Writers need creativity. Here's a quick way to get some - and keep it! First, head to the dollar store again. Now, pretend you are 8 years old. What do you want?
BUY IT! Hey, it will be a dollar well spent! In fact, you can spend TWO or THREE! Why not a pack of bright, colored pencils, outrageous markers, gel pens, crayons... Even stickers, if you want them. Stamps, tape, a glue stick, scissors... What makes you want to sit down and have fun?!
We have an enormous coffee can stuffed full of markers, crayons, and colored pencils. When they go dry or get fussy - we FORCE ourselves to toss them. Nasty and non-working art supplies scream of want, lack, restraint. Not enough...That by itself will kill creativity.
Go for exactly the opposite. Abundance of color, rivers of creativity, the wild joy of a child - tossed in a bucket to be pulled out at any moment. At the prompt of ANY inspiration. And keep them out in the open with a doodle pad nearby. Invite others to use them. Doodle when you talk on the phone - talk about a stress buster.
Use this simple, $3 rainbow of promise to bring light and creativity into you life. Every day... Let it become part of you.
Now, around your middle, write, in many colors, textures and prints, EVERY word that pops into your mind. If HORSE, TADPOLE, and ASTRONAUT end up together - they belong together!
See what you find. And if you do a good job, give yourself an A (or a smiley sticker!) and put it on the fridge! Fun and creativity are contagious. Catch some! Then spread it around!
And let us know what you find! publisher@teenlight.org
Copyright 2003 Annette Dammer
TEEN LIGHT - The Teen 2 Teen Christian Magazine
JO: Journalism Online http://www.writershelper.org/tour.htm
Ready, Set, Go! Published this Spring by Baker Books (Amen!)