~ By Rita Henuber
[Read Part 2, Curiosity]
Lately, in writers groups, there has been some discussion about keeping the joy in our writing. There are a bazillion answers to this. I think one is by indulging our other creative talents. Yeaph.
OTHER creative talents. Authors are very creative people. Think about all the other talents you have and how those creative outlets can nourish your writing.
Here are a few.
- Sewing. BTW I hear it’s coming back as a thing. Many Historical Romance authors make costumes.
- Knitting and crocheting.
- Setting a proper table is now considered an art. Ha! I giggled when I saw a Facebook post about setting a table and there was no place for the cell phone.
- Family wrangling.
- Cooking. Look at all the TV cooking shows.
- Painting as in, on a canvas and the walls.
- Carpentry.
- Sketching.
- Coloring.
- Gardening.
- Decorating.
- Giving Parties.
Yeah. I hear you asking what these creative endeavors have to do with writing. Consider. When you begin writing a new book you write a synopsis. Make a plan. Develop a structure or a pattern. Look at the talents I mentioned above. How many need a plan, a pattern?
When sketching a face you start with the basic features everyone has, head shape, jaw, ears, nose eyes. But, it is how we shape those features that makes the face unique. Take sewing a dress. You begin with a pattern. Each one has an opening for the head and sleeves, but think of the creative possibilities in achieving the finished product.
When you begin to write every word inside you doesn’t rush out like a waterfall onto the page at once. It’s like knitting and crocheting. One stitch/word at a time culminating in this great design/book.
I believe spending a few hours or minutes a week with your other talents can help feed the writing beast. I know many authors creative in other fields. One is what I call a perpetual creative bottle rocket. She’s an entrepreneur, baker, swag maker and always has amazing creative ideas. Another is a knitter extraordinaire. Others are or have been a TV producer, an opera singer, teachers, farmers, and gardeners.
Me? I’m sketching again. Drawing my characters. Although I have to admit I sometimes use the Flash Face app to get the basics. I may or may not admit to coloring in the big girl books. I click the knitting needles and crochet with basic stitches. Garden. A new design, other than out of control jungle, is emerging in the backyard thanks to my improved chain saw skills.
What are your other creative talents? Take one of yours and examine it for similarities with writing.
Do you think enjoying all your creative venues can help keep the joy in your writing?
Rita grew up on Florida’s east coast. She married a Marine and feels fortunate to have lived many places and traveled to the states and countries she didn’t live. She writes about extraordinary women and the men they love weaving her experiences into contemporary fiction and suspense thrillers.
So true. Creativity opens up both hemispheres of the brain and is our natural essence in problem solving. I am most happiest when creating.