A to Z Challenge: Zeal, Zest and Zipadeedoodah!

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

Zeal, and Zest are tools that every writer and artist need to have in their daily creativity toolbox.

Zeal keeps us working tirelessly and enthusiastically towards our goals.

Zest keeps our work spicy and fresh!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! - We are done! Although I love A to Z, I also love this last day, and the feeling of accomplishment it brings.

Many thanks to all awesome

A to Z Team for 2012

Tossing It Out (Arlee Bird)

Amlokiblogs (Damyanti Biswas)

Alex J. Cavanaugh (Alex J. Cavanaugh)

Life is Good (Tina Downey)

Cruising Altitude 2.0 (DL Hammons)

Retro-Zombie (Jeremy Hawkins)

The Warrior Muse (Shannon Lawrence)

The QQQE (Matthew MacNish)

Author Elizabeth Mueller (Elizabeth Mueller)

Pearson Report (Jenny Pearson)

No Thought 2 Small (Konstanz Silverbow)

Breakthrough Blogs (Stephen Tremp)Coming Down The Mountain (Karen Jones Gowen)

Sing with me now:




Next up for blog challenges: check out that sidebar on the right for some of my upcoming participations in blog hops and my special guest Karen Lange, whose guest post will be here this Thursday.

Next up for writing challenges: I'll be entering into my planned 100 Day Final Revision (final meaning as far as I can take it without professional editorial help) starting May 1st, and although I won't update on that every day, I'll be adding updates to my blog posts.

On a thankfulness for small things side note:

In real life, as I was sitting down to dinner on late Saturday night exhausted from 5 hours of yardwork and a 4 mile bike ride, my daughters' friend shouted, "There's blood on the floor! It's everywhere!"

Our beagle dog, Jumper, had come in earlier and taken up his usual spot on the top of the stairway. He stayed there, apparently wiped out from his excursions while I fussed around the house and made dinner. Actually, he was hiding a two inch long gash in his hind paw that went down to the bone. He didn't get up and walk until I set the table for dinner, when he trailed pools of blood around the house.

We took him to an emergency vet clinic and he stayed overnight for surgery. The vet called us at 11:30 p.m. to let us know that although he had lost a lot of blood, and his tendon had to be stitched back together, he looked like he would be all right.

I picked him up Sunday morning, and he's groggy, unhappy with his "cone of shame" and the big bandage on his leg, but otherwise his usual cheerful self.

 Right now, I'm just thankful that I don't have to deal with any puddles of blood today, and that my family, including my four footers are ok.

A to Z Challenge: Y

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

Y = Yield

Yield:
1. To provide as return for effort or investment.
2. To give over possessin of, to surrender.

One of my husband's co-workers recently retired, and since he is planning a retirement celebration vacation down in Las Vegas (where his son works as a professional poker player), the send off included a slide show set to Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler":

"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away, and know when to run"

Due to an interesting childhood raised in a home where Broadway musical scores, Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky were played alongside Harry Belanfonte, The Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, I happen to know the lyrics to that song really well . . . and when my husband told me about the retirement party, they just stuck in my head the rest of the week and became mixed up with today's post.

As creative artists/writers, we need to know when to hold onto our work, and when to let it go.

Yielding isn't something that comes to most of us naturally, and most of the time we pride ourselves as creative writers, artists, and thinkers as being UNyielding.

However, if we want someone to read our work, we have to let it go and let others read it, give us feedback, help us make it stronger. If we truly want our work to yield a good harvest, we have to let others help us prune and weed.

Sometimes, we also need to know when to walk away, and when to run.

I have a book with several attempts at revisions sitting in a plastic box in my closet. Someday I want to return to it. I still love those characters. But I realized several years ago that I had to set it aside, fold it up, and walk away from it for a while. I yearn for it, but I know I'm not ready to tackle it yet. I've yielded it up to a future time, when I'm ready to tell that story.

