The past couple of decades have seen some great films and shows, no doubt. But it's also seen a rise in increasingly formulaic and quickly produced content. We're getting more and more of the same, and less and less variety and (in my opinion) creative freedom.
I wish I had all the answers for you, that this could be the fix you need to hear to help with your own struggles. But I hope you're at least encouraged in knowing you aren't alone. Many people, even more successful people than me, can't quite shake the whispers of "not enough." Instead of accepting and dwelling on that voice, I encourage you today to use those words as a challenge to yourself. Take the drive and the sense of "not enough" to do even better with your next project. Sometimes I wonder if that's not simply the voice all creative artists hear. That even the great masters of their craft are never fully satisfied, but that is what pushes them to keep creating.
Shanah Khubiar has caught "lightning in a bottle" with her coming-of-age story about a young Jewish boy on the cusp of manhood in the late 70s. There's humor, heartache, and even danger between the pages, along with truly thought-provoking commentary.
I am surrounded daily by beautiful art. So I am constantly inspired to create in turn. I hope you, too, are inspired today!
Make the most of time, because time isn't going to slow down for you. Every moment is precious, and while creating and working is absolutely worth doing, you're only young-ish once. And your kids and the kids in your life won't stay little for long. Make good memories to cling to on darker days. Write down happy moments, to remind yourself what life can be, even if that isn't what always is. Find happiness in the little moments.
When I reached out to Nada Qamber about making a book trailer for the Borderlands Saga, I felt a little silly. After all, everyone knows book trailers are a thing of the past. Nobody makes them anymore and instead uses GIFs. But I wanted to find a unique way to market my box set, and I have worked so long on this series that I wanted to treat myself a little bit.
Flawed heroes, mysterious wise women, and religious fervor abound in Lisa A. Traugott’s historical epic, To Rescue A Witch.
My first novels always came back to me so lined with red by my editors, it was a shock when I began to receive far less several books down the road. So take heart, and know that you are constantly growing, constantly shaping your voice and that evolution never stops. Be bold, have courage, and create! Happy free writing, friends 🙂
Countless books suggest the best writing methods. But the truth is, you have to write and keep writing until you discover which method is right for you.
What are your favorite forms of escape? No matter your favs, I hope you remember to give yourself permission to escape for a little while. We all have an endless to-do list. So give yourself an hour here and there to have fun. Adults need to "play" sometimes, too. It's what helps us find that little extra spark of joy or inspiration again.
Jennifer Silverwood 