track they needed outright and immediate correction or even condemnation. Jesus could judge, after all he was God in the flesh. Those who didn’t know any better were treated with relative kindness, called upon to …

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Category: Career, Communication, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Career, Communication, The Writing Life

The Dark Side of Silence

By Karen Ballon July 6, 2016
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It took me a long time to be comfortable with silence. I am, in essence, a Golden Retriever crossed with an otter, so I’m all about fun, fun, fun! I gotta play, gotta move, gotta be in the middle of whatever is happening. Whee! Ain’t life a barrel of puppies?? But plunk me down to sit still and be silent? AAAHHHHH! I used to think I was alone in fidgeting when it got too quiet.  As for flat-out …

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Category: Creativity, The Writing LifeTag: Silence, The Writing Life

Inspiration or Perspiration?

By Steve Laubeon June 27, 2016
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Thomas Edison was to have said that “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Apparently he made 1,000 failed attempts to invent the light bulb. After accomplishing it he was asked about all the previous failures. Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” The exercise of writing can be somewhat similar. If you …

Read moreInspiration or Perspiration?
Category: Career, Craft, Creativity, Editing, The Writing LifeTag: perseverance, The Writing Life

Writing in the Night

By Karen Ballon June 15, 2016
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Does it seem to any of you that things the last few months or so have been really hard? That there are more people struggling and hurting? As I’ve gone through my dad’s continued health struggles (2 more hospitalizations in the last 3 ½ weeks), my own health frustrations (bursitis on my knee after starting an exercise program of walking on the treadmill. I mean, seriously? I start exercising and …

Read moreWriting in the Night
Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Discouragement, The Writing Life
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