Author Interviews: Nurturing Creativity
“We are storytellers. What a powerful gift that is! We create wonderful, compelling books out of nothing but our own imaginations. With a little hard work and dedication we take a blank page and transform it into beautiful, inspiring stories that touch people’s hearts. What’s even more amazing is that we do it when we’re stressed, when we’re tired, when we’re grieving, when we’re frightened. We do it! That’s the important thing.’ –RaeAnne Thayne
Prolific author RaeAnne Thayne expresses what we all experience–creating beautiful worlds in our imaginations doesn’t make us immune from chaotic, stressful, sometimes heartbreaking realities in our own lives. And yet as writers, we are, if nothing else, optimistic souls. We send our work out into the world in hopes it will lift someone’s spirits for a time, even when our own are sometimes heavy–because through that very process of lifting others, we lift ourselves. “That is why I write,” Thayne says. “Even when I’m tired and achy, spiritually and emotionally drained. Romance novels have lifted me through some of my darkest moments and if I can give somebody else that precious gift for a little while, it’s all worth it.”
Writing is an intense pursuit, however. As author Marilyn Pappano says, creative people need to take a break every once in a while to recharge, take time to engage in activities that are different from writing while still being creative. “I took up cross-stitch, refinishing furniture, gardening and cooking,” Pappano explains. “After every book, I spend some time doing one or more of those hobbies almost obsessively. It really does help me recharge and get ready to go back to the computer.”
Enjoying time with family is writer Kylie Brant’s favorite way to de-stress. “We get together with four or five of the kids to tailgate at every Iowa game during the football season. Days I should be writing, yes. And it’s wild to get the cooking done during the week so I can be the tailgating queen, but what a great time spending those hours with my kids and their friends. Spending time with our grandbabies…getting together with friends.”
Massage is a well-known relaxation therapy, and author Catherine Mann points out that massage schools offer affordable rates from student masseuses. Between parenting four teenagers, writing four books a year, and dealing with her husband’s military deployments, she knows stress–and relief. ”I also love to treat myself to lunch out with a friend or go with a friend or my daughters to get pedicures/manicures. I savor walks on the beach or walking a prayer labyrinth at a local church, too.”
If nothing else works, longtime writer Linda Wisdom pulls out the big guns. “Go for a drive and just flat out scream while you’re tooling down the road. I drive up to the vineyards or around all the horse ranches because there is more open land there. Stereo blasting and some primal scream therapy. Or go to a thrift shop, buy a bunch of dishes, take them home and break them!”
If you’re stressed and feeling drained of your last drop of creativity with a deadline looming and no time to walk a prayer labyrinth or break dishes, take the advice of an author who’s written a hundred books through good times and bad. “Put music on, ” Marie Ferrarella says. “Close your eyes, and escape to the world within your mind. Type anything. You can change it. Free flow will give you something, I guarantee it. Just do it.”
Now there’s faith. And if we have anything as writers, we have faith. Take time to nurture your creative soul. Take time to believe–in yourself.
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–okay, I love Linda’s idea to just drive and scream. I am SO going to steal that one.
–LIke Kylie I think fun time with family is a great way to destress–but I’ll tailgate at Mizzou with my kids, Go Tigers!
–Catherine’s idea of beach walking would probably be my first choice…if I lived anywhere near a beach.
–Like Marilyn, I also try other creative outlets, like knitting or graphic design on the computer, or photography
–combining Marie’s idea of listening to music, and RayAnne’s idea of just writing works too. Sometimes there is nothing better than getting totally lost in the words.
[…] If you’re holed up in the snow today, here’s something else to read–an interview with some of your favorite Silhouette Romantic Suspense authors at Dandelion! […]
I love the breaking dishes suggestion! And if you’re really creative you could then use the broken dishes to make mosaics. :)
I combine the music, screaming and writing on a bad day. Nothing like putting on my ‘angry’ music and shouting along with the words as I write :)
Some really good ideas here. I look forward to being here and experiencing all the stuff that is sure to come forth!