Articles in the Fiction Writing Category

Writing is like weaving
– from the beginning
to the end!

Our words glide across the page and then we hit enter and move down. We scroll back up and take note of what we’ve written; we scroll back down and finish our thoughts. We move all across the page: up, down, back and forth – all the while we are weaving a story. The pieces, colors, and vibrant picture are moving vividly through our mind, body, and soul.

As we gaze intensely at the computer screen – or our notebook – we are filling the blank page with words, ideas, wisdom, information; we are filling the blank page with our heart and soul.

Some of you weave with dark yarns (aka words), smearing mystical creatures, blood-spilled mysteries, and murderous intent on to the blank page. Others splash colorful hues of passion-filled romance, wild and dangerous affairs, and tug at the hearts of those craving love (or lust!) – leaving them satisfied, yet yearning for more. And there are those of us who choose to share inspiration, motivation, encouragement, and non-fiction information that will leave the reader a little wiser – and more optimistic- than they came.

We writers purge not only our creative minds with our readers, but our hearts as well. We ultimately give the world a piece of ourselves in every page, every word, every article, story, or book. With every word we type (or write), we are weaving…

Weaving When Words Won’t Wake

1. Begin at the end and weave your way back. If the first words won’t come to you for the beginning of your story, think about how you want the piece to end.
2. Start with the title. Take a few minutes to find a working title. Think about what you want to say in your piece and create a title from those ideas.
3. Jump in to the middle. Who says you have to start at the beginning – or even the end? Throw yourself in to the middle of the story and weave your way up and back down (or vice-versa)!
4. Go easy on yourself and weave an outline. Sometimes you need an outline. I find them especially helpful on most of my work.
5. Take a break and create a Wordle. They’re fun, and they’re sure to help you get your weave on!

There aren’t any rules set in stone of how you should weave your stories. Words usually come naturally if you nurture your creativity and treat your body well. Yes, there are dry spells in every writer’s life at some point, but if you follow the tips above, it will help you find inspiration once again.

Your work will be much richer, much more beautiful, if you allow yourself to be vulnerable enough that your heart and soul bleeds in to each and every word you weave.

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

How do you weave your words? Similar to me, or different? Do you apply any of these techniques to your own writing? Do you have any weaving tips to share with us? We’d love to hear from you; please join in – or start – the conversation!

Reference: Wordle.net

Words, words, and more words…. They float around in our heads – until our brains feel like mush. At least, mind does (sometimes).

But there are also times that our brains look like a vast, white space. And no matter how hard we try to tap into our inner muse; no matter how many different techniques we use, we can’t seem to find those perfect first words. Sometimes, it seems, the only words that come to mind are: contract, deadline, SEO, or even bills.

I mentioned my lack of words on a social media media site a while back and got the following response:

“Start out writing your name, address and a description of the room in which you’re writing. I wrote a newspaper column for nearly 20 years. I’m very practiced in breaking up log-jams in the writerly brain. Just remember, there’s a torrent just behind that dam!” – K. C. Compton (Editor, at Ogden Publications)

Excellent advice, K.C.! (Of course, I guess that’s why she is one of the Editor’s-In-Chief for Ogden Publications, huh?)

It’s during the times that we’re grasping desperately for words – any word – that we can apply the following tips, as well as K.C.’s advice.

7 Surefire Ways to Find New Words

1. Grab a notebook and start writing a list. This list can be about anything: your dreams,  pros and cons of something you’ve been considering, maintenance or other projects for your house – even a grocery list.
2. Take a break and play Scrabble. What better way to enjoy some time – and company – than being hands-on with letters and words?!
3. Write a thank you note or friendly letter to someone. Think warm thoughts and share your heart with the recipient.
4. Email or IM a friend. If that friend is a writer, that’s even better. They can help lift your spirits and jog your memory about past times you’ve had abundant writing inspiration.
5. Read your favorite blog or a few pages from a book that’s nearby. Words from one of your favorite authors/bloggers will help get your creative juices flowing.
6. Get up from your computer and go in to another room or outside. It’s amazing how much difference a view makes. By simply stepping in to the next room or popping outside for a few minutes, you can refuel your mind. Look at old photos or sit on your porch or deck for a spell – absorb your surroundings and soak up the inspiration life brings!
7. Pamper yourself. Something like a cup of hot tea and your favorite magazine, a 20-minute soak in a warm bath sprinkled with lavender essential oil or bath salts, or a short nap can provide just the amount of rejuvenation your body needs to crank up your muse once again.

