I’m Sure I’ll Get Around to It…

Have you ever noticed how you never notice the dust on the wainscoting until you’re smack-dab in the middle of revising a manuscript?

Or how your scheduled writing time always seems to conflict with some synchronized swimming championship on TV… and you choose the latter?

What about the fact that you spend more time viewing cat memes than working on that fabulous novel idea?

Well, today is the day you've been waiting for all year —

Fight Procrastination Day!

That special national holiday that most folks get around to celebrating on September 7^th.

PROMPT: Aren't you happy that I actually told you about this fabulous day on time? Now do just ONE thing for your artist/writer self that you've been putting off…

Then you can get back to the cat memes guilt-free for another entire year!

Gonna Fly Now!

Now THIS is the kind of creativity we are talking about her at the Elbow…

Eleven-year-old Quinn Sheeran claims he likes to repurpose electronics and create little “nicks and nacks.” So, when he received a birthday card that played the Rocky theme when he opened it, his mind’s elbow was on fire!

Quinn rigged the card’s innards to his stick of deodorant.

Yep…

Whenever he pops the top — musical motivation! Check it out here.

Now that smells like tween spirit!

PROMPT: Repurpose a gizmo or gadget into your own nick or nack today. Or better yet, repurpose Quinn Sheeran into a new middle grade character — trust me, this kid belongs in a book!

Mum’s the Word

What if you were silent for a whole day?

Well, you might just find yourself thinking a whole lot more creatively!

According to psychologist Bruce Davis, inspiration always comes from silence.

Also, in her book, The Creative Habit, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp challenges those in search of a creative spark to go on a speaking diet.

I’m pretty sure it goes something like this—

Shut up.

Eat chocolate.

Now that’s a diet I can live with.

PROMPT: Try some silence for a change — your mind’s elbow will thank you. Heck, your spouse and friends might thank you, too… but that’s a topic for a different day.

Just Keep Swimming

September salutations!

I’m back from my summer of fun and wouldn't you know it, there’s some great stuff out there to blog about —

Yes, I’m talking about the goal that Diana Nyad can FINALLY cross off her Bucket List.

In case you missed it, yesterday she completed a 110-mile swim from Cuba to Key West. When she made it to shore after 53 hours of battling currents in shark and jellyfish-infested waters, she said she had three messages…

1. We must never, ever give up (Yeah, she would know a lot about this one — she set the Cuba to Key West goal back in the ‘70s and failed to accomplish it on four previous attempts).
2. You are never too old to chase your dreams (Diana turned 64 last week… that’s 64, as in sixty-four… I’m thinking it’s time to put down the Doritos and get off the couch).
3. It looks like a solitary sport, but it’s really a team.

Without a doubt, this is some news that every writer, artist, and Elbow bender can use!

So… 

1. Right now, recommit to that dream of yours.
2. Ditto, ditto, ditto (I don’t give a wit whether you are two or 107).
3. Just like swimming, the writer/artist life looks like a solitary sport. It is not. Start building your team today by finding a critique group, joining an organization like SCBWI, for example, or writing with friends at a local coffee shop.

And in honor of Diana Nyad’s awesomeness, I’m thinking that old Beatles tune needs a chorus change…

When I get older losing my hair,

Many years from now.

Will you still be sending me a Valentine

Birthday greetings bottle of wine.

When you've been out for 53 hours

While I wait on shore,

Will you still be kicking butt in shark-infested waters

When you’re sixty-four?

Yeah, it needs work, I know…

But I will never give up.

PROMPT: Never.Give.Up.

Labor Day

Yeah, I've been in labor…

Twice.

Trust me, it was no picnic.

So, I’m making up for it by having one today.

PROMPT: It’s labor that brings you into this world, and labor that gets you through it. I’m thinking you deserve a picnic, too. So whip up your best seven bean salad, deviled eggs, or Butterfinger pie and get to it.

Have a great one!