I know better. I even teach how to do it better – how to live a creative life that feeds on play. Yet recently, the stresses of life gained the advantage and play disappeared. It was all I could do to get up in the morning and look at my longer-than-ever list of tasks that …
It’s one of those things we take for granted, because it’s always been part of our lives – but only since 1791 when the First Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. James Madison and George Mason, the men credited with writing the Bill of Rights, must have realized how important free speech would become to …
In her book, “The Artist’s Way” (http://amzn.to/1ajQmPn), Julia Cameron suggests that artists schedule an artist’s date. This includes any type of artist who desires to build on the relationship between her work and her soul. Potters, sculptors, painters and wordsmiths like me. The artist takes a break from a current project and does something else …
One year ago, my friend and I drove to Santa Fe, NM. We planned it as a research / vacation trip in the wonderful Southwest, with side trips to Taos and Red River. Why Santa Fe? Because I knew that my main character, Reverend G, loved the Southwest and particularly Santa Fe. I also knew …
As a published author, one of my duties includes marketing and promoting my book. I do this through social media, through speaking events and through this blog. I also work hard to find new outlets for my book and use every tool imaginable to market the words I write. Sometimes it seems as if I’m …
In the last post, we investigated five ways to stall creativity. Those included: lack of sleep, stress, wrong direction, fear and guilt. If you’d like to read my ideas about stalled creativity, check out the post at: www.rjthesman.net. So what do writers do if creativity stalls? Don’t Panic. Keep breathing and keep your writing schedule. …
When the words flow, our creative juices whet the appetite for more. Writing becomes enjoyable work. But when we have to fight ourselves to keep in the chair and force our fingers to keep typing – then we wonder why in the world we ever chose to do this mammoth task. Most of the time, …
At a writers’ conference I recently attended, another writer asked, “Why should I be a freelancer? The return on my investment is terrible. I work hard and make no money. Is it worth it?” If you look just at the ROI, the answer is, “No. It isn’t worth the sacrifice, the time or the struggle.” …
Many writers have a special good luck charm that they keep in their offices or wear on their persons – anything to remind themselves to sit down and be a writer. One greeting card writer wraps a winter scarf around his neck – even in the middle of July – to remind himself of the …
Writers these days have to be half-creatives and half-marketers. Sometimes that’s a real stretch. After all, it involves the other side of the brain and includes spread sheets, cold calls for book signings and all types of extravert activities that drive us to eat large bowls of chocolate ice cream, looking for comfort. One of …