Workshops and Conferences

As a writer, I think it is key to attend writers' conferences and workshops, but I also think it is key to find creative outlets outside of those workshops and conferences. Every year, I attend the Clarksville Writers Conference and I always feel so alive and inspired when I leave there. It is nice to be with like minds and creative individuals who truly want to talk about your writing & ideas as well as talk about their writing & ideas. When the conference is over, I tend to reflect on my notes and practice the techniques for a week or two after the conference, but then I get back into my normal routine and don't make time for my craft as I should.

I have made New Years Resolutions that I will write every day for 2 hours a day, that resolution quickly became non-existent, due to it being an unrealistic goal. I have a crazy busy life with 2 kids in college and one in high school, not to me mention sports and powwows. I quit make resolutions about 3 years ago, but I do sit down and map out goals for the year. One of the goals that has shown up repeatedly on my list is to allow myself to be more creative and allow that creativity to show. Another goal is to write 15 to 20 minutes a day. That goal is a more realistic goal and is an achievable goal for me. I can accomplish so much in those 15 or 20 minutes. If I write longer great if not that is fine. The time does not have to be consecutive, it can be spread out through the day. The point is to write and get the thoughts and ideas on the page. Normally when I do sit down and write I truly do not want to stop, but life goes on and I have to be a part of it.

The goal of being more creative and allow that creativity to show. I purchase art journals and creative writing prompt books, I read avidly, and I have bought more brighter colored clothes. One day a week, I allow my inner artist to shine through my apparel, it is so freeing and liberating. Self-expression is important for artists and writers are artists we choose to fill our canvas with words instead of pictures. I choose to do both. Two years ago I started drawing free thought pieces and I came up with this wonderful Steampunk piece, Time clock piece and a Cuckoo Bird World. I love my cuckoo birds and their world. One day my daughter said to me, "Mom you should illustrate a children's book." It was something that I had never even considered before. I don't want to illustrate other books, but I could easily create a story to go with my cuckoo birds and illustrate my own children's story. It is a new goal that came about because I allowed myself the freedom to be more creative and express it more. As writers, it is easy to fall into isolation and just write, but you have to keep the creative juices flowing. Getting out and smelling the roses or people-watching or looking through magazines to see the craziness of the world is really ok and might just give you some great new ideas for that next book that you are writing.