I Swear, I’m Working

There are  time when this froggie could be me!

doing nothing?

Writing is hard work, even when it looks like loafing.  I often sit and gaze into space. Or fiddle with a pen and a pad of paper, making silly doodles or jotting down a word or a phrase. Or open a book or magazine to read, and end up simply staring at the page. Sometimes I even watch the tube or listen to the radio without absorbing a word.

When I do these things, I’m working–I swear! Creativity requires lots of daydreaming and thinking. What-if, could it be done, is it possible, how and where, who and why–these are the stuff of which stories are made.

At the moment, I’m busy editing a book, whipping it into shape for publication. I’m spending countless hours every day making the story as good as I am capable of making it. This process also requires serious thinking and focus, but at this stage, at least for me, most of my thinking happens at the computer.

But soon enough, I’ll be back to looking very much like a goof-off.  Now you know the truth–I’ll actually be hard at work.

Until next time,
Ann
Connect with me on Visit Ann on Facebook

Follow me on Follow Ann on Twitter

Sign up for my newsletter: Join Ann's Mailing List

Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

Crazy Is as Crazy Does… Or Maybe Not

One of Jackson Pollock 's many paintings

One of Jackson Pollock ‘s many paintings

I never understood Jackson Pollock’s work–and then I visited a whole room of his paintings at MoMA New York. They were huge and puzzling, but as I stood before one particular oil painting, I got all tingly and excited. Then I chuckled.

Why? Because looking at the painting was liking looking into my own mind. Yep, it’s messy in there.

Such is the working of the creative mind. And that’s all I’m going to say about it. 🙂

Until Wednesday, and wishing you a mind filled with creativity and a healthy sense of humor,

Ann

Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net

A Cluttered Room is Creativity’s Playground… Or Is It?

clutter

I don’t know that I agree with this. There are articles in support of clutter and creativity, and articles touting neat and clean in order to be creative. My opinion lies somewhere in the middle.

I don’t mind a little clutter, because let’s face it, life is messy. But too much stuff and mess weights me down and saps my energy. Cleaning isn’t exactly my favorite task, but a good cleaning and either giving away or tossing out “stuff” that has piled up  always energizes me.

Yet despite my feelings about too much clutter, when I’m in the middle of a writing project, watch out! In no time, my office fills with hastily scribbled notes from those times when I’m away from the computer and inspiration strikes, and other papers that seem to multiply all by themselves.  My writing space slowly fills with paper and research materials, to the point that I would never invite anyone inside. Ugh, I hate that–but as it happens time and again, I’ve come to accept it as a part of my writing process.

But when I finish a project… This is when I toss most of those papers and file away the rest. Ah. Then I can move on and start something new.

Until Friday, and wishing you a life that is minimally bogged down in clutter,

Ann

Visit me at my Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/AnnRothAuthorPage
Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Roth
Stop by my website: www.annroth.net