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A. J. Banner | Five Ways to Guard Your Creativity
September 7, 2015
Among writers, there’s a lot of talk about tapping into inspiration, finding
time to write, establishing a daily writing routine. But how does a writer
maintain a hopeful outlook? How do we protect our creativity? I’m not talking
about protecting our ideas in a legal sense. I’m talking about protecting the
deep well of imagination. How do we filter out the poisons? How do we keep the
wellspring uncontaminated by negative thoughts, self-criticism, and bad reviews?
Along the bumpy journey to publication of my first novel of psychological
suspense, The Good Neighbor, I’ve learned a few ways of protecting creativity:
1. You can’t please everyone. I can try and try and try, but I will never
succeed in pleasing every reader in the known universe. All I can do is write
the best book I can write, in my own voice and style – for the readers who love
my work. One wonderful reader wrote to me that she couldn’t put my book down -
on the train, on the plane, and in bed until she finished. I write for people
like her. There is something magical and intangible about the writer’s
connection with the appreciative, avid reader. Messages like the one from the
“reader on the train” encourage me to keep writing and more than make up for the
not-so-nice reviews. If I can make someone happy, give him or her a few hours of
enjoyment, I’ve fulfilled my goal.
2. Unplug and unwind. You’ve heard this one before. Spend time offline,
stop to smell the roses, breathe the fresh air. Don’t get me wrong. I love
social media. But when I turn off the computer and spend time with friends,
paying attention to their lives and their concerns, my own worries start to slip
away. Plus, some of my best ideas come to me while I’m out walking, taking
pictures of sunsets and butterflies – not thinking about writing at all.
3. Emphasize the positive. Why is it that when we get a run of rave
reviews and one negative review, we glom onto the negative review? That reviewer
called me out. That reviewer knows I’m a fraud. See #1. You can’t please
everyone. I know many authors who don’t read their reviews. One author told me,
“When there’s a good review, someone will tell me about it.” She knows her
primary task is to write the next book. As a corollary to shielding oneself from
the negative, I try to reach out to appreciate others and spend time with
positive, creative people – people who nurture the spirit and whose spirit I can
nurture in turn. I’ve found that a simple compliment goes a long way to making
someone else happy.
4. Guard your writing time – and also relax. Set aside a block of time
for writing. Usually, I write for a few hours early in the morning, before the
demands of the day set in. But then I leave the computer and take care of
myself. See #2. I eat a healthy meal and go for a long walk. When my life is in
balance, I feel stronger and better able to withstand any onslaught of
negativity.
5. Write, write, write. There’s no substitute for doing. Ray Bradbury
said it well: “Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-
conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You
simply must do things.” The moment fear sets in – fear of the blank page, of
imperfection, fear of almost anything – I simply start writing. My imagination
takes hold, and the story starts to flow.
GIVEAWAY
How do you guard your creativity whether it is writing, art, gardening, cooking,
or crafts? Leave a comment below and be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of THE GOOD
NEIGHBOR.
A. J. Banner grew up reading Agatha Christie, Daphne du Maurier, and other
masters of love and mystery. She enjoyed sneaking thrillers from her parents'
library, which gave her excellent fodder for her first novel of psychological
suspense, The Good Neighbor. Born in India and raised in North America, she
always dreamed of writing gripping stories in which nothing is what it seems.
She's hard at work on her next novel in her home office overlooking a Pacific
Northwest forest.
Website | Facebook | Twitter
From a phenomenal new voice in suspense fiction comes a book that will
forever change the way you look at the people closest to you…
Shadow Cove, Washington, is the kind of town everyone dreams about—quaint
streets, lush forests, good neighbors. That’s what Sarah thinks as she settles
into life with her new husband, Dr. Johnny McDonald. But all too soon she
discovers an undercurrent of deception. And one October evening when Johnny is
away, sudden tragedy destroys Sarah’s happiness.
Dazed and stricken with grief, she and Johnny begin to rebuild their shattered
lives. As she picks up the pieces of her broken home, Sarah discovers a shocking
secret that forces her to doubt everything she thought was true—about her
neighbors, her friends, and even her marriage. With each stunning revelation,
Sarah must ask herself, Can we ever really know the ones we love?
Comments
24 comments posted.
Re: A. J. Banner | Five Ways to Guard Your Creativity
I do a lot of knitting, and on my good days, I try to
push myself, and go a little further than I normally
would. That makes up for the days when I hit those
roadblocks. In fact, I happen to be in one now, and
haven't been able to pick up my needles for a few
days, which crushes me. There is nothing more that I
enjoy, besides my books, than to have my needles in my
hands, creating something that I'll be giving to
someone that I feel deserves it due to some hardship
in their life, or just because I was thinking of them.
I also write any ideas I have, no matter how small or
how crazy, on a sheet of paper. It's amazing how many
of these ideas I've used in future ideas of mine. Your
book sounds really good, and I'm looking forward to
reading it. Congratulations on what I'm sure is going
to be a big hit!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:54am September 7, 2015)
Peggy, thank you for your kind words. I know what you mean
about hitting roadblocks. Creativity does seem to ebb and
flow, and I trust your knitting will be back in the flow soon.
