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A Short Thought on Creativity

May 31, 2021 Leave a Comment

If you consider yourself a creative, do you find that your primary creative area can be inspired by being creative in another area? Do you like trying new areas of creativity even if it’s not your normal “gifting” so you might even consider yourself “bad” in that arena?

I believe that our art, whether writing or dance choreography, can benefit from art styles that are outside of our go-to creative expression.

Also, as I’m writing this, I’m thinking that it’s pretty incredible that anyone can judge creativity as “good” or “bad.” After all, the beauty of any type of art is that it simply exists, and it’s the viewer who receives a response to it.

So tell me, what’s your “normal” area of creativity and what’s that secondary one that you turn to when you want to express yourself in a different way? #expressyourself #pittsburgh

I’d love to know about your creative outlets!

The Top 7 Questions to Ask Readers

May 24, 2021 Leave a Comment

Every once in a while, someone will torture me with the question of “What’s your #favoritebook?” and if you’ve ever seen Ever After, I find myself with the same aghast response as the main character, Danielle: “I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens!”

Reading has been my longest love and pastime for years, and when I was a kiddo, I read 100+ books a year. How could I ever choose a favorite???

And to be honest, I think I’ve realized that when people ask me, “What’s your favorite book?” (or “who’s your favorite author?” — but that’s a rant for another day) I just find that question terribly overwhelming. And also, as someone who reads a lot (and who’s written at least two stories), I feel a lot of pressure to have a FABULOUS favorite book. Yikes, no pressure.

So I got to thinking, if I don’t like “what’s your favorite book?” maybe there are other questions we could ask our reader friends. Here’s the list I came up with!

So let’s go over better questions to ask:

~ what book helped you through a hard time?

~ what author do you return to for a feel-good read?

~ which book would you recommend to someone who loves [genre]?

~ what book are you excited about right now?

~ have you read a book with a plot twist so good that you had to stop for a minute to take it in?

~ what are you reading right now?

~ is there a book that changed your life/thinking?

Reading is such a fun pastime, and why should we ruin it by asking crazy questions, especially to individuals who have read so many books that it would be nearly impossible…and you know, enjoyed most of those books!

Oh, but it would be interesting to ask the question, “What’s the most terrible book you’ve ever read?” Somehow that question rubs differently.

Do you have a pet peeve book question or a better question people could ask that you’d add to my line-up?

3 Great (Free) Platforms for Easy Learning

May 17, 2021 Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for self-improvement opportunities. And maybe it’s an excessive thing, but I don’t really think so because I just love learning.

In today’s world, we’ve got so many opportunities to learn about so many different interests from tangible building to mental health, and I LOVE it.