Now For The Ultimate Creative Advice

Hi folks, yes, today I'm going to share the ultimate creative advice, so don't go away. I love fall because new books are rolling off the presses and that makes me want to dance. The only thing, I have been a little glum lately is there are parties happening up in Seattle to celebrate books that I totally believe in and I can't go. My critique friends are busy setting the world on fire with their stories. Just out or coming or out in the next couple months are these books:

Stasia Kehoe Ward's Audition
Holly Cupala's Don't Breathe a Word
Louise Spiegler's The Jewel and the Key
Janet Carey's Dragonswood.

I'm just saying, the company you keep can make a huge difference in your work. What a crop! They just fit writing into their lives and I'm happy to have traveled some of that road with them. We've had lots of hot cups of tea and shared lots of pages. I learned the most important stuff ever on my journey with them. If you are showing up and working every day, don't doubt your dreams! Don't doubt them for a minute.

Here is the ultimate creative advice, search out like-minded souls and work with them. It doesn't have to be a troop. One person can be enough. Share your dreams. Keep each other honest. Encourage each other to stay on the journey. All that rubbing shoulders makes your work sharper. It does. There are no rules to how to set up the connection; you and your kindred spirits will figure it out. I know that I'm telling you to take a risk. It's a real one. This process doesn't always work. Sometimes sharing your journey can end up hurting. I've seen the downside, and I still believe the deep connections creative souls share.

Don't journey alone, friends. Seize the day.

This week's doodle: "Magenta Cat".



Quote for the week:

Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.Mark Twain

Collaboration

Hi, folks, the writing journey is full of twists and turns and surprises. I am always trying to challenge myself to try new ways of writing. I love to explore new forms: graphic novels, screenwriting, novels in verse, post modernism, grown-up stuff, whatever comes my way.

Each new challenge brings more to me as a writer. I will be honest; these plunges into new writing can lead to some spectacular success but to just as spectacular failure. You have to be willing to take risks and be willing to fail big time to reinvent yourself through form.

One recent project I worked on was a resounding success. Author Holly Cupala wrote DON'T BREATHE A WORD. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Holly and artist Realm Lovejoy to create some exclusive content to go with the book. I wrote the graphic novelization for a short section. The work was challenging and it sparked up unused parts of my brain.I was a bit of glue to meld together Holly's story-telling and Realm's art.

I do love collaboration. I learn so much through this creative process. My collaborative gurus come from the music world. One group was the the Beatles and the other is U2. True collaboration is about making the others in the team shine. It's about giving everyone room to make mistakes and then the room to recover, and it's about listening to and hearing each other. It's about creating art as many with one voice.

Finally, consider trying a collaborative project. You don't have to dive in deep at first. My first collaborative baby steps were the open critique sessions of SCBWI in College Station in the mid 90s. My first baby steps included advice from Kathi Appelt and Donna Cooner. From the beginning I stumbled into some of the finest artists on the planet. Each collaboration has shaped my work in some way.

Find a avenue for collaboration to bring something new to your work. Seize the day.

We forgo today's doodle to give you a peek at the awesome novel, Holly Cupala's DON'T BREATHE A WORD. Watch Holly's website for opportunities to access this exclusive graphic novel content.

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Here is the quote for the week:

"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro

Collaboration

Whoa, I have been might busy and life has been happening. Sorry this is a couple of days late. I have my Book Launch Party coming up at the University Bookstore in Bellevue,WA on July 16, 2000 at 6:30 P.M. It will be a fun time and an opportunity to support Reading with Rover.

This week I'm going to talk a little bit about collaboration. My best advice, work with people you respect and be open to differences. That's revelatory -- realizing that all the members of a team all bring something to the table. Being open to the idea that the sum of all the pieces is worth more than than any piece, this really brings creative energy to a group. Collaboration is a great way to bring freshness and vibe to your own work. Find some like-minded souls and see what you can do.

I have a doodle of the week I call Girl and Sky.



Remember: ©Molly Blaisdell, all rights reserved. If you want to use my cool doodles, ask permission first. It is so wrong to take people's doodles without permission!


For my part I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of the stars makes me dream.-- Vincent Van Gogh