What I did when I didn’t do this..

Once upon a day, or week or so… you’ll find a technique here to help you hear what your novel mind is wanting to say!

Today’s Tip:

April 2 – Sometimes we just have to say, “It’s okay you didn’t get a tip done every day, or week for that matter.” Sometimes we have to notice what we have been doing and suddenly we realize it’s okay that you didn’t get to tips for.. umm… two months. BUT THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO! Check it out? Writerly Kits

February 2 – This week do something you’ve never done before. Triple dog dare ya.

January 7 – Creativity.. here’s a couple sad statements:

A quote from Robert Epstein, senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology, and contributing editor for Scientific American Mind:

“When children are very young, they all express creativity, but by the end of first grade, very few do. This is because of socialization. They learn in school to stay on task and to stop daydreaming and asking silly questions. As a result, the expression of new ideas is largely shut down. We end up leaving creative expression to the misfits – the people who can’t be socialized. It’s a tragedy.”

Quote from my six year old granddaughter yesterday upon returning to school after the Christmas Holidays: (She is half way through Grade One)

“Nana, my whole classroom was changed! It’s because we’re older now, so now we just have to work, write and sit all day. Just work and write all day!”

“You still get to play and make things, don’t you?”

“No, I think we just work all day now. Because we are older and some of the kids already turned 7.”

I don’t know what’s really going on in her class. She is in an arts-based school. But, it frightens me that this is her perspective. I hope today is different for her. I really don’t want either of these quotes to be true anymore.

Update 2018: I wrote this article in 2014. The granddaughter mentioned does get to be creative in her school, but her perspective as a Grade Oner is valuable for all who spend time with children and for those of you who might wonder, “When did I stop thinking creativity was an innate part of me?”

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December 14 – Tell a different story about a situation. Make up something wild and funny. Here’s how my dirty kitchen was an opportunity for building imagination and shifting perspectives: novelminds.ca/the-dirty-kitchen-imagination-and-new-perspectives

December 7 – Looking for an answer? If your dearest friend had the same concern or question, what would you tell him/her?

December 5 – A three part, minute or less each, activity for your novel mind!

Part 1: Without thinking too hard about it, name a character you love from a book or a movie.
Part 2: What are the qualities of that character that makes that character one you love?
Part 3. Characters you love are mirrors of you. Read what you wrote about why you love that character and notice how much YOU are like that character. Any aha moments about this?
(Head over here to see what happened for others!)

December 2 – Thinking differently: The Christmas cross-off list. Here’s how to change that list of cleaning, shopping, cooking, and gifting into something way more fun! Leaving more time for the magic of it all. Do tell, what are you going to cross off this Christmas? Read the technique on our blog HERE

November 22 – Rethinking ‘Creativity’: What’s the tiniest creative thing you did today? If you think ‘nothing’… think again!

Share here or, until we actually get more people coming here, pop over to our facebook page. People are sharing their answers there.

November 20 – Think of a question that has been on your mind lately. Turn to page 87 in the book closest to you.
Any answers there?

(Share your discovery here!)

November 18 – In just 8 seconds, you could pause and come up with things that are sooo perfectly right about your life right now. Just 8 seconds to lift your spirit higher!

Care to share your 8 seconds of ‘what’s right’?