I think most of us are pretty connected to the idea that a full life includes creativity. We're meant to draw, paint, sing, dance, and tell stories. Virtually all little kids do these things. And then we "grow out" of them. And that's sad. I spend tons of time with creative people. I also spend time with people who feel they aren't creative … [Read more...] about Why is it so hard to make time for creativity?
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The secret to a great writing career … isn’t a secret
I've been a working writer for a few decades now. And in the past 10 years or so, I've had the additional privilege of being able to teach commercial writers how to get better gigs, and how do a better job with them. As I look around at advice given to aspiring copywriters, there's a weird piece of advice that I see all the time. Success as a … [Read more...] about The secret to a great writing career … isn’t a secret
The Art and Craft of Writing, Part 2: Practices to Improve our Craft
Recently I wrote about where writer's voice comes from. I talked about that combination of experiences that leads each of us to have something unique to say. Your voice rises up out of all of your experiences. And the more you write, the stronger your writing voice gets. It's important to spend plenty of time just figuring yourself out, and … [Read more...] about The Art and Craft of Writing, Part 2: Practices to Improve our Craft
When Creativity is Scary: The Bad Biker Boy and the Blank Page
Once upon a time, I took a jewelry-making workshop. As soon as we sat down, the instructor handed us a stack of blank white copy paper and said, "Draw a simple jewelry design. Don't worry about how you would actually make it, just get an idea on the page." Now, there was a gentleman in the class who was training to start a new career, after … [Read more...] about When Creativity is Scary: The Bad Biker Boy and the Blank Page