What do you do to find new words when your writing well has run dry? Do you stand beneath the idea waterfall? Or use any of the tips I shared above? Do you have a fabulous technique to share with us? Chime in!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

Photo Credit: Wordle, created by Michele Tune

There is nothing more dreadful to a writer than staring at a blank page on the computer. There is a sense of stage fright that hangs in the shadows, taunting your every attempt to begin writing the grand novel or article that has inspired your soul. The number of words looking to take that blank page to a completed piece scream in your mind as your heart begins to race. You are there, facing the firing squad in your mind. You are a writer. WHY CAN’T YOU WRITE?

First, take a deep breath. It’s only letters placed in such a manner as to form a word. That word will begin the sentence. The sentence will begin the paragraph and the paragraph starts a chapter. Beginning the chapter means you’ve officially begun the work you’ve set your sights upon. Congratulations!

Recently I had the privilege of chatting with a few writer friends online. As the conversation turned to beginnings, I chuckled at how I had begun writing this very piece, though unfinished. I had begun, something one writer was struggling with on her own. I mentioned at that point I was working an article tailored specifically to beginnings – and she couldn’t wait to read it for herself.

Having an idea is only one part to writing. To be a writer you must write.

Beginnings can be quite ugly. Especially if you have ignored that calling to sit down and write for any amount of time. It doesn’t matter what you do to start, what matters is that you’ve placed a word on a page and began expanding upon it to form a sentence; there go, writing.

What is incredible about writing – whether by pen or through typing – is the opportunity to edit that ugly beginning once the middle and end are complete. As a writer, you might produce one brilliant piece in your lifetime. That doesn’t mean that the rest of what you write is garbage. It just means the editor in you has to come out, but not until after you’ve written.

Taking the time to journal or free-write about the subject you desire to write about will help break the silence that sends you into a near anxiety attack. Journaling and free-writing also reduce the stress you feel by the editor that nestles inside. It is only when we are writing an article or a large work of art that the editor likes to cause a disruption.

Next time you are looking to begin an article, short story, or novel; begin first by writing in your journal and transfer that writing to your blank page to reduce your anxiety. After all, it matters not how you begin, but that you do.

Do you ever struggle with the blank page? What do you do to get past the anxiety and begin?

Peace: such a simple, short, one syllable word. Yet, this one word represents the difference between a calm heart, and a tortuous soul. Isn’t that the battle we freelance writers are always enduring?

We all yearn for peaceful lives, don’t we? The desire for peace unites many people who otherwise wouldn’t be in the same room together, right?

Peace (or Zen) is also something we writers desire. I don’t know about you, but I fantasize about waking up after a long, peaceful night’s rest, finding my way to the kitchen, grabbing an oversized hot mug of tea (sometimes coffee), heading to a giant chair that swallows me up, cuddling up with my laptop – and muse – and lounging around in my pajamas all day, while writing ’till my heart’s content. Ah, it sounds so very nice. Don’t you think so?

Okay, back to reality for me!

With the new year, comes endless opportunities for new beginnings.

I’ve decided that one (important) thing I’m going to focus on incorporating in to my life, is Zen. I actually started before 2010, but I feel like I cheated myself – and others – because I never really applied Zen living like I originally planned.

5 Ways 2010 (Can) = Freelance Writing Zen

1. De-cluttering my e-mail. I started doing this before 2009 ended, but I’m going to continue in 2010. (I had subscribed to a lot of stuff!) This includes unsubscribing from newsletters (or blogs) I never read, updates I subscribed to because of contests, etc. There’s no reason to waste time deleting e-mails every single day.
2. Practicing yoga often. This might not mean daily (although I’m going to shoot for that goal), but I’m definitely going to put forth more of an effort to make yoga a big part of my life. (Others even told me that my writing became much more prolific when I was practicing yoga daily!)
3. Reflecting on where my freelance writing journey began, so I can stay focused on where I’m going. What a blessing to look back on where I came from so I can encourage myself that I can make my writing dreams come true!
4. Staying organized. Organization is crucial for not only keeping stress down, but for maintaining a feeling of control – and a fresh (visual) sense of cleanliness.
5. Nipping procrastination in the bud. One of the worst things we writers can fall into is procrastination. Acting on thoughts like “Oh, I’ll just dive in to Twitter for a while until my muse visits again” or “I’ll get caught up on my blog reading” can prove fatal to your deadlines. It’s fine to reward yourself with social media or other Internet “play time” once you’ve polished off a chunk of your work, or met deadlines for the day/week, but don’t procrastinate until you hurt your business.