Do you know when to yield and when to remain unyielding in your creative endeavors?

Have you ever yielded your work to someone else for constructive criticism?



BTW: my laptop had some major issues, so for the past few days I've been working somewhat haphazardly from my husband's pc (usually in use by him), and my laptop was cleaned off and rebooted (by my hubby who probably has better "tech"ese to describe the process) So, hopefully now I'll be able to visit a few more people in the last few days of A to Z.

A to Z Challenge: X

Theme: Creativity Toolbox
The Source of this Image
X = Xylem

What?

Xylem: plant tissue consisting of thick walled cells that provide support and through which water and dissolved minerals are conducted to the various plant parts.

Years ago, my kids and I did an awesome science experiment with a stalk of celery and colored water. The xylem in the celery brought the colored water from the bottom of the stalk to the top. This experiement is pretty cool with carnations, daffodils and other plants too, but you can see the xylem in the celery stalk and watch the process take place over a few hours.

So what in the world do xylem have to do with writing and creativity?

I think we need to root ourselves in creativity, and let that creativity be conducted to the various parts of our lives.

However, I'm going to take a little step further because of something I truly believe, and know.

To truly be creative, I think we need to root ourselves in God, the Creator and Redeemer of our world. When we soak up creativity and life-giving goodness from our Creator, our souls are going to conduct all of that into every part of our lives.


“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6,7).


Where have you planted your roots?

Creativity Challenge: Try a science experiment, or write about what conducts life to your system.

A to Z Challenge: W

from Scenic Reflections

A to Z Challenge

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

When we want to boost our creativity, I think we need to learn to be wayfarers of wonder, whimsy, and wisdom.

Wayfarers are foot travelers. When we walk places we move slowly enough to experience the angle of the path beneath our feet, the sounds of wind rushing through tree branches, the smell of cherry blossoms, the changing patterns of the weather, and the flittering of birds in a bush.

Wayfarers have time for wonder, whimsy and even moments of wisdom.

So, today, I highly encourage you all to take a walk and be a wayfarer. Experience the world of wonder around you, let yourself be whimsical, or even wise.

If walking is tough for you, find another way to get outside and be a wayfarer. My husband prefers to bike, and although it does speed by a little faster, I think it still gives him time to wonder as he travels from one place to another.

A to Z Challenge: Vision

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” by Marcel Proust

Vision: 1. the act or power of sensing with the eyes; sight
2. a vivid, imaginative conception

Vivid vision is an essential part of writing, and creative thinking.

Our vision of the world, shaped by our world view, and made even brighter with our vivid imaginations can be the source of many creative endeavors.

Creativity Toolbox Exercise: Take a look at the world around you with new eyes, then close your eyes and take a vivid visionary voyage of creativity.
"The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades,
I gotta wear shades" - Timbuk3


BTW - I had a pic for this post, but my pc and blogger seem to be having an argument and I can't seem to paste pictures or even see pictures on my blog at the moment.

A to Z Challenge: Unique

One of the things that I love about the A to Z Challenge is the opportunity to read so many unique posts by unique bloggers. We each have a unique way of looking at the world, and our individual gifts pour through in the midst of challenging ourselves for creativity.

Uniqueness is a gift that each of us have. It's not something we need to put in our creativity toolbox, as much as it is something to appreciate about ourselves and about each other. We are each a masterpiece of gifts, talents, skills, dreams, and hopes, created for greatness.

Creativity Challenge - go out and visit as many unique bloggers out there as you can, and give them appreciative encouragement!

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

A to Z Challenge - Time

Time, a precious commodity, more valuable than silver or gold.

We need it, and I have little today, so this post is going to be super short.

Time.

Do you think it's essential for a writer, or a creative thinker, or an artist, or musician?

How do you use your time wisely?

A to Z Challenge: Sassy Strength

Image of a Sassafras tree from Aiden Brooks Spices

Why do we need Sassy Strength in our Creativity Toolbox?

