Tag Archives: writing
Exercises and tools to help you or your group be more creative in life
Following on from my post on the importance of creativity to everyday life and to struggle, here are some activities you, your workplace, family, organisation, or other types of groups can try. These tools can help you generate ideas when you are at a loss for how to solve a problem, or they can help … Continue reading
Using distance to increase creativity
When I was living in Venezuela, I struggled to write creatively about it. Instead, my first novel was set in my home country of Australia. The novel I’m working on now is set in nearby Mexico City rather than Puebla, where I live. It’s a great set up, because I visit Mexico City enough to … Continue reading
Tiny story: I feel most alive when …
Honduran refugee: Writing helps me survive
Jorge Madrid is a Honduran activist whose opposition to current right-wing president Juan Orlando Hernández saw him receiving death threats and having to flee the country. He was also a student leader when then President Manuel Zelaya was overthrown by a coup in 2009. He says the stealing of the elections in 2017 and direct … Continue reading
In the Netflix / social media era, is it really necessary to read fiction books?
When I can settle down into a book, I feel like someone who has been running frantically for days and is finally home. Reading is one of the most fulfilling things I do, and it is easy – no transport or planning necessary. Yet after a long, exhausting day of work, I often find that … Continue reading
Writing to sell or please others limits creativity
How many mind-blowing, thought-provoking and beautiful books or films can you think of that were created while trying to please others? Doesn’t the most impactful, memorable writing boldly challenge the status quo, play with aesthetics, and startle us instead? Here are some reasons why writers should steer clear of pleasing others: 1) When a writer … Continue reading
Writing for liberation exercise: dealing with depression
The battle against depression (short or long term) has many fronts, including, in my opinion, the battle for a humanity and environment-first world where we are less alienated at work and among each other. But what makes writing such a powerful tool for both personal and political problems (which are invariably linked) is that we … Continue reading
Who Owns the Words?
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potty series, was asked by her publisher Barry Kunningham to use just her initials (she made up the K), as he thought boys might be wary of a book written by a woman. Many people assume that Harper Lee is a man, Charlotte Bronte originally published as Currer Bell … Continue reading
Writing for liberation exercises: Quick creativity
Creativity is, in essence, new ideas, new ways of seeing things, new combinations of old things. Sometimes when we’re writing – articles, novels, stories, songs etc – it can be hard to chill and get into a creative frame of mind. The following super-quick exercises can be helpful in opening you up to new ideas … Continue reading
Stress and oppression can hurt or help creativity
Today is a tough day. I’m dealing with stuff and there’s a tight knot in my chest and work is taking twice as long because my concentration is off, to put it mildly. There is worry crying out from behind my head, knocking on my door, demanding attention – but it’ll only make things … Continue reading
Writing for liberation exercise: Combating stereotypes
In the story and creative world, there’s two fairly obvious things wrong with stereotypes: They tend to reinforce prejudice and discrimination, and reduce the particular group of humans down to just a few elements (but people are complex and aren’t just their appearance or intelligence or food choices). They are boring to read and don’t … Continue reading
