Question of the Month: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?
Today is another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. You can also visit the founder Alex J. Cavanaugh for more info and links.
Great question this month. I hope my creativity has evolved, gotten stronger, more mature, and yet kept the hopefulness and playfulness of youth. I worry that my creativity will harden and crystallize, like arthritic knees, but I won’t let it. I choose to stay fluid. It helps that I work with young people. I teach piano lessons and theater workshops. I use writing and creating as part of the process, and I am always inspired by their youthful enthusiasm. It keeps the kid in me alive.
One year, during the A to Z Blogfest, Alex J. Cavanaugh wrote about me on the day for the letter P. Partly for Play off the Page, but he also said that I was “playful.” It’s one of my favorite compliments as a writer. Thanks, Alex.
This year’s IWSG Anthology contest is in the genre of YA Romance, with Masquerade as the theme. My first thought was, Can I capture the voice of YA? I’m not much of a romance writer, but the Masquerade theme kept talking to me. It gave me a sense of mystery and intrigue. So, I listened to the voices in my head. And, yes, they were young adults getting into trouble online, making and breaking relationships, and not always portraying themselves in a true light. I wrote it, submitted it, and now sit back and wait to see if it gets selected. My story, “One More Minute” is in the 2018 Anthology, Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime. You never know unless you try.
Go. Create. Inspire!
Journaling Prompt: Where are you at in your creative life? Fluid, Crystallized? Trying something new, or sticking to the tried and true. Whatever it is, I wish you tremendous success!
You’re welcome! I meant what I said.
Good luck with your submission. Obviously you are good at stretching when it comes to writing.
Thank you, Alex. You are so kind.
Congrats. I hope your young adults steal the show. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. It was fun to write.
Now you’re on a roll with those short stories.
Thanks, Dianne. I enjoy it.
You’re one of the most creative people I know so no worries about it seizing up! Good luck with the anthology.
Nick, You are so kind. It gives me courage to try new genres and keep writing.
I think working with youth does keep you playful and full of energy and hope. Good luck on your story.
Thanks, Susan. I love their creative enthusiasm.
Congratulations on tackling the anthology genre of YA Romance, Mary! It paralyzed me, and my mind drew a blank, even as I roamed the streets of Venice and saw thousands of masks. I had a horrible attack of “I’m not creative.” I can’t wait to read the next anthology, and I hope your story makes the cut!
Fundy, No. I’m so sorry that prompt threw you off. You ARE creative and talented. Keep writing. Maybe not YA romance, but write in the genre and theme that speaks to you.
What a fun way to keep the creativity flowing in your life. I like the idea of staying fluid. Better than saying I’m not going to grow old. I wish I had taken some time to think about the prompt for the anthology, but I dismissed it immediately. I bet if I had thought about it I could’ve come up with a story, perhaps not worthy of submission, but at least I would have tried. Good for you.
JQ Rose
Thank you, Rose. I felt called to rise to the challenge. It was good to stretch those creative muscles, keeping them fluid.
I really enjoyed your story in Tick Tock 🙂 Fingers crossed for you for this year’s anthology.
Thanks, Ellen! Happy writing and sailing to you.
It’s good to keep things flowing, and to try something that scares you. Good luck!
That’s so cool that you entered the anthology contest again. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. I’m sure you wrote a fantastic story.
Thanks J.H. Your support means a lot.