Creativity and discovery
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Writing to heal
“To survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.” ~Natasha Trethewey When I was 38, the sudden death of my father shook me to the core. In my forties, while trying to work and raise a child, I was struck with a debilitating case of arthritis, which led to two total hip replacement surgeries and months of physical therapy. At age 60, I lost my mother to heart disease and dementia. Though very different, each of those experiences altered the course of my life. Along the way, I learned that writing about my losses and challenges paved the way to emotional healing. Best of all, teaching…
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Share your stories with me
“It has always been on the written page that the world has come into focus for me. If I can piece all these bits of memory together with the diaries and letters and the scribbled thoughts that clutter my mind and bookshelves, then maybe I can explain what happened….Maybe I can tell my story in a way that is useful to someone else.” ~ Nancy Horan, Loving Frank What makes a compelling personal story? How do you turn rambling journal entries or blog posts into marketable essays or chapters in a memoir? On April 11, I’ll be leading my favorite workshop at the Royal Oak Public Library. Whether you need inspiration…
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Kindred spirits
“If it is true for you, it is true for someone else, and you are no longer alone.” ~Colson Whitehead If you’re a sports fan, one of the thrills of rooting for a team is the sense of unity you experience with your fellow fans. For me, reading books, magazines, and newspaper articles is another way to feel connected to humanity. Whenever I read a piece of writing that lifts my heart or gets me thinking, I believe the author and I are kindred spirits. This happened last week when I read a fabulous New York Times column by David Brooks, who beautifully explained why studying art and the humanities…
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Got enemies?
“You have enemies? Why, it is the story of everyone who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats. Do not bother yourself about it. Keep your mind serene as you keep your life clear.” ~Victor Hugo There’s another similar quote that’s often misattributed to Winston Churchill. It goes something like this: “If you have enemies, that’s good. It means you stand for something.” The point is, popularity is overrated. If you’re living authentically, it’s nearly impossible to be loved by everyone all the time. But if you’re still…
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Just do it
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” ~Andy Warhol Artists are courageous people. When it comes to expressing creativity, fear is usually what stops other people in their tracks — not lack of talent. Fear of failure … Fear of being imperfect … Fear of appearing foolish … Fear of being misjudged. As you start a brand-new year, you might be toying with the idea of starting a new creative project or trying a new hobby. If you can ignore the inner critics that…
