Don’t just think outside idea of the box… create as if there is no box.
Step outside of the traditional structure of your particular form of creativity.
Author Archives: Turtleberry Press
Self-Care Creativity Day Five
We have the best intentions at heart but ______ gets in the way.
What gets in the way of your creativity? Describe a few things. Visualize it. Be honest with yourself.
For example… moving got in the way of us posting this prompt earlier today.
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Self-Care Creativity Day Four
Brain dumps are a good way to get out what is blocking your creativity. Take some time to release what is clogging your creative flow. You may need to write it all down. You may need to paint it out. Whatever is the most creative way to release this… do that! Give at least fifteen minutes for the exercise but it is best to take all the time you need for it. You never know. You may find solutions to problems, answers to questions, or clarity where the was none. At the very least, you go it out and can let your creativity flow like you need it to again.
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Self-Care Creativity Day Three
The hardest part with most of these challenges is finding time to do them. Everyday life doesn’t stop just because you have a new creativity challenge.
How do you find time to do the things that you want to do, that allow you to be creative, and bring you joy? If you struggle with this, brainstorm ways that you can work it into your schedule. Where can you carve out 15 minutes two or three times into your day?
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Self-Care Creativity Day Two
Take at least 15 minutes to meditate on all the ways you are creative. Write them down if that helps. Make sure to get creative with this list.
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Self-Care Creativity – Day One
In honor of us starting late…
Let’s get the excuses out of the way.
Make a list of the most creative excuses you can for why you don’t take the time to feed your creativity every day.
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Challenge Yourself – Self-Care Creativity – November 2016 Creativity Challenge
Everything isn’t for everybody.
Let’s start there.
There are a number of challenges that go around the internet. Prompts are all over the place if you take a few moments to look. However, that doesn’t mean that any of them are right for you. Even NaNoWriMo isn’t for every novelist. Daily writing can be difficult. Word counts can be hard to reach. Living your everyday life may make it difficult to work on your art every day.
But how do you get good at something if you don’t work at it?
You have to find a way to create every day.
If limits aren’t your thing, don’t focus on them.
Simply be creative.
Heck, we are a day late starting this challenge but we are still going to do it!
Creativity is a form of self-care. It can feed your soul.
Our challenge to you this month is to practice daily self-care through exercising your creativity. Feed your creative soul and watch the positive effects on other areas of your life.
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Creativity Sundays: Brunch with Valerie Rich
Our table is set with mimosas, steak, eggs, fried potatoes, fresh fruit, and homemade biscuits. We have some soul music playing in the background.
Valerie Rich is a visual artist and author. Her work has been featured in two galleries. She has words everywhere. Words in her art. Words that are actual art. Words for inspiration.
What is on your table for brunch?
On my table for brunch is a three-panel mixed media collage piece: Words Have Power
Describe yourself.
I am known as Val. I am an author and Artist. I am a soft spoken compassionate person. My passion and purpose are to inspire others through art and other creative processes. I am married and mother of three.
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What is your creative mission?
My creative passion is to create beautiful things that make people smile and to encourage them be creative. Art frees the mind and warms the soul.
What is your primary form of creative expression?
My primary form of expression is acrylic painting and mixed media.
When did you first discover your love or passion for this form?
I discovered my Love of art in 2012.
What are your secondary forms of creative expression?
I love everything creative sewing, crochet, knitting…
How did you discover these?
I was always crafty growing up we learned a lot in girl scouts. I discovered art by joining a year-long art journal class and it grew from there.
Have you had any formal training?
I do not have any formal training. I have taken some online classes and workshops.
Do you think formal training is necessary?
Passion creates its self you just need a desire to create something.
How do you deal with creative blocks?
When I have a creative block, I just step away go do something else.
Check out art videos
Pin things to Pinterest
Start something new and come back to that.
Tell us a little about your creative process.
My process- I am very visual everything has the potential to be a piece of art . Pretty much my art just happens.
Tell us about one of your projects.
Ladies are in most of my pieces I have a series of girls (Be Passionate Be Brave) also ladies with head wraps and my first Lady, Lady Love series of four paintings.
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What motivates you? How do you stay motivated?
Art is my form of therapy. My last counselor told me I didn’t need to be there. She said go find a hobby, join a group or something. I started Lifebook 2012 (an art journal project) and have been doing art ever since.
Describe your creative space. What type of environment works best for you?
I have my own space at home. It is like a mini gallery of my work people love to come and create here. I encourage art session by appointment.
