Friday Bookstack is a weekly series featuring the books I currently have on my nightstand. I believe that diversity of interests is vital to encouraging creativity, so I pick up books on a wide variety of topics. I don’t always read the entire book, but I feel that exposure to even some of the ideas broadens my mind.

As I’ve been in the process of beginning this blog, I feel like I’ve been focusing on reading about writing to the exclusion of other topics, and I was glad to rediscover the books on photography and art that had been buried before they were due at the library.

• Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell translation
  I usually have this book nearby. Not only do I find the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching calming, but the sparse language and concrete imagery help to clear my writing mind of clutter.
• Image and Spirit: Finding Meaning in Visual Art by Karen Stone
  I haven’t actually started this book. I picked it up at the library because although I have produced some jewelry and photography that I feel is good, I want to learn about art from many perspectives. I don’t just want to blindly struggle, trying to improve my own attempts at art without knowing how.
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
  I’m afraid I haven’t made it very far into this book. I checked it out from the library after reading about Cameron’s technique of Morning Pages. I liked the idea of having a set time of day in which to write without worrying about being productive. I had just finished re-reading Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, and I was a little shocked, for some reason, by how different Cameron’s writing style is. I guess I was expecting the two authors, who both stress the importance of freewriting, to have similar styles. Not sure why.
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
  I checked out this book after reading the intriguing review about it by Lifehack.org. I’m only partway through it, but the examples they give for sticky ideas really are compelling. The formula to follow is really pretty simple, but the book provides good examples of how sticky ideas have survived and tips for making ideas stickier.
• How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
  This is one of my favorite writing books, one that I re-read periodically. When I’m feeling like I don’t really want to write, this book can get me interested again, simply because Card makes the process so accessible. How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy has a little bit of everything a SF/F writer needs to know, including defining the terms and the boundaries between Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Fiction; creating a believable, consistent world, determining how to focus the story; introducing the world so that the reader doesn’t get lost; and a little of the business of writing, though this part is probably outdated, given the book’s 1990 copyright.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
  This is my second time through the last Harry Potter book. A couple of weeks after finishing book 7, I decided to start from the beginning again and re-read the entire series. I’m glad I have, since I didn’t get a change to re-read book 6 before reading the last one, and I was confused on a few points. As always, I’m inspired by the detail of the world that J.K. Rowling has created, as well as the depth of her characters.
• Digital Photography: The Missing Manual by Chris Grover and Barbara Brundage and Digital Photographer’s Handbook by Tom Ang
  When I first got a digital camera, it was strictly for the purpose of taking photos of my jewelry. At first, I hardly used the camera for anything else, but slowly I’ve become interested in developing my photography skills in more artistic directions. I’m also very interested in digital processing of photos. These books are both very detailed, but I have a lot to learn.
• Collage with Color: Create Unique, Expressive Collages in Vibrant Color by Jane Davies
  Half the reason I checked out this book was just to look at it. I have a weakness for vivid colors, and the cover itself (linked above) is gorgeous. I’ve had a long-standing interest in collage, and paper arts in general, but I’ve never been quite sure where to start. I look forward to trying some of the techniques in this book, which range from paper making to collage design to creating gifts with collages.

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Posted: August 24th, 2007 under Reviews.
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Have you ever had a terrific idea for a story, a painting, or a piece of jewelry, but didn’t start right away because you didn’t have time, or were in the middle of something else? And by the time you could start on the project, you weren’t interested anymore? This happens to me far too often. I wrote this post after being inspired by Dumb Little Man’s blog post on 10 ways to Keep That Back-to-school “fresh start” Enthusiasm All Semester. Although I’m also starting a new semester soon, it struck me that I have just as much trouble maintaining enthusiasm for the projects I assign myself as for the projects a professor assigns. So here’s my list of 10 ways to keep the creative enthusiasm.

1. Just start. Worry about the details later
   I find that I’m more committed to a project if I’ve done something concrete, physical, to start it, rather than just thinking about it. Sometimes it’s as simple as writing down that scrap of dialogue that made a whole character burst into my head. Sometimes I need to sketch out a piece of jewelry and make notes on what materials I would use. Often, I think I need to do some research on a new technique or a character’s background before I begin, but I’m really procrastinating. As I research, stumble across another idea and forget to come back to my original project. It works much better to just start before doing anything else.
2. Once the project is started, pause to define goals and purpose
   What do you want to accomplish with this creative project? What are your reasons for choosing this particular project? Keep your goals and purpose taped to the wall in your workspace as a reminder when you feel like quitting.
3. Give yourself permission to fail horribly
   This is a tip I learned from reading Natalie Goldberg. While it’s important to have goals for your project, don’t let yourself get so dedicated to the result you envision that you’ll be completely crushed if it doesn’t turn out the way you want. I sometimes find myself paralyzed by perfectionism, unable to begin because I’m afraid I’ll fail. If I acknowledge failure as a possibility from the beginning and don’t treat it like the end of the world, I can get past this stage.
4. Break the goal down into steps
   What’s the first thing you need to do? What comes next? How will you know the project is completed? I’ve found that if I make a list of steps to complete the project, it gives me a greater sense of control and it’s less likely that I’ll give up.
5. Figure out what tools you need to get the project accomplished
   Do you need a new tool or more materials? Try to keep working on the project with what you have while you’re waiting for a chance to go to the store. Maybe just use what you have on hand. Sometimes imposing restrictions results in greater creativity.
6. Schedule time for your project
   Make your creative projects a priority by designating time to work. Make it the same time every day, if possible. And schedule it for when you will have some energy, not when you’ve done all the “important” things for the day and are exhausted. Make your creative time something you look forward to.
7. Reward yourself
   When you achieve a step of your project, give yourself a little reward. It can be related to your project or not. Sometimes when I get to the point where I’m sure I’m taking the project seriously, I’ll let myself use a little better quality of materials, or put off doing laundry to spend a little more time working. Or I’ll take a break and have some chocolate, if I need a little distraction.
8. Call in reinforcements
   If you find yourself getting discouraged, try talking out the project with a friend. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who shares the same interest, just someone who is a good listener. Just talking about your goals and frustrations can clear your mind and rekindle your enthusiasm.
9. Take breaks when you need them
   When I’m really excited about a project, I’ll work non-stop for hours. But then my back, hands, and eyes will be aching from doing one thing for too long, and I don’t want to look at the project again for days. If I take regular breaks, I’m eager to get back to work.
10. Eat right, exercise, and sleep
    Even if I take regular breaks, I sometimes can’t summon any enthusiasm because I’ve been neglecting one of these things. If I can’t focus or can’t even start because I’m already exhausted, it gets easier and easier to put off the project until it’s covered in dust and nearly forgotten.