You're wonderful for giving your creations to people in need,
and clearly you are hugely talented as a writer as well!
(A.J. Banner 10:12am September 7, 2015)
I usually keep my writings a secret from people.
(Marissa Yip-Young 10:19am September 7, 2015)
Marissa, that's a great idea. I keep my first drafts to myself
as well, per Stephen King's advice in his wonderful book, On
Writing.
(A.J. Banner 10:40am September 7, 2015)
When all else fails, I use the recording feature on my
phone to dictate and then type it when I can. I also have
paper tablets around to scribble something down. Life gets
in the way sometimes, but I sincerely try. Thank you for
this opportunity. Your book sounds great!
(Bonnie Franks 10:40am September 7, 2015)
I just make sure I devote time to whatever I need to whether it is music or writing or reading. You just have to do.
(Pam Howell 10:48am September 7, 2015)
I guard my creative side by keeping quiet about it until I
finish the project either in cooking or gardening.
(Barbara Ryan 2:48pm September 7, 2015)
I don't seem to guard my work so much because I am proud of the paintings I
do and the quilts I make and want to show them off to my family and friends.
(Jackie Wisherd 3:46pm September 7, 2015)
I love all these comments and perspectives. Bonnie Franks,
what a good idea to use the record feature on your phone. I'll
try that. Pam Howell, you're so right about just "doing."
Barbara Ryan, wise words. Jackie Wisherd, let me know if you
have a link to images of your paintings and quilts!
(A.J. Banner 4:23pm September 7, 2015)
I am often on call regarding work. The way I guard my
creativity is to turn off my phone when I am not needed or
scheduled to be a potential alternate.
(G. Bisbjerg 8:00pm September 7, 2015)
It must be very hard to write when a person gets blocked! It is great to have
other distractions so you can have a break and then start Fresh!
(Susan Patterson 10:33pm September 7, 2015)
I think the most important part is to not feel guilty for taking that special time
for myself. I enjoy working in my gardens, something I haven't had much of a
chance to do this year due to injuries, and I have missed it. Working in the
garden is pleasing for me and the results are something others can enjoy.
(Patricia Barraclough 10:51pm September 7, 2015)
G. Bisbjerg, great idea to turn off the phone. Susan
Patterson, I agree. If I'm stumped, I take a break and come
back to it later. Patricia Barraclough, I wish you speedy
healing from your injuries so you can work in your garden
again.
(A.J. Banner 12:29pm September 8, 2015)
I find the best way to stimulate my creativity is to be
aware of my surroundings. I find being around artists'
creativity spurs my own - not that I copy their work, but
making the leap to admire another's creativity seems to
enable me to make a leap of my own.
(Deb Philippon 10:02am September 8, 2015)
I've got to 'be in the mood'. If not ,I let things go till I'm ready . It will always be there for you no matter what you're doing . Thanks for this giveaway . Your book sounds like it will be a really,really good and exciting read .
(Joan Thrasher 10:28am September 8, 2015)
Well, I don't have too much creativity to protect. I really don't. I just read, lol.
(Vicki Hancock 10:38am September 8, 2015)
I am about the least creative person ever so there isn't really anything to guard. Problem solved.
(Maria Smith 11:35am September 8, 2015)
I'd have to have creativity to guard it, but since I don't, I don't worry too much. Pretty much the same question for privacy, since the internet makes it harder to guard anything anymore.
(Lisa L. 12:32pm September 8, 2015)
I prefer to be private about this creativity and then give a
gift of this to someone special.
(Sharon Berger 1:42pm September 8, 2015)
I grew up in my Mother's tailor shop; learned to sew in
the womb. I'm recovering from cervical spine fusion, and
then I will be able to sew again. I was a Fed, when the
Govt was shut down, I made a raincoat, with matching rain
cape and hat. I write 'silly songs', and cook from
scratch. Soup is my specialty.
(Karen Hoover 3:17pm September 8, 2015)
I love all these comments and perspectives. Karen Hoover,
how interesting that you grew up in a tailor shop. I can see
a book there. I hope you're recovering well. Elaine Fisher,
I agree about keeping the brain active with a variety of
projects. Vicki Hancock, we love readers! I do believe
everyone has a measure of creativity in one way or another.
(A.J. Banner 11:28am September 9, 2015)
I can look at a craft and replicate it, especially crocheted items so no one
can copy it exactly as I do it by eye and relative size rather than counting
stitches.
(Nadine Stacy 11:35am September 10, 2015)
I love reading embroidery,scrap booking and I try to make time to engage in them as often as possible.I tried ceramics in college not very good but was fun.When I engage in creativity I am very focused and then I move on with regular things until the urge hits again. So I guess I use the balanced approach. Thanks for the contest.
(Gloria Vigil 1:44pm September 10, 2015)
I'm not very creative---so only my cats and dogs are
allowed to see my creations.
(Sue Farrell 5:43pm September 10, 2015)
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