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by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker No doubt there will be a lot of feasting happening later this month, so today I�m serving up five bite-sized morsels to fill your creativity tank. The turkey and dressing will just have to wait! 1. Keep Inspirational Quotes in View every Day In last month�s post, I shared how to   Create Our own Dream Collage .  Using the same idea, add a twist by filling a smaller poster board with quotes from Pinterest, magazines, etc. Put the quote-filled board inside your closet door, or on the interior cabinet that leads to your sanity-in-a-mug. Inspiring quotes pack a powerful punch despite their size. Here are four favorites:  �The call to creativity is the call to worship.�  -Michael Card �A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.�  -Frank Capra �The writer who possesses the creative gift owns something of which he is not always master�something that at times strangely wills and works for itself.�  -Charlotte Bronte �You can�t u...

by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker There�s little doubt that I�m a Julia Cameron fan. Her book  The Artist�s Way  impacts my daily creative process. In a previous post, Inviting Your Creative Self on a Date   on  The Write Conversation , I shared a section of her book that speaks of Artist Dates. Julia asks her students to schedule one Artist Date per week.  I tell students to seek mystery, not mastery, on their dates. I urge them to explore with childlike wonder rather than adult intellect. Artist Dates are intended to be fun. - Julia Cameron One of her Artist Date ideas involves creating and designing a dream collage as a visual reminder of our dreams, goals, and priorities.  �Collage your creative dream. This exercise is a potent form of prayer. Working with a dozen or so magazines, tear out images that speak of your dream. Paste these images on a sheet of poster board. Add a photo of yourself. Place the photo centrally, surrounded by images of your creat...

by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker Is your muse in need of a little nudging?  I admit to not always seeing the value of writing prompts. I want what writing time I have to count toward a specific project. Only recently have I begun to see their truth worth.  In a matter of minutes, writing prompts can help spark our imagination, free our mind, and jumpstart our creativity. They pack a punch! Below I share three ways to use writing prompts, three prompts to get you started, and several links to sites with ready-made links for future use.  Three Ways to Use Writing Prompts: 1. Write during in-between moments. Waiting for an appointment? Or do you wait in a car line after school? Or maybe you downed a protein bar for lunch and now have 58 minutes available. When you don�t have time for a full writing session, pull up a writing prompt on your phone and leverage your time.  2. Warm-up before a marathon writing session. While there�s value in free writing, writing prompts give us...

by Cathy Baker @CathySBaker Summertime offers a plethora of opportunities for us to explore, learn, and hone our writing skills. Intentionality is the key, unlocking the power of creativity to sizzle through our stories.  It�s no secret that our brain re-engages when faced with new experiences, so today I�d like to encourage you to plan a day trip. The only caveat is that this destination must be a place you�ve never visited before.  While on the trip, you must intentionally engage your five senses. This is where the sizzling begins. So, rev up the engine and let�s get started.  Here are some ideas to consider: Packing tip:  Bring a journal, pen, camera and/or phone.   So, rev up the engine and let�s get started.  See:  As you approach the new destination, take in its surroundings. Is the energy palpable or does it lend itself more to a sleepy town? Is it what you expected? What�s the first thing you notice? Is it the architectural designs? Or is it th...