I’m also going to work on just being. Do you have a problem making that happen, too? It seems that even when I’m away from the computer, all of the unfinished “tasks” haunt me. It’s like a little devil sits on my shoulder, whispering: “You should be writing this” or “You could finish that.” Freelance work is always, always sitting there. We’re never finished are we? Work – even if it’s our own, personal projects -  is always calling our writerly soul.

So, yes, in 2010 I’m going to do my best to make time to just be, like the gal in the photo up there. It’s high time I actually stop to smell the roses!

Here’s to a successful, blessed – and very Zen – 2010!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

How are you going to bring Zen living in to your life in 2010? Have you already started? Do share; I might want to add it to my life!

Photo Credit: kudumomo



Are you wondering why your writing business is stagnant? Why you were zipping through article after article, word after word, cashing check after check, and were living high on the writing mountain – and now you’re not?

You look around your freelance life to see that clients have dried up, emails have waned, the phone is quiet. Editors and clients have simply quit contacting you. It seems like your business is as stale as package of crackers someone forgot to close up.

There are many reasons our writing, and our business, can become stagnant. If you’re looking for solutions, you’ve come to the right place because I’m going to tell you what the root cause is for your business’ stagnation. Are you ready to hear it? The answer is one small word: you.

That’s right. The root cause of your writing – and your business – becoming stagnant lies within you.

Are you a one woman – or man – band? If you’re like most of us freelancers, you create your own invoices, write for various clients and editors, do all your own marketing and networking, and so on. It can become exhausting. It isn’t hopeless, though!

Stagnant Sources and Solutions

Let’s see what we can do to change your stagnant situation….

Source:

Lack of exercise. When we stop moving and just sit all day, not only is our blood not pumping through our bodies to make us sweat the impurities out, but our minds aren’t pumping those endorphins that bring us inspiration, creativity, happiness, and peace.

Solution:

Get moving! Invest in a small trampoline and start rebounding. Even if it’s a couple of minutes here and there, at least you’re moving and it’s quite addictive. Once you start bouncing, you feel like a kid again and want to just keep going!

Source:

Lack of reading. Sometimes we writers need to walk away from the blank page, curl up with a good book and cup of hot tea, and just read, become lost in someone else’s mind.

Solution:

Start reading again! Since your looking at a decrease in income from your stagnant business, it’s not really feasible for you to be spending money you don’t have on reading material. There is a way to read without spending money, though. First, your local library is a fabulous resource. George Angus, from Tumblemoose Writing Services, is always reminding us how we should be taking advantage of such a precious treasure of literature: your library. And Google Books is a fantabulous resource for readers. SwapTree and BookMooch are two sites where you can sign up and list books you don’t want to keep. Then  you can trade books for books others have, that you’re interested in reading. From my understanding, the only cost to you is postage!

Source:

Lack of nutrition. Not eating enough – or eating the wrong things while tied to your desk – is a problem a lot of writers face each day.

Solution:

Make your health a priority. Don’t live on donuts, chips, fast food, sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, or any other processed food you can grab on a whim. I’ve already mentioned that fueling your body helps you fill the page. It’s amazing what keeping healthful foods within reach, and in your tummy, can do! So eat up on the healthy stuff! Prepare veggies and other healthy options ahead of time so when you reach for something, you’ll grab a healthy choice — at least most of the time.

Source:

Lack of joy. How can you crank out happy words if you aren’t happy?

Solution:

Don’t allow your joy to fade away. If you have, take it back! What used to make you happy and bring you joy before you started freelancing and lost yourself in your work? Did you have a hobby? Did you volunteer somewhere? Are you a painter? Did you take time to read or garden or spend time with family? Would you go shopping? Visit the gym? Would you see the latest movie with a friend?

