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In 2015, my creative well ran bone dry. Thirsty ideas meandered over. Some were smart enough to move along after awhile, but others lingered and ultimately wasted away, leaving behind the shrunken skulls and withered skins of dead stories.
So, I decided to make 2016 The Year of Living Creatively.
I don't have resolutions, and I don't have set-in-stone goals. My "one word," my focus is Creativity. And this applies not only to writing, but also to life in general. I already signed up for cooking classes for this winter and for art classes in the spring. I'll pay more attention to the shadows of the palm fronds shifting and fluttering against the window shade. I'll let my fingers linger on the bumps and creases of the tortoises' shells. Flashlight in hand, I'll immerse myself in the craft of writing horror.
I wish you all a year of creative living! Go for it!
Good for you for taking classes! I would love to take a cooking class for Chinese cuisine, but there's no place nearby. Maybe one day, I'll suck it up and do the 1 1/2 drive into the big city for classes.
ReplyDeleteIt's a series of cooking classes focused mainly on the basics. I'm hoping to come away with all of my fingers. I'm not the, um, handiest. :)
DeletePerfect! As you know my creative well was fairly dry too and I want 2016 to be different. Thanks for the inspiration. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! And I have every faith in you - in us! - that 2016 will be awesome. :)
DeleteOh, excellent idea! I have a coloring book I got for Christmas (filled with dragons)... that counts, right? I had lots of ideas last year. What I lacked was focus and confidence because of a couple big things that happened early... so HERE is getting to them!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely counts! And sounds very cool. :)
DeleteMay your year be full of focus and confidence!
That's sounds like an awesome plan. As always, thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed it will actually work!
DeleteAnd you're welcome, as always. :)
2015 was a year of writer doubt for me. I plan to snap out of that this year.
ReplyDeleteYou can do it, Deborah! Go for it!
DeleteAll that creativity will inspire you even more!
ReplyDeleteI hope so!
DeleteI can't wait to be creative again. I've got to get my kid healthy enough to get back to school first. It's been weeks since I've done any creative writing. I'm losing it!
ReplyDeleteYou'll get it back, don't worry! You all stay healthy over there!
DeleteI applaud you for taking a focus. It's going to be an epic year. Looking forward to learning what you come up with through your other efforts.
ReplyDeleteBowing to your applause.... :)
DeleteI do hope to write up some posts about my year of living creatively. Stay tuned!
I love the idea of tying in all different kinds of creativity together. You'll have to share a few cooking secrets from your class.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning that a creative life is not only about art, but also about the way we see the world, about how we notice and interpret the "ordinary." It all hinges together!
DeleteCheers to creative living!!!
ReplyDeleteWhoo hoo! :)
DeleteHow wonderful to try all these different creative things. I need to do that too. Have a fantastic 2016. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also trying to stay as open as I can to less structured (classes) opportunities for creativity. When I really pay attention, I see they're everywhere!
DeleteI love your word! And, those wonderful images of what you're doing to live life creatively. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope I can live up to such a great and powerful word. :)
DeleteExcellent plan. No downside. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
You're right! There really is no downside. :)
DeleteFocusing on creativity is a great idea. As long as we're creative we can create and pursue our passion.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping this focus on creativity will help with those things and more. :)
DeleteExcellent! My daughter was home for two weeks in December and tended to occupy herself with videos. I laid down the law that she wasn't allow to watch any videos until she had done at least one creative thing. She could draw, color, build, or do anything she wanted, so long as she was using her mind to create something. It worked out well. She's still got it in her mind that she has to do at least one creative thing a day. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome idea, Loni! Hmm, maybe something we should all try? :)
DeleteWriting horror... good luck... I freak myself out every time I try the genre. But I'm a bit of a wimp. ;)
ReplyDeleteBTW, your first paragraph - that last line is awesome. I had to read it again and that, in my opinion, is the sign of a talented writer.
Let the year of creativity commence!!
CG
In real life, I'm quite the chicken. :)
DeleteThanks so much, CG! I appreciate that.
I was thinking about taking art classes later this year too! Cooking classes sound like fun. What will you be cooking?
ReplyDeleteGo for it! :)
DeleteIt's a cooking class about the basics, so I'm not exactly sure yet what food/recipes I'll actually be cooking.
Lovely idea! Just open yourself up and see what comes. Best to you...in writing, cooking and all the ways that the muse inspires you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Liza!
DeleteHi Madeline,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful approach to the new year! I think your focus on creativity will bring you much joy in 2016.
Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous new year--and many and varied creative expressions!
Thank you, Donna! I wish the same for you - for us all! - this year. :)
DeleteGood luck with your creativity. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
DeleteSounds amazing. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou go! Your description of what happened to those poor ideas tells me that creativity has not left you!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't think it's gone for good. :)
DeleteYes! I am right there with you! Let the imagination run wild and come what may!
ReplyDeleteMy imagination running wild? Now that's some scary imagery. :)
DeleteHappy New Year! I'm with you! This year being more creative is the goal. I haven't made any resolutions either. Only to stop fighting my creativity. The cooking and art classes sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOh, definitely stop fighting it! It wants to play! :)
DeleteI love the title of your year, have a brilliant time :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I'll try. :)
DeleteThat's an awesome word for the year, Madeline. I think filling your well by doing a lot of non-writing creative activities is really smart.
ReplyDeleteI suggest traveling as well, if you can afford it. Nothing inspires me more.
I like the IDEA of traveling, but not the traveling itself - crowds, noise, etc. I like day trips, shorter/weekend type trips, and I might add a few of those to my creative endeavors. :)
DeleteLiving Creatively is a great goal, Madeline. I've also considered signing up for an art class again, but I'd best avoid the cooking classes. I'd be doing way too much tasting and testing, and that would mean way too many added calories.
ReplyDeleteGo for that art class!
DeleteI'm not sure I'll want to taste what I'm cooking.... :)
I LOVE this goal and all it entails! Because you are so right—creativity isn't just limited to writing, it's anything and everything around us. How fun that you signed up for art and cooking classes!! Sounds like you are taking life by the horns (is that the right saying? doesn't sound right...oh well. Lol.) Happy New Year!! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that's the right saying, although around here we like to say "getting out of our shells." Although, actually, the tortoises don't really care for that saying either.... :o
DeleteWhat an outstanding goal. Soak up all the creativity you can. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI'll try and be like a sponge. :)
DeleteSounds like a great approach. We forget to look at ordinary things around us and let them inspire us. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCreativity really is all around us - we just have to pay attention. :)
DeleteAh, this sounds SO nice! Such a great idea for the year :) I'm making this my year of change, I think. Positivity and change.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Good luck to you as well! Go for it!
Delete