I wouldn’t create if I didn’t enjoy it, but I often find myself resisting the call of an unfinished project. Following these tips helps beat procrastination.

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Posted: August 23rd, 2007 under Creativity.
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Today I’d like to highlight one of my favorite blogs. The Dilbert Blog not only contains some of cartoonist Scott Adams’ thoughts on his famous comic strip, but also displays some of Scott’s creative thinking about topics from peace in the Middle East to hypnosis. I love the Dilbert comics, but I think I enjoy Scott’s posts on creativity and writing even more. Here are four of my favorite posts from the last three months:

• Career Advice - This doesn’t seem strictly related to creativity at first, but Scott talks about the importance of combining communication with other skills. It just makes so much sense that the sum of your skills is more important than being the best at any one thing.
• Writing Funny - This is an area that I definitely feel weak in. Scott breaks down his formula for writing a funny blog post. The way he explains it, even I feel like I could write humor.
• How to Be Creative - As he does for humor writing, Scott breaks down his method for coming up with creative ideas. I think this is a concept that can apply to many forms of creativity.
• The Day You Became a Better Writer - It’s good to be reminded of the basics.

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Posted: August 22nd, 2007 under Reviews.
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It’s a big word, for a big thing that happens. It’s a great wind rushing through me, carrying away the house, Toto, everything. It’s a well that floods, then dries up when I’m thirstiest. It’s a fickle god, but I have no choice but to worship.

It’s a big word that the dictionary definition hardly captures with descriptions like “having the ability or power to create“. Nevertheless, I like one of the dictionary.com definitions:

“the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination”.

That definition means something. To me, it captures the most important features of creativity: to transcend, to make meaning, and to use imagination.

• Creativity is a large word, and a large concept, that does transcend everyday existence. It forces us to reach a little–or a lot–beyond ourselves, sometimes into unfamiliar territory.
• And what are we looking for? Meaning. Words can be strung together, photos can be taken, without meaning, but usually no one has looked at it just the right way, tweaked it a little here, no there, to let the meaning shine through.
• Imagination is the greatest gift of being human. To be able to look outside ourselves, and not only see the face of another person, another lifestyle, but to close our eyes and look out from the inside of someone else, is the power of imagination.

Just a few of my thoughts on what it means to be creative. I’m sure I’ll be exploring the subject again and again.

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Posted: August 21st, 2007 under Creativity.
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It happens all the time. I’m pacing the apartment, sitting down with a book, then getting up to wander again. I’m looking for something. My brain won’t stop racing; it won’t slow down and tell me what I need. Then I suddenly know: I need to make something.

I sit down with a pen, a blank page in front of me. I fire up the laptop. I sit at the bench and pull out pliers and wire. I grab the camera and go for a walk or simply stalk the cats as they go about their business.

Creating is such a basic part of my life that if I go a few days without it, I’m hollow, like I’ve forgotten to eat. And I don’t want just one dish, I want a feast of opportunities to stretch my mind. Many forms of writing, web design, making jewelry, photography, and a leftover desire from my childhood to be “an artist” (which as a child meant drawing). I worry sometimes that I’m stretching myself too thin, trying to learn everything and retaining nothing.

With this blog I hope to capture the things I’m learning about my ever-changing fascinations and share a few things that will help others discover new paths to explore. I want to take the time to slow down, digest and reflect, before moving on to the next thing. The process of writing it out will help me remember, next time I circle around to this interest or that, what was I doing, and why?

I also want to explore creativity itself. What does is mean to be a creative person? How does creativity apply to “real” life - the life where I have to pay bills and get to work on time? Which matters more, the product of the creative act, or the act itself?

By saying that I am “here to create,” I’m claiming creativity as my higher purpose, the reason I exist. Sometimes my creativity is a gift to others, sometimes it just gets me through the day. It’s what I do. I hope you’ll join me and be inspired along the way.

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Posted: August 20th, 2007 under Writing.
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