How do you practice self-care and self-love as a creative?
I practice self-care bu quiet time in the studio… sometimes all day.
What words of inspiration do you have for new or struggling creatives?
Art can be a great place to release your pain, fears and free yourself from worries for the moment.
What is your favorite food?
Steak
What is your favorite quote?
“The strongest action for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could.” -Unknown
Where can people find you and your work? (social media links and event information)
https://www.facebook.com/Painted-Imagery
https://www.facebook.com/Visual-Inspirations
Instagram: Valyrich
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Creativity Sundays: Brunch with Eliza David
The table is set and we are sitting down with author/blogger Eliza David.
Join us for some insight into her creative mind.
What is on your table for brunch?
Shrimp & Grits, Bacon, and bottomless black coffee.
Describe yourself.
Witty, pretty, well-read, and well-fed.
What is your creative mission?
To create carefree diverse female characters who are best at making love and raising hell.
What is your primary form of creative expression?
Romance/erotic writing, although I also write for feminist and parenting blogs. I’m so diverse.
When did you first discover your love or passion for this form?
My first love story (fan fiction about select members of the music groups Boyz II Men and Jodeci) was written with a friend when I was fourteen. Though it was very sexual in content, I was still a virgin. When my mother found it and put me on punishment, I knew that what I wrote was damn good and promised myself that I’d write a romance novel one day. 21 years later, I released The Cougarette (which is free on Amazon – shameless plug!).
What are your secondary forms of creative expression?
Blogging, but I do a lot of reading.
How did you discover these?
Blogging became a natural extension of my novel writing. At first, the blog was established to be a marketing tool for my books. Now, it becoming something more. I love using my space to give my fellow indie authors some love.
Have you had any formal training?
Besides education and lots of boyfriends, nope.
Do you think formal training is necessary?
Not at all. Writing is organic. I think everyone has a writer inside of them. What is necessary is reading. If you don’t read, you can’t write…at least, not well.
How do you deal with creative blocks?
A nap can work wonders. When I can’t do that, reading has been helpful.
Tell us a little about your creative process.
When I come up with an idea, I immediately begin plotting it. I sit with that plot structure for a few days, rereading it to see if I’m attached to it. If I am, I start writing. The irony is, I rarely stick to the plot I construct. That’s when writing gets fun.
Tell us about one of your projects.
My current project is the first book of a spinoff from The Cougarette series. It’s based on the best friend of The Cougarette – a fortysomething white lesbian who is also a divorcee with a child. It’s called Savage and will be out in September.
What motivates you? How do you stay motivated?
My family, the works of Alice Walker & James Baldwin, my readers – all of that motivate motivates me to keep pushing the pen.
Describe your creative space. What type of environment works best for you?
My creative space is wherever I can make it – my office/guest room, my lunch hour, the wee hours of the morning on my couch. Because I work full time and have small children, I have to grab my writing time when and where I can.
How do you practice self-care and self-love as a creative?
Good question. It’s something I need to implement more. Although I shower daily (LOL!), one thing I never miss out on is my weekend bath. Just me and a mineral soak – no electronics, books, or Kindle. I’m thankful that my family allows me that moment to unwind alone.
What words of inspiration do you have for new or struggling creatives?
Keep writing. Keep reading. Keep sharing your thoughts. Someone out there needs to read your story – write for that person.
What is your favorite word?
Serendipity. The search for one thing and finding another defines my life and my writing.
What is your favorite quote?
“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” –Toni Morrison
Do you use music/playlists to help inspire you? What songs and artists in particular?
Cannot write without my playlists! My current playlist for Savage includes songs by Joan Jett, The Runaways, Grace Jones, Heart, and Tina Turner.
Where can people find you and your work?
Blog: www.elizadavidwrites.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elizadwrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/elizadwrites
Instagram: www.instagram.com/writegirlproblems
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/ElizaDavid
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Hello April! Time to Get Creative!
Hello April!
Happy National Poetry Month!
Let’s take these next 30 days to develop a habit of daily creativity.
This set of prompts is a list of single words or short phrases designed to allow you to take them wherever they want to go. Use whatever form of creativity that suits you. Examples include a poem a day, essay, 100 words of a short story, 1000 words of a novel, a photo a day, song lyrics, music, journal entry, drawing, painting, or whatever suits your fancy.
You simply need to get creative!
Enjoy!!!
Turtleberry Press 