Let's look at some information first.

Sassafras:

"Sassafras is the only uniquely North American spice, with its kitchen usage restricted to a small area of the US. Filè powder (ground sassafras leaves) is an important ingredient in the two cuisines of Louisiana, Creole and Cajun."

"The essential oil of sassafras which is obtained from the root, is (after removal of safrole) used for flavouring root beer, an American beverage dating from the 19th century."

Quotes from Aiden Brooks Spices blog

SASSY . . .

Definitions

1,impudent: impudent or disrespectful

2.high-spirited: lively and high-spirited



STRENGTH

1. quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power; vigor.

2. mental power, force, or vigor.

3. moral power, firmness, or courage.


Sassy Strength is essential in those moments when our projects seem in disarray and someone says to us:

"Are you the lady who is writing a novel? I heard about you from ________. What qualifies you to write a novel? What background do you have that makes you think you can be a writer?"

These are real questions I was asked just a few days ago . . .

And it was the last question that struck a nerve . . .especially since I felt like all my writing that day sucked.

However, I felt I needed to answer that one for writers everywhere so I answered with a touch of sassy strength:

"Yes, I'm a writer, and I write every day. I've been writing all my life. I've taken classes. and I've written three rough drafts of novels."

When further questioned I added that I've had poems and short stories published, and I have experience writing, and teaching writing classes to homeschool kids.

The conversation ended up going to friendlier ground, but there was a moment when I had to be sassy and strong to get past my own insecurities.

So, be sassy, be strong. Write. Create.

Trust that God created you for good purposes, and one of those purposes is to be creative.


Creativity Toolbox Exercise: Tell someone today that you are a writer, or a musician, or an artist. Say it to the mirror. Honor the creative spark within you, and don't let anyone put you down.

A to Z Challenge: Questions

A to Z Challenge

Theme: Creativity Toolbox



Q = Questions

Questions start us on the quest of creativity.

What if . . . is often a starting point for a story or a creative endeavor.

What if a young woman who spent her whole life training to be a warrior, found that she couldn't stand the sights and stench of actual battle? What if her sword of power worked only when she had confidence and faith? What happens when she despairs or doubts?

Those are some of the questions that started me on my quest to finish The Crystal Sword. 

My youngest daughter took a photography class at our local zoo last summer, and the lesson she remembers the most came from this question: what if you changed the angle on your shot, and took a photo from a different perspective?

What questions inspire your creative endeavors?

Creativity Toolbox: Look around you, and within you, and ask a "what if" question today.

A to Z Challenge: Organization

A to Z Challenge

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

O = Organization
Organization is not an area I'm gifted with. Formal outlines make me cringe. I prefer napkins and stray pieces of paper covered in odd bubble map type notes and journals that include pictures, maps, story ideas, poetry, and scribbles.

However, after writing rough drafts for three novels, and getting neck deep in revisions for my current WIP, I have found a new respect for the formal outline, and for all organizational tools.

Organization is a required tool for the creativity toolbox, whether I like it or not.

I need lists of my characters' names, maps of the countries my characters visit and the world the live in, formal character files, and even that dreaded formal outline that makes me want to curl my toes in protest.




Organization can free up my time, my writing space, and my mind so that I can be creative. That's why I feel like it's an essential part of a Creativity Toolbox.

What do you think? Is organization necessary?

Creativity Toolbox Exercise: Take a moment and organize some part of your project.

A to Z Challenge: M

A to Z Challenge

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

M = Margin

Definitions of Margin: 1. An edge or border.

2. The blank space that surrounds the written area on a page.

3. An extra amount allowed beyond what is needed.


Creative thinkers, creative writers, creative artists need margin. Why?


"Marginless is fatigue; margin is energy.
Marginless is hurry; margin is calm.
Marginless is culture; margin is counterculture.
Marginless is the disease of the new millennium; margin is its cure."
- from Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard A. Sweson, M.D.

