HOW TO GET BACK ON THE HORSE…
Recovering after a personal tragedy has been really hard for me. I know the fire happened three years ago but just getting back to being creative and fancy free is not easy.
To me, being creative is like having a unicorn in my backyard and when I want, I can climb on him and just let him run over rainbows, hop on clouds and sprout wings and fly through the universe. All I have to do is hold his mane and enjoy the ride.
That’s how my creative looks.
And I write this post not just for me as I go through getting through my own personal tragedies. I write this to every creative who has gone through something that knocked them off their horse and they’re finding it hard to get back on.
People say you can just get back in the saddle and just start back over.
But when reality hits, when you know the things in life can be taken away from you, including life, it’s hard tyring to see the unicorn in the backyard and sometimes you see him, but just don’t want to go out there and ride him. Sometimes when you’re riding him, you can’t just let reality go.
It’s not that I fell out of love of my creativity, it’s just that I know I’ve changed and I have to learn to fall in love with him again.
He still loves me. He still looks up when I peak out the window and he does he show and pony dance enticing me to come on out and play and when I’m with him, he takes me away to the most glorious places.
So for this post, I am helping myself on ways I currently stay creative and I hope to insiprie those who are going through what I’m going through.
1. Keep writing instruments all over the place wherever I go.
I have a Chromebook (Samsung, of course). It’s small, lightweight and I can use it to just type away on my Google Drive (another writer essential) all day long. This way I have no excuse to write what I need to write. I also have a Boogie Board. Everyone says handwriting is going out of style, but for me, it’s not. I love the purity of pen to paper and my Boogie Board gives me that and guess what? When I’m done with the sheet, I can either load it to Evernote or Google Drive. My Samsung Phone 5 is my life. I have my Boogie Board synced to it along with apps like Evernote and Google Drive added on there. I can use the handwriting tool, audio tool and keyboard, plus I can attach a bluetooth keyboard to my phone and keep it going. I never give my excuse to not write. BTW, the bluetooth keyboard can also attach to my Amazon Kindle as well. (See more notes below for more
2. Research
That’s been my saving grace. Just researching things I’m supposed to be working on has kept me really motivated in getting the job done and wanting to get on my creative horse. Whether it’s just about a simple eye color or a complicated medical procedure then I do my best to keep researching past stories I need to finish and future stories that are in my head.
3. Reading.
Stephen King was right. A writer cannot be without reading. Not just about my research, but other writers. Not only for enjoyment, but for teaching purposes. I think you can go to every college in every land, but nothing beats knowing how to do something than reading something that has been done very right or very wrong.
I find free reads on my Amazon Kindle all day long and I actually do try to read them. If they are good enough, I’ll actually read to the end and leave a review. If they are bad, I delete them and try another author. I’m a reader that must be impressed by the first two chapters or I’m gone. I try to make my stories that way as well and I write what I love in stories.
And An Extra One: JUST DO IT… BE CREATIVE!
Spend one hour of my day writing about anything. Mostly about my current WIP‘s. (Ravenous & Beautiful). Other times I try to blog (another horse I need to get on. That one sa lot darker and bigger, but as you can see I’m trying.
I’d love to hear how other’s keep their creative juices flowing. If you’re an author or writer, please let me know.
Note: For the Boogie Board mentioned above, make sure you get the one with Bluetooth. For the Amazon Kindle, I get the HDX 7, because it’s pretty cool to use with other things and also it reads to me for any drive longer than ten minutes.
These are awesome tips. I also find that when I allow life’s realities to consume more attention than I should, it helps to be around other creatives or attend creative events like poetry readings, story-telling, or a stage play to inspire me to write. Also, I remember my honors English teacher telling us to always write. Good, bad, or ugly – always write!!! BTW, I like your Boogie Board and I plan to get one as well! Thanks for always being willing to share, Sylvie!!!
Great tips!
Thanks for this article, it gives me inspiration to start back to writing my first story and also the second one, which I left in the “will do one day” basket. I will make notes on all you said and go back to my boogies and research to finish these books. Thanks again very much. Oh, life does hand out the dragons and dungeons at times, and its awfully hard to pick yourself up and try again. Much success!!
Oh, how I love this!! Thank you for your transperancy. I especially love that creativity is the unicorn in your backyard. Great imagery. I think I’ll borrow that, if you don’t mind. Your tips and resources for getting back on the horse are also something I’ll borrow.
So I’m all in with Raavenous though I’m ready for the entire full read lol on WattPad app.. But how do I get Beautiful. Has it been released as of yet please??
Thanks for the uplifting message. I’m finalizing a book so far my internet went crazy, my computer was infected. I got a new modem installed it; put my computer in the shop, but I had to smile after reading your comments. Oh by the I accidentally set the chimney on fire, the fire caused some damage. I am still recovering, meditating and smiling. All the tips you stated are exactly what I do. Boogie Board! I need one. Thanks again!
As I was reading this, I had to smile. These are the strategies I employ everyday when trying to write through chronic pain. Even if I only get one page done or google one subject, it keeps me motivated. This is a great post. Have to share :).