Source:

Living a friendless life. Not having friends can make for a very lonely, sad life.

Solution:

Make friends or  rekindle friendships you used to have. When your writing business took off, did you leave your “Real Life” friends in your dust? Think about it. If you did, bring them back into your life. And if you didn’t have friends before freelancing consumed you, go out and find some.

Source:

Isolation. It’s hard to come by inspiration, motivation, and joy when you’re isolated.

Solution:

Force yourself to get out of your comfort zone! No ifs, ands, or buts. Just do it.

I hope these ideas and tips have helped you realize that when our lives become stagnant, our minds and creativity do as well. If we’re unhappy, isolated, alone, stagnant in our hearts and souls, our clients and editors will read that in our stale, lifeless words. Oh, you’ll be able to hide it for a while. Maybe for a long, long time. If you’re really talented, you’ll probably even fool yourself. But do you want to? Do you want to become a burnt-out-fried-to-a-crisp-mushy-brain kind of freelancer? I don’t. And I don’t believe you do either.

Do you suffer from any of these stagnant sources? Do you feel like your writing business is stagnant right now? Are you going to follow any of these tips to turn your business from stagnant to successful again? Have I forgotten anything? Can I glean wisdom from you? I know WRA readers (and I!) would love to hear from you!!

Photo Credit: bizior

For decades, books and movies have fought for the pleasure of our leisure time. From hits to classics, they’ve been marketed in similar ways and promoted with similar means. Sometimes, when a movie had reached particular acclaim it would be adapted into a book, but more commonly, the movie industry takes up the gauntlet, attempting to convert a popular book to the big screen.

A few weeks ago, I attended my local cinema’s premier screening of New Moon, the second movie in the Twilight Saga – based on the hit book quartet of the same name. The Twilight Saga is the latest book-to-movie conversion met with fanatical success. A story of passionate love and heart-break, Twilight, and newly released New Moon, are richly emotional.

The original story of Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga targets a late teen audience and, leaping off from the success of the novels, the movie industry went out of their way to increase the appeal to their target audience, females with a heartbeat (or more specifically young women ages 15 to 30). Given the astounding reception each time I’ve seen this movie (ie. the simultaneous swoons of a cinema wall-to-wall women), the producers can give themselves a pat on the back for producing just what fans were eager to see.

But how does story hold true between books and movies?

Every adaptation differs from the original. There is simply no way to convert approximately 600 pages into 130 minutes without performing careful cinema surgery. The New Moon book is richly detailed, woven with soft undertones of subplot and a gentle tug of deep character development. Screen writer, Melissa Rosenberg, and director, Chris Weitz, did an excellent job of taking the surface story and imbuing it with the shadowed tones of the original.

New Moon isn’t the only movie based on a book. Each book-to-movie adaptation is met with varied success. Some movies have improved upon the books, other ran alongside the books in pleasant harmony, and unfortunately, some have completely shattered their book companions blasting the originals in the soot and ash of broken promises. Each, however, were faced with the same questions during production.

Have you considered what your own book-to-movie conversion might look like? I’ve often wondered if authors, like Stephenie Meyer, ever considered what their book-to-movie conversion might look like. Did she imagine particular actors playing the roles of her characters? Did she wonder how a particular scene might be recreated on film?

When the first few Harry Potter books were published, mom turned author, J.K. Rowling, was immersed in her story. A fresh flush of passion powered an inexperienced hand. When you read the later books her style, her voice, has altered dramatically. You can see her forward thinking in these books. She knows that these books will be converted to movies and writes differently with the film-version in mind.

Does young author, Christopher Paolini wish he had taken more care in selling the rights to produce the Inheritance Cycle? Had J.R.R. Tolkien considered the book-to-movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings would the original books have contained less exposition? (Ok, so he could never have imagined the potential for movies with television being so young when he wrote the books but if he lived in today’s world I wonder what he might have done differently.) Would Jane Austen be proud of the many different adaptations of her writing that have been produced over the years? Does William Shakespeare roll in his grave whenever someone mentions the 1996 version of Romeo + Juliet?