We all know what it's like to feel like we just don't have enough time. We need to create margin in our lives to have time to be creative, time to daydream and time to relax enough to be creative.

Our writing needs the blank space around it, so readers have space for their imagination.

Our art, and music need the margin of an edge so that those who view and listen have a space or a moment to fill in that border with their own art and music.

We all need the extra amount allowed beyond what is needed - that's the beauty of grace.

Do you have margin in your life?

Creativity Toolbox Exercise: Create some margin in your life, writing, and creative endeavors. Allow yourself an extra amount of time beyond what you thought you needed to fulfill a project. Give yourself time to relax. Give yourself grace.


Nearly five years ago, I had the priveledge of hearing Richard A. Swenson speak at my church, and I was impressed by his knowledge of health, science, and Biblical truths. Check out his website here: Richard Swenson

A to Z: Love

A to Z Challenge

Theme: Creativity Toolbox

L = Love

I love the awesome love of Jesus that has given me the strength and love to love others. I love the sweet love of my husband, but today I want to focus on the love that drives our creative endeavors.

Love isn't just a state of being, it's an action. Love drives us forward when we really want to take a step back. Love is a choice that we make each day when we wake up and find ourselves in love with our creative endeavors again, or when we choose to wake up and love on our creative endeavors even when our projects seem to be at a standstill.

Do you love your creative projects, or choose to love them even when the going gets rough?

Creativity Love Challenge: Take some time today and love on your current creative endeavor. Write, paint, draw, make music. Enjoy!


I apologize for the lateness and hastiness of my post this morning. I woke up with an idea in my head, and wrote for two hours . . .it was a blissful love of writing that got me going today. Yesterday it was more of the working, choosing kind of love for writing that kept me going.

A to Z Challenge: Creativity and Color

A to Z Challenge
Theme: Creativity Toolbox
C = Color

As a writer I often find myself staring a white, blank screen with black letters. It gets a little old. Sometimes I long for a splash of color. In fact, I need color to heighten my level of creativity.

Oddly enough, until this last year I never used pictures to help me write my novels. Never. I used pictures to help with poetry, flash fiction, and devotionals, but never with my novel writing. Last year before NaNoWriMo 2011, I took part in a fun blogfest that demanded that I find pictures for my characters and while I was doing that I started finding pictures for the landscapes and the creatures in my story. Soon I had a poster board filled with colorful pictures, and my story flowed faster and easier with that color-filled add to my writing area.

Color can add a deep, rich element to any creative endeavor - even one that mainly finds itself focused on black letters on a white page.

Look outside and gaze at the amazing colors of the creation around you . . . don't you think it's amazing how our Creator took the time to paint the world in striking colors?


Do you use color to boost your creative endeavors beyond shades of gray?

Color Writing Exercise:
Use colored pencils to write a story. Or collect a collage of pictures that represent your story, and spend some time looking at them before you sit down to write. Or draw/paint/collage a picture and then write about it.

A to Z Theme Reveal, and Vote!

 A to Z is just two days away. Just two days!!!! Are you ready? I am partially ready, partially going to be flying by the seat of my pants. It will be interesting, fun, and challenging.
My goals are to keep my posts under 300 words, hovering around 250 if I can, always include a picture, and to try and stick with my theme which is . . .creativity toolbox.

What in the world do I mean by creativity toolbox?

Well, I hope to explore different ways to expand creativity in writing and in life.

Where did I get that idea from?

Karen Lange's post Got Creativity
and from this article she cited, 12 Things You Were Not Taught In School About Creative Thinking

Why the focus on creativity?

To combat that feeling that I have sometimes that my writing has gone stale and repetitive, and to encourage others to be creative.


Please go vote at Unicorn Bell. My story, "The Identity Crisis of Captain Wrath" made it into the top five. There are four other great stories up for vote too. Please go read them and vote your choice!

See you around the blog world from A to Z!!!