Category: Creativity
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Quote of the Week…
“All great art…creates in the beholder not self-satisfaction but wonder and awe. Its great liberation is to lift us out of ourselves.” Dorothy Thompson, 1894-1961
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Yes, Please…
A friend had a last-minute opportunity to go to the ballet and she asked me to join her. Yes, please! Sitting in the beautiful theater, soaking in all the sights and sounds, I was thankful for the dancers who seemed to effortlessly move their bodies through space and time. My gratitude extended to the hundreds…
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I ‘Preciate Ya…
While it’s true I never actually say “I ‘preciate ‘ya,” (twang implied), I am thankful for those who work to bring comfort and joy to my life. Noticing them begets a happy lens that views people as helpful, good, and valuable. Going beyond a cursory thanks means to sincerely wish them well. It means to…
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Misbehaving Characters…
More on character reveal. Imagine sitting in a lovely park, chillin’ to the chirping birds, rippling stream and smelly flowers turning to the sun’s warmth. Tart apple juice dribbles down your chin. A stranger sits on your bench (you’ve claimed it for a time). Maybe you engage in friendly conversation. Maybe you jot impressions in your notebook:…
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Impromptu Joy…
I recently celebrated an artful day with one of my daughters, exploring a local modern art museum. Soaking in the creations of others feeds my soul. Doing so with a loved one, doubly so. Like music, visual art can enhance and energize. It has a way of toggling brain buttons to the on position, like…
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Quote of the Week…
“If you’re silent for a long time, people just arrive in your mind.” Alice Walker
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Character Reveal…
Deep into draft one of novel two, my main character cavorts and chortles in my writing closet. I don’t worry about quality at this stage. It’s all about populating a page with raveling words. Many revisions will shape them into a book for the reading public. Writing the first draft is like donning flowing robes…
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Ideal, Ideal Day…
What is your ideal day? I have a few. The simplest is cozying up in my writing closet, punctuated by playing piano and reading. Simple, not easy to pull off given the rarity of white spots on the calendar. I had the grandest ideal day at the New Orleans Fairgrounds, soft-shell crab poboy in hand,…
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Front Loading…
In the realm of time and space and all things that must fit within, I like to remember to front load…my day, my week, my priorities. Setting aside writing time first thing in the morning tells my brain and my heart that writing is an important enterprise. Front loading the week means the first three…
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Write it Down…
I had a great blog post idea last night, at the cusp of slumber. I was perfectly comfortable, did not want to move, so I repeated the idea in my head to brand it on the memory part of my brain. “You WILL forget,” was a warning from some deep inner voice. Wisdom, no doubt.…
Patty Mayeux Blog 