Stoking The Creative Fire

This hot and sultry month of July, it can be tempting to put our feet up, sip a summer drink, and stare into the horizon…and there’s nothing wrong with that! The creative muse inside each of us stirs to life when we make time for inspiration to arise. I find much about July to send my imagination spiraling. Below are a few ways I keep the ideas coming even as it’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy…”

#1. READ! I up my reading game during the summer, and July is the best month to do that. I buy books, download others to my Kindle, and visit the library several times a week. The ladies there know I’ll be requesting books as soon as I walk in the door. My to-read list is long and daunting, but I do not shy away.

#2. CONFERENCE! I attend at least one conference or workshop this month via Zoom or in person. Family issues and financial considerations nudge me toward the virtual more often these days. I do miss the personal connections one makes in person, but it is the chance to learn and improve my craft that keeps me coming back.

#3. MEET-UPS! I enjoy lunch, afternoon coffee/tea, and dinner dates with fellow creatives. There is a special bond created by our mutual passion for art in all its forms. Spending time together nurtures that bond. So I make time to call, email, text, and be fully present and engaged with my fellow writers and artists.

#4. CHALLENGE! I challenge myself to explore opportunities for enrichment, apply for fellowships or scholarships, submit work to open calls, respond to prompts that cross my desk via email. There is no better way to stretch the creative muscle than through stepping outside your established or comfortable path.

#5. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. My library shelf contains a laminated copy of Erma Bombeck’s column titled, “If you want to write, then just do it!” I read it often and smile every time. Erma did not let the world intimidate or silence her. Neither will I. No risk, no gain.

Make this month your jumping-off spot. You’re standing on the high dive staring at the water. Your knees are shaking, but the challenge remains. You can dive or simply jump, but you won’t reach the pool if you don’t step off the board.

Go for it! I’m right behind you!