Celebrate Your Creative Self in May

4_28_14

By Stacey Anter

The Library Detective

May among other things is Creative Beginnings Month. I almost wrote about Get Caught Reading Month, or National Book Month, but I figured that it wouldn’t make sense to write about either of these without mentioning and having read the Read Across Rhode Island 2014 selection, Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. (It is on my list of books to read soon.) You see: life gets in the way a lot for me.  I have stories and ideas that are still unwritten and I have piles of books that I “plan to read” (my husband will attest to this.)  You know the saying, “So many books; so little time.”

This month, I implore you to awaken, acknowledge and feed your creative side. Do you enjoy sketching, drawing, painting or doodling on scrap paper? Writing witticisms, stories, poems, songs or even limericks? Playing an instrument?  Blending colors, designs, and textures in every venue? Being creative is not limited to only these things.  A creative person can be a speaker, a teacher, a musician, a singer, a gardener, a landscaper, a web page designer; the possibilities are endless. Whether you are just discovering your creativity or have known of your creative side since you were born, the Chase’s Calendar of Events suggests, “While developing your gifts, encourage others to also cultivate their own creative beginnings.”

I once attended a workshop in Providence given by author, artist, and all around creative adventurer Carolyn Lesser, (http://www.carolynlesser.com/ ).  After the workshop, I wanted to chat with her about a few things and I couldn’t help but mention the fact that life happens and sometimes gets in the way of my writing.  She understood my situation completely. With a ‘been there, done that’ look, she passionately suggested I read The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor, by Gail McMeekin.  Well, as soon as April vacation began (I was a school librarian back then), I bought a copy and immediately began to read it, leaving aside my Harry Potter 5, among a few other books I was still reading at the time.  McMeekin interviewed numerous creative women professionals whose stories inspire women and men to listen to their creative side and follow their dream to create, whether as a writer, artist, musician, or poet.  The 12 secrets discussed may or may not seem like common sense, but they are a definite confirmation of what creative women and men are drawn to do in one way or another.  You can also go to her Creative Success web site at http://www.creativesuccess.com/index.html

While we’re on the subject of creativity, another helpful book comes to mind: Time Management for the Creative Person by Lee Silber.  The author brings to light the fact that many people are not left-brained, logical, linear thinkers, but are creative and right-brained.  Various quotes inspire and connect the many tips for managing your time and creative life.  Silber even includes a quiz to help you find out if you are right-brained and creative. I remember my English teacher from junior high school who proudly displayed a sign on her desk and I still think of it today as it pertains to being a creative person: ‘An empty desk is the sign of an empty mind.’ (Thanks, Mrs. Dougherty.)  Someone who appears to be disorganized and scatter-brained with cluttered and messy spaces may simply be the creative type who actually is organized in their own special way.  If you are interested in managing your time and creativity, you can also visit writer, speaker, and life coach Lynn Cutts at http://www.manageyourmuse.com/

Don’t be afraid to nurture your creativity. It is a gift waiting to be opened, and if you’re so inclined, played with. Creative people must feed their need to create no matter how it is done.  If I were to list the many resources for each creative outlet, this would be the longest column I have ever written.  However, I will list but a few resources of inspiration and naturally you can find out more by visiting your local library and by searching online on any search engine.  Generally, you can visit ArtsJournal at http://www.artsjournal.com/ ; for artists in particular, there is http://www.artcyclopedia.com/ ; for writers there is http://www.writersdigest.com/ ; for songwriters there is http://www.musesmuse.com/ ; and for designers there is http://www.designingonline.com/.

I call myself the Library Detective because I can find the answers to any question you can think of, or at least I can point you in the right direction.  To find out more about creativity or any tool of artistic expression, visit your local library; there are more Library Detectives there, too.