NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Monday, August 28, 2017

Creativity - It's a Slippery Idea

Creativity is one of those slippery terms to define, but generally includes words like “new” and “innovative.” Do you see creativity as something you were born with – one of those innate talents like athleticism? Maybe, but just like that “natural” athlete works at refining skills, an author – or anyone working in a creative field (oops, there's that word again) – can strengthen creativity.

Over on Upbeat Authors, we're talking about creativity and what inspires us. This resonated with me since  I'm working through The Artist's Way (Julia Cameron), and loving the insights for this creativity guide. In addition to dealing with the ways we shoot ourselves in the foot and learning to recognize the (ahem) less than supportive people around you, The Artist's Way also recommends … well … play dates for your inner child artist. Remember how much fun art was before someone told you to stay inside the lines and the sun must be yellow and the grass green?

While I do occasionally haul out the watercolors, I look for other ways to amuse that inner child. I had a free afternoon on a recent business trip. Rather than hang out in the hotel, I took a walk. C'mon, walk with me through Portland.

I knew Portland had lots of pocket parks, but didn't know about the linear parks in the downtown core. People read, napped, skateboarded, chatted, played chess, knitted – you name it. The parks were more than the area's backyard, they reminded me more of a community gathering spot.

Now as I got further into the park, I admit I was highly amused to discover that Southerners aren't the only ones who put up statutes of mounted men. (OMG, please no political discussion about this symbol that needs to be consigned to an historical museum.) No clue who this guy might've been.

Even more amusing when you consider the laissez-faire attitude of most of the Pacific Northwest. 


Other elements take time – slow down, let your gaze wander.

This church is nearly hidden by the trees, but isn't that a gorgeous bell tower?



Or ooh, what about the gingerbread detail on that house? 





And can you go anywhere in the Pacific Northwest without stumbling upon a flower market?

So what about you?

What have you done lately to “feed your Artist Child?”




5 comments:

Sandy Parks said...

Honestly, I feed my creative side by writing. The rest of the world seems so structured and my writing doesn't fit any molds. Maybe that's why I always have trouble pegging just one genre for it to fit into. LOL.

jean harrington said...

Ah, The Artist's Way. So glad you mentioned this. It was the book that "allowed" me to start writing. First in a daily journal and then, tentatively with a short story, and from there, as "they" say, the world opened up. Creativity is everywhere--you just have to be open to it. An interesting post. Thanks so much.

Cathy Perkins said...

Good point about the genre mashups, Sandy. Highly creative.

I find the tangible items - sewing, painting or playing with images - feed a different part of my brain.

Cathy Perkins said...

Jean - I've talked with so many people who've enjoyed the Artist's Way. I haven't gotten to the end yet - have you?

Funny how we all get started writing in different ways.

Julie Moffett said...

I've also heard so much about the Artist's Way. I really need to read that! It is interesting how everyone's experience into becoming a writer is so different!!

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