Do you have any projects in the closet waiting to be born? I have set out to write a book that I have been wanting to write for a few years. And, I am running into a lot of fear and diversionary tactics. Sound familiar? Here’s what I’m doing to get myself started (and keep […] Continue Reading
Creative Sparks
Real tools and firelight for artists and dreamers to create inspired lives
Reaching the Point of No Return
“In each life there comes at least one moment which, if recognized and seized, transforms the course of that life forever.” — Ralph Blum, The Book of Runes I have reached the point of no return. I have come to the edge of a cliff and I have to jump. Have you ever come to […] Continue Reading
I Am Pursuing a Great Dream
I am pursuing the great driving dream of my life: To be a great artist and touch the lives of thousands of people with my creations. How painful this dream has been! How much drive and longing and push and disappointment. How much invisibility and slow growth. Yet this dream is threaded through my soul. […] Continue Reading
How to Deal With Creative Advice & Become a Better Artist
Creative advice for writers and artists abounds. Much of it is useful, helping us create stronger art. But it can also block our best work. In today’s post I discuss how to navigate that slippery terrain. Write as if your words were a fire bringing warmth to a freezing cold room. Waste no words, just […] Continue Reading
How to Get Started Creating Again
How do you get back to creating after you have been away, whether due to illness, vacation, busyness or distraction? Whether it has been a few days, weeks or years, the process is essentially the same. Knowing this process is a key skill for artists who want to live fulfilling creative lives. At the end […] Continue Reading
Create an Ode
Get your imagination sizzling with this creativity prompt to create an ode. In this post I walk you through Ellen Bass’ lovely poem Ode to the First Peach. I show you what makes the poem sing and how to create your own ode in any art form you choose. This prompt is not just for […] Continue Reading
Why It’s Important to Follow Your Dreams
What Are dreams? Why Do They Matter? Each of us, like a flower or tree, is encoded with who we are meant to be, what we are here to give, our unique beauty and gifts. Each of us is encoded with dreams, desires, longings and visions that are here to lead us to the life […] Continue Reading
Entering the Word Temple of Poetry
The Chinese character for poetry is made up of two parts, “word” and “temple.”* Let us enter the sacred word temple of poetry. Let us be housed by holy words. What makes a poem holy? The care it took to select each word like a stone, carve it to a perfect fit with other word-stones. […] Continue Reading
The One Thing You Need for a Prolific Creative Life
Is there one thing that makes the difference between a happy, prolific creative life and a frustrating one filled with fits and starts? In this post, I answer this and how it can change your whole life, not just your creativity. About a week ago, I went to a wonderful literary event in my town. […] Continue Reading
Celebrating the Spring Equinox
Today is the Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox, the turning point to the season of Springtime in the Northern Hemisphere. The Spring equinox turns us to new beginnings, new shoots coming up out of the earth, new budding things. Life begins anew. It is a time of rebirth, balance, pause and planting seeds. Here where […] Continue Reading
