Being cooped up puts me in the mood to create, but necessarily sit down to work on my WIP. I get an anxious energy to do without the mental capacity to focus on a long, complex project.
Here is a list of ways to work on writing-esque things without killing your quarantined brain.
Create mood boards for your characters
Compile a playlist for your WIP or your favorite character
Make a list of potential character names — jump down the babynames.com rabbit hole
Describe things around your house in obscenely-poetic phrasing
Start world building that fantasy society you’ve been dreaming of creating.
Drink some coffee.
Work on organizing or redecorating your writing space — create your dream nook!
Plan out your writing goals for this year and brainstorm ways to get/ remain inspired
What are your favorite ways of staying creative when stuck inside?
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“Stay gold, ponyboy.” One of the most impactful quotes in all of young adult canon. At least it is to me.
Growing up, I struggled finding books I was “allowed” to read. The books my friends were reading were mostly forbidden by my parents, for good or for bad (I’ll leave that debate for another time). With a reading addiction as strong as mine was (and still is) I struggled with this conundrum, and throughout this time of limited reading material, my mom tried her hardest to keep a book in my hand at all times. This led to her suggesting some of her favorite books that she read in high school, one of which was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
Not only did I love this book and the characters in it, but I read it six times. Four times consecutively. From a reader’s perspective, the plot and characters are so well done that I was immediately immersed in the world of greasers and socs.
From a writer’s perspective, S.E. Hinton became my life goal – she published The Outsiders at age 18 and I made it my goal to write and publish a book with such unique voice and relatable story by the time I graduated high school. That goal was not met, but I knew it was ambitious and I’m still striving to be as unique and solid of a writer as Hinton is, even if high school and college have since passed me by.
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Sometimes, the best thing for your writing is… not writing. I know it sounds counter-intuitive and it is the last thing I thought would ever come out of my mouth. But sometimes you just need a break.
I’m not saying quit writing altogether. I am saying it can help to step away from a project, or from large projects entirely. Take some time to simply journal, relax your creative mind, and reset. If you find yourself zeroing in on a project so intensely that you can’t see straight, you may need to take a break from it and re-evaluate your perspective. Take a breath, focus on your mental state (make sure you’re getting enough sleep and not kicking yourself for not being perfect), and take some time to write something small, like anything you’ve been thinking about or what you dreamt last night.
Even if you want to keep pushing through that project that seems to be kicking your butt, remember to breathe and take care of yourself. The writing will come.
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Throughout my years as a “Christian Teen,” I found that not only was it hard to find books I enjoyed reading that weren’t written in a different century, but the representation of Christians in contemporary Young Adult literature was trite to say the least, and the appearance of Christian teens was rare. When it did occur, religion was portrayed as surface level and shown as not important, unless it was in a stereotypically Christian novel, in which the teenagers were portrayed as either angel children or rebels in need of a basic, surface level sermon to lead them to redemption and change their lives. Because of my personal experience in this, I have come to the conclusion that writing faith-based young adult literature will fill a gap that is in demand…
None of this is to say that the authors of this type of literature are not doing what they think is best or trying to do what they are called to do, but it is to say that perhaps a different approach is needed. In her article titled “Faith, nice and easy,” Kenda Dean states that, “Young people will not develop consequential faith simply by being absorbed into a so-called Christian culture as an alternative to the culture at large.” From my experience with the current condition of faith-based literature, that is exactly what it is trying to do: absorb teens into a “Christian culture” to shelter them from the outside world instead of teaching them the basis of faith in order to give them the foundation to stand in the outside world.
Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission, orders us as Christians to, as we go through life, “make disciples.” This, contrary to popular belief, does not require international mission work, although that is part of it. Making disciples can be as simple as getting a cup of coffee or consciously being involved in your friends’ lives. I am not at a point in my life that international missions is possible, but I can still do what God has called me, and arguably, what God has called all Christians, to do; I can make disciples. I can use the gifts God has given me to do this, which includes writing…
Literature is meant to be relevant to some degree, especially in Young Adult literature since teens look to it to relate to the characters and solidify what they know about the world. Literature is not the only way teens get information or affirmation about their faith and beliefs, but it is a significant part of their culture, therefore if a positive, realistic, and thought-provoking example of Christianity can be provided through this outlet, it will allow for more growth in teen faith. It will foster a stronger belief system in Christian teens that helps them stand in their faith when thrust into the world, no longer sheltered by so called “Christian culture.”
This is gonna be lit so hold on to yer britches pals. Lit. As. Heck. -my outward motivation
This blog post is brought to you by my inner motivation. AKA friends who tell you to quit procrastinating and write the dang blog post. (See epitaph).
Sometimes, you need an outside source of motivation that you can pretend is your subconscious. That can be a best friend or even a note you write to yourself for a later date. Sometimes your past self (from two years ago, last week, yesterday…) is the wiser, more inspired, version of you.
This is why writing in a journal, even if you supposedly have “nothing to write.” Sometimes, those random thoughts are the best pieces of wisdom your future self can receive.
That inspiration isn’t always neat handwriting or full sentences on a computer screen. Sometimes its random words riddled with doodles and coffee stains. Sometimes it’s momentary frustration manifesting as poetic bursts and ink blots. But in those moments, dont be afraid to make it messy. Inspiration isn’t always cut and dry. It is fits of emotion and ideas you can’t write down fast enough. Sometimes, in the moment, it doesnt even feel like inspiration, but looking back, they spark a will to write — to create.
A lesson for myself: write always, even if it isn’t entirely full sentences or even words at all. Just write.
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At the moment, I am a freelance marketing consultant. At least that is what I’m calling myself (as well as a writer, of course). This title has, just in the past few weeks, had me doing everything from painting house numbers on pumpkins for Kentucky House and Home EXP Realty to designing a website and running social media accounts for Thornhill Creations. Back in May, right after I graduated from college, if you would have told me this is where I would be now, I wouldn’t have believed you. I would have spouted something about needing a steady, reliable income. I would have said I needed more structure. In complete honesty, I sometimes still think those things. Up until about a month ago, I held onto an $8/hour job that continuously made me sick (thanks, new-found peanut allergy…) because it was a reliable, albeit small, every-other-week paycheck.
While I still worry about money, I have realized that I am here, in this position, for a reason. I don’t know the entirety of God’s plan in this (who ever does?), but I have learned one thing: I forgot how much I loved design.
For years, art was my stress relief. Drawing and painting were an outlet when I couldn’t find words to write. Images and colors have always been my inspiration, both for life and for my writing. In the midst of life, I had nearly forgotten all art had done for me — how much holding a paintbrush had inspired me.
All that to say, art has once again become a part of my life in ways it hasn’t before and I can’t wait to see how this ties into my writing and into this site. I am growing — as a writer, as a person, as an artist — and there is so much in store. Let’s see where God takes this endeavor next.
Celestially Created 