As previously discussed, this new chapter of the blog is not only for me to express my opinions on creativity and work through how to build a creative life, but to keep me accountable to my creativity in a way that really works. This is the end of my second month back into blogging and honing in on my creativity, and as such thought it would be prudent to assess my levels of engagement and commitment to the process so far.
Consistent blog posts
I have never been more ahead of myself in my life, and I always try to stay ahead of what needs doing. I am currently four weeks ahead in planning and two weeks ahead in prepared content. The regularity of writing again has been wonderful. In this context consistency isn’t everyday, the regularity of writing isn’t even weekly, it’s more as I have the time to sit down. Half of the work is done just sitting around and thinking; and then praying I remember the kernels of ideas that have been swirling around my head all day until I can grab a notebook and write them down. Having a regular posting schedule and using daily musings to propagate these posts is increasing the integration and appreciation of creativity in daily life.
I love not structuring the month in terms of a theme for the posts, but instead am following my thoughts and curiosities about creativity as they arise.
In fact, in early celebration of my birthday, my husband bought me a typewriter keyboard with the wonderful mechanical sounds and the rounded keys, all of which motivate me to clickity clack the keys and keep up the pace I have set for the blog. Hopefully, as I progress in prepping and editing my WIP first draft , these keys will entice me to continue the flow into draft two one day soon.
Journaling
For anyone who has followed me on Instagram or the blog for any length of time, you know that journaling is something Ivalue and want to engage more with and also a practice I just can’t seem to stick to. However, I believe I have turned this around at last! I have a small leather bound journal one of my brothers gifted me a few years ago and I have dedicated myself to writing at minimum half a page for each day. I keep it near to hand so I can pull it out and record or muse to my heart's content. I find that writing out anxieties, worries, joys, and thoughts in a judgement free zone helps me work through them and let them go.
Reading non fiction book on the craft of writing
I am in the process of reading Story Genius in an attempt to break ground on my second draft of my WIP first novel: a contemporary holiday romance. This endeavour has stalled.
Reading fiction novel
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn - This novel is beautiful. I have started getting back into reading before bed - at least one chapter each night to unwind and savour the peace of a wonderful story. During this time baby boy likes to wriggle around and push against the confines of his current home, because I am so relaxed. Reading allows me to fully relax in a completely different way than any other creative pursuit.
Inkheart - I have been loving the rediscovery of old childhood favourites as we read to our baby bump in these final months. This was one of those stories that has stayed with me throughout the years. It helped to inform my love of books, reverency for stories and their ability to hold us all our lives. My husband picks up on the language in the story as language I’ve used when describing books, or why our home needs more bookshelves, or why the library is such a sacred space, and it is simply magic. Seeing how deeply story can affect us and shape us at all ages and stages of our lives makes me so grateful for the gift of reading and propels me into action in my writing. KNowing that I am building up this tradition, this habit which I enjoyed as a child to now pass onto and share with my own son is so gratifying.
Reno update
Things are coming along nicely! The mudding phase is over and we are now able to envision the end product. Hanging pictures in the rest of the house, and entering nesting mode in spurts and starts, we have begun setting aside pieces for the guest room, as well as a few for the nursery as well. This is a jump ahead, but it is my next step in the process, while my husband continues to give me those walls and floors upon which to place furniture and hang the final touches.
As a side note we have been hanging pictures and art collected from expos and redistributed during re-painting and rearranging. In addition, I am trying to set up writing/creative spaces on each floor around the house to be ready and waiting anytime I have a moment, the drive, or the simple pleasure of simply looking at the space once this little one arrives and time and energy become precious, fleeting resources for a time. In setting up the desk next to my husband’s computer in the dining room, I had to rearrange the wall of bookshelves in the living room to accommodate our board game collection and create space to fully encourage creativity when it strikes. In doing all of this shifting, it really brought home the creative aspect of organization and the simple ways in which we engage with creativity without realizing it in our day to day. The goal is to become more cognizant, and therefore more appreciative, of accessing that creative spark around every corner.
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