Do you take special interest in comparing book-to-movie conversions? Do you have any particular favorites? What do you think is the most important thing a director should consider when producing a movie based on a book?

Tired of spending endless hours staring at a blank page? Exhausted and feel like your brain has somehow mysteriously been kidnapped and turned into a gooey, soft mush? Can’t focus? Not able to think clearly? Have trouble remembering how to spell the simple stuff you know by heart?

You’re probably suffering not only from MJSS, but from lack of nutrition. I touched lightly on eating in my post: Natural, Zen Remedies for MJSS but I’d like to share a little more detail on this topic because I truly believe a lot of freelancers out there are struggling, trying desperately to scrounge up some brain power. And, for that, I give you…

Food for Thought

Eating is a very important part of life. Eat too much and you feel bloated, sick, and lethargic. Eat too little and you’ll end up weak, foggy, and unable to concentrate. Eat too much – or only – the wrong foods, and you’ll more than likely be out of sorts totally!

It’s amazing what a difference I feel overall when I’m bombarding my body with fresh, raw juices, smoothies, veggies, fruits, nuts, and seeds. When I allow too many non-raw foods (especially any processed ones) into my diet I pay for it, both in body, and in mental clarity – or lack thereof.

You don’t have to stop enjoying all your favorite (even junk) foods to achieve the enhanced focus and inspiration you’re craving. Just a few minor changes to your daily lifestyle can make all the difference in your freelance life. Really.

Fuel Your Freelance Business

Let me guess: You work long, crazy hours. Am I right? You forget to eat – or you nibble on donuts, chips, or chocolate while you sit all those hours staring at the computer screen. True, no?

Try the following tips for extra nutrition, strength, and motivation. You might just be surprised how much you accomplish!

Freelance-Friendly Fuel Tips

1. Instead of racing to the computer when you first wake up of the morning, race to the kitchen. Drink some water and if you’re not one to fuss over a fancy breakfast, just grab a piece of fruit, make a bowl of oatmeal, or whip yourself up a yummy fruit smoothie.
2. Don’t run to your office – or corner – just yet. Prepare for the work day by portioning yourself some nuts and/or seeds for a snack. Nuts and seeds are not only delicious and filling, they’re filled with protein and other nutrients your body – and your brain – will gobble up.
3. Keep a fresh glass of water within reach so you’ll stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can also help prevent you from craving the wrong kinds of foods as well.
4. Make snacks and/or meals ahead of time. If you do that, you’re less likely to order take-out like pizza or pasta and you’re more likely to fill up on healthier options throughout the day.
5. Try practicing a few minutes (as little as 10 minutes!) of yoga each morning before you begin your work day, or to relax and stretch yourself during the day. Many people who begin practicing yoga fairly regularly notice an improved change in their eating habits, energy, and brain functions.

These tips will not only keep your body fueled, but your mind rarin’ to go and your freelance goals on target. So you see, the best way to fuel your freelance business (aka bring in the money and success!) is to fuel your brain by feeding your body. What are you waiting for? Grab some healthy snacks, guzzle some water, and get busy doing what you do best: fill that blank page!

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

Do you apply any of these tips to your day-to-day freelance routine? Do you have anything extra to add, that I’ve forgotten? How to you fuel your brain so you can fuel your freelance business? Let’s discuss and glean from each other!

Photo source

It has happened to me hundreds of times.  My schedule is clear, children are occupied, housework is caught up, and suddenly my writing time flops because I don’t know how to start.  Starting is necessary to reach a finished article, short story, poem or novel. In order to write, you must practice writing on a regular basis. Inspiring writing comes with routine, innovation, and determination.

• Writing Bursts

  Ban together with fellow writers and have a writing burst.  Twenty to thirty minutes of free writing will loosen the words – and your fingers – while building the creative juices.

• Musical Melodies

  Playing a music selection during your writing time will help train your body to write during those same melodies.  Music will also create a white noise, blending all the distracting sounds.  A particular music selection can also bring back the inspiration of a particular story if you stop the tract when it becomes necessary to move onto other scheduled items.

• Lists

  Writing out your lists for the day, including to-do’s, shopping, bills, and chores will allow you the opportunity to clear your mind of those tasks and focus on what you have set down to do during your writing time.

