IWSG: If I Could Be Anyone (or Anything) for a Day: A Writer’s Adventure & 5 Ways to Refill the Creative Well

 

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To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The volunteer hosts this month are: Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

The optional question for the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop this month is: If for one day you could be anyone or thing in the world, what would it be? Describe, tell why, and any themes, goals, or values they/it inspire in you.

If for one day I could be anyone or thing in the world, I would be an author adventurer.

Picture this: traveling the world, piloting personal aircraft, speaking openly about my stories and my faith with a strong voice, but also finding the time to enjoy my family and invest time in my community. This “author adventurer” would live with purpose, explore new places, and share what I learn with others, all while staying grounded by the love and support of those closest to me. It’s a blend of adventure, creative expression, and meaningful connection that inspires me every day. I'm so close to this, but yet not quite there yet, and some of it, I am unlikely to do at this point in my life - I don't think I'll be getting a personal pilot's license anytime soon, but the rest is within reach.

As I think about the type of creative life I’d like to live, it reminds me of the importance of refilling our creative wells. Even the most adventurous and passionate writers need to pause, refresh, and regain their energy to keep moving forward. When we're creatively drained, it's easy to feel like we're stuck or burning out. That’s why it’s crucial to take time for restoration and refilling.

Here are 5 ways to refill your creative well when you feel low on inspiration:

1. Step Away and Take a Break
   Sometimes, the best way to refresh your mind is to step away from your work. Go for a walk, take a nap, or simply breathe. The act of letting go for a moment allows fresh energy to return.
2. Spend Time in Nature
   Nature is an incredible source of rejuvenation. Whether it's a stroll through the woods or sitting by a lake, taking in the sights and sounds of the outdoors can help you reset and gain new perspectives.
3. Engage in a Different Creative Activity
   If your writing feels stagnant, try something different: sketch, paint, dance, or experiment with cooking. Engaging in a creative activity that’s not directly related to your primary work often helps stir up new ideas.
4. Connect with Other Creatives
   Talking to other writers or artists can reignite your spark. Exchange ideas, discuss struggles, or simply share your work. Sometimes, all it takes is a good conversation to re-energize your own creative flow.
5. Take Yourself on an Artist’s Date
   A concept from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, an Artist's Date is about taking yourself on an adventure for the sole purpose of inspiring creativity. Whether it's visiting a museum, going to a play, or even taking a walk in a new place, do something just for you and your creative spirit.

I'll be diving deeper into more ways to refill your creative well on my podcast this week. I hope you’ll join me for the conversation as we explore how to nurture and protect our creativity.

Book Deals This Month:

Science Fiction and Fantasy in March

FREE Adventures in Scfi & Fantasy

AND I’ll be participating in an in-person event at the end of April at the Paddler's Cup in Gig Harbor, Washington - celebrating kayaking, canoeing, and dragonboats.

So, what would your answer be if you could be anyone or anything for a day? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

#IWSG March 2017

Started by Alex J. Cavanaugh and co-hosted this month by:

Optional March 1 Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

Yes, my first professionally published short story (I got paid!) "Dragonfold" was a story I had written nine years earlier and submitted to a local writer's conferience for a contest. It didn't make it then, but when I pulled it out later and revised it, it gained publication. Now that story is the title story for my first story collection - and admittedly, probably the best one in the book.

Along those lines, I read a few articles about the "10,000 hours to Mastery" idea.

Have you heard of it?

I heard of this concept back when my daughters were early homeschool students.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called The Outliers - about successful people - and this concept was one that really became popular after that.

However, there is conflicting research now. Some "master-level" and world-class artists, musicians, CEOs, and athletes spend less than 10,000 hours and some spend more than 10,000 hours to get to a high level of success.

Here are the links to two articles I read about this:

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah Winfrey All Use the 5-Hour Rule

What Malcolm Gladwell Got Wrong, From the Author of the '10,000 Hours' Study

Meanwhile - my fellow authors from the 2017 IWSG Anthology Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life rock at marketing! Between all 12 of us, we might just get to at least 1,000 hours of marketing work in the next three to six months. Be prepared to hear more about heroes, lost heroes, heroes lost, and otherwise. :)

The Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life Website already has posts up and running, as well as information about individual stories and authors.

What do you think? Is there a magic number of hours it takes to gain a mastery level?

If so, how do we apply that to our writing and marketing efforts?

Have you seen the Hero Lost website yet? Or pre-ordered an e-book?

Please support the Hero Lost Thunderclap - which will go live May 2nd, if we get 100 supporters!

Also, I am still recovering from my first surgery so I may take a bit to visit - and I will do that before I comment here.

 If you see random tweets from me from The Piano Guys youtube videos - well, music is helping me get through the painful part of recovery. Since I love to sing and singing is kind of painful because using my diaphragm pushes into the surgery area, I'm trying to listen to instrumentals only.