Appreciating Failure

Appreciating Failure

I’m always fascinated by failures. We know it’s part of life and definitely part of being creative in our lives. So, when I learned there’s a traveling exhibit about appreciating failure, called the Museum of Failure, I couldn’t click fast enough.

How Micro Stretch Targets Push Your Creativity

How Micro Stretch Targets Push Your Creativity

When I’ve got a sticky problem or want to push my creativity, I often explore whether I can use a stretch target to speed up finding a satisfying solution. I’m not talking about big life goals here, but “micro” situations that make a difference in our everyday lives.

The Invitation Ready for Book Deserts

The Invitation Ready for Book Deserts

A magical box arrived last week. I almost didn’t open it, thinking it was a holiday gift from a relative. Luckily, I noticed Room to Read as the sender. Inside was a full paperback set of the non-profit’s Peace & Equality picture book collection, including my story about neurodiversity, friendship and inclusion. 

Get Creative with Constraints

Get Creative with Constraints

There’s a quote out there in the Internet world that I’ve pinned and come back to periodically: Creativity is subtraction. This is a concept I find useful to remember in my writing, work and everyday life.

Imposing constraints is one way of prompting subtraction. Constraints involve taking away things we over-rely on, leaving us to cope. Creativity often is the result.

Focus of My Blog

In addition to providing occasional updates about my book projects, my goal is twofold: (1) encourage creative practice in our lives and writing by sharing easy-to-try methods and (2) provide helpful, honest details and encouragement to kids, teachers, other writers and those considering or already deep into the writing life.

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