A Return to Creativity

As I reflect on my creative journey through the past several years, I have to admit my record has been somewhat spotty. I would have sudden bursts of creative energy that would stimulate me to write for a week or so then lose focus and lapse into inactivity. I would feel terribly guilty and think "I should be writing" . . . then not do anything. In the spring and summer, I decided to break the guilt cycle when I found out I was pregnant.

Now, I approach writing and creativity with a more hopeful and forgiving spirit. I've returned to writing in my journal on a regular basis, which helps to clear out the cobwebs (similar to Julia Cameron's strategy of morning pages). Also, I've started a joural for my daugher, which I will write more about in a later post. Essentially, this journal consists of little notes and letters about her development and my thoughts on her progress and hopes and dreams for her future.

Also, I discovered a beautiful journal in Barnes and Noble; it has a pink spine and is called "My Life Journal." I find all the different prompts and quotations inspiring and motivating, and when I feel I have absolutely nothing to write about, I open up the book to a random page and write at least one idea under the assigned prompt.

Finally, I keep my favorite writing books close to me. My essential books are listed below, and I encourage you to find  your own list of books that stir your creative spirit:

• Eric Maisel's A Writer's Paris
• Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones
• Heather Sellers' Page After Page
• Judy Reeves' A Writer's Book of Days