Creativity – Warren Bluhm

Not just stolen moments

“Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.” — Clarissa Pincola Estes, quoted in DO Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York At the end of a tedious day full of tedium, three-hour meetings, a frustrating puppy class, and a lame 45-minutes-lost-forever TV drama, I reach into what’s left of myContinue reading “Not just stolen moments”

Genius needs no formula

We who aim to write stories study formulas — we dissect a story and consider ways we can recreate the effect by emulating the way great writers do — the Hero’s Journey, the Three-Act Structure, four acts, five acts, whatever. But what if sometimes a writer just writes and writes and writes and gets soContinue reading “Genius needs no formula”

We are all creatives

Everyone is a creator. Everyone creates, every day. Maybe you create burgers based on a template the company gave you. Maybe you dig ditches or build houses or create the wiring for that house. Maybe you create reports filled with numbers or facts. Or maybe you’re creative in the traditional sense, you know, you paint,Continue reading “We are all creatives”

Two pages, two moments

I turned the page and saw two blank, facing pages. First I felt trepidation. Whatever do I have to say? What could I possibly write to fill such a space? Who am I to presume I could fill these pages? Then I looked again and saw two blank, facing pages. This time a feeling ofContinue reading “Two pages, two moments”

Another streak preserver

This post began life as a filler, because it was past 9 p.m. Tuesday and I had no topic for a Wednesday entry. The devil on my shoulder said that nobody cares whether I continue my daily blogging habit for a 642nd day, but the angel on the other shoulder said that’s not quite true,Continue reading “Another streak preserver”

Mondays are for dreamers

Dean Wesley Smith quoted from Ingrid Bergman on Monday, applying the thought to the writer’s mindset. “Happiness is good health and a bad memory.” Smith encouraged writers to stop dwelling on things that have gone wrong — that is, develop a bad memory — and keep an eye on moving forward. I do spend aContinue reading “Mondays are for dreamers”

Just wait until you meet her

I do not expect this scene to appear in any of the books I’m writing about Jeep Thompson, but the moment sprang from a daydream about Jeep’s formative years. I hope it will pique your interest for that hopefully-inevitable time when you finally meet her. “Your daughter is reckless and disobedient,” the teacher said. “Oh,Continue reading “Just wait until you meet her”