• Scheduling

  It is not only important, but vital to a writer’s life to schedule your day around the time you write, not the other way around.  If you are trying to take care of life first and fail to nurture the writer within you, the writer within you will fail to perform when time comes.

• Taking the phone off the hook

  Yes, I absolutely mean that.  The phone can be a major distraction.  Friends and family call when they feel the need to share a funny story or complain about the clerk at the store forgetting to give change.  There is no use in telling anyone to call you x many times in a row if it is an emergency.  There will always be one person who believes the clogged sink is worth interrupting you.  Unless you are a plumber and are able to snake a drain, it is NOT important.

By Peri Coeurtney Enkin

Musicians do not appear on stage to perform without hours of previous practice. Dancers learn their choreography in the studio before they dance for the public. Singers do scales. Athletes stretch. Writers need to light their Creative Fires and maintain their Creative Flow too.
Writers need to write – often, regularly, for all kinds of reasons.

Last night I handed out the following list to my Write with Spirit class. I asked everyone to consider why they write. It helps to know. In fact setting your intention for writing with a specific purpose in mind harnesses the creative forces of the universe on your behalf. Often we are wishy-washy. We want to write to educate and we end up writing to soothe ourselves. Both are important and valuable – yet require different attention from us.

1. Write to Free Your Creativity – You want to live a creative life and writing is one way to do that.
2. Write for Wholeness – You want to develop, deepen and expand your connection with your Higher Self.
3. Write for Guidance – You want to receive guidance from your Higher Self.
4. Write for Insight and Understanding – You want to broaden your perspective and see through the eyes of Spirit
5. Write for Personal Growth – You want to experience more personal balance, alignment, and calm. You want to know your authentic feelings and needs better. You want to learn and grow
6. Write to Heal – You know writing offers you a path through confusion to clarity, through sadness, depression and fear into hope, appreciation and forgiveness.
7. Write for Relief – You want to step outside of your small mind, find comfort, soothe yourself.
8. Write for Joy – You write because it is fun and you love doing it! You reach for to experience the joy of “Dancing with the Universe.
9. Write to Deliver a Message – You have something to say and you want to teach, share, educate.
10. Write to Entertain – You want your words to provide delight, humor, intrigue, drama or fun for others
11. Write to Inspire – You want your words to help others to wake up to their own Magnificence.
12. Write to Connect, Move, Touch – You want to touch hearts, provide comfort, romance, ease, and hope.

The next time you sit down to write consider your intention before you begin:

• Do you seek inner guidance?
• Do you want to free your Self-Expression?
• Do you want to hone your writing skills?
• Do you want to give words to a message that wants to be born through you?

When you write with a destination in mind you are more likely to get where you are going. Just do not forget to include regular writing practice in your schedule. Writers do need to write.

Do you Love to Write? Join me for Write with Spirit classes from the comfort of your own home. Email me for a link to current events peri@creatorschoice.com

Enjoy my Write with Spirit Blog http://www.writewithspirit.blogspot.com/ and sign up at my website to receive my ezine http://www.creatorschoice.com

I’m all about celebrating your creative spirit with Writing Practice Tips, Positive Partnership Skills and anything else that inspires and engages hearts. I enjoy personal contact with my readers so feel free to contact me directly. Thanks for being YOU!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peri_Coeurtney_Enkin
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Do you need help discovering your passion, motivation, or true purpose? Perhaps you need a Date With Destiny. Join inspirational life coach, Tony Robbins, this December!

In the video below, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray, Love“, shares the greatest rule for artistic success, Show Up For The Job!

As writers, we struggle against inspiration and creativity but can we truly know the source of insight and ideas? Our job is to show up, hands on keys or pen on page, be there, each day and perform the act of writing; participate in the process. We can’t control the quality of our creativity, we can’t control how receptive to our thoughts readers will be or which novel makes it to the best seller lists and which don’t. Our part of the process is to show up at the keyboard and get the words on the page.

Listen as Elizabeth discusses the importance of nurturing creativity and trusting the “genius” that exists outside of ourselves, and in putting aside fear to do the job.

What are your thoughts about what Elizabeth has shared? Do you feel creativity is an external power? Where do you think your own creativity comes from?