Need to Spark your Creativity? 

If you’re struggling to start or finish the book you're writing but have hit a plateau, maybe you need to recharge, refocus, and remind yourself why you’re writing.
Assuming you’re eating healthy and taking care of yourself, sometimes there are days when you feel...ugh. Like your emotional, physical, and mental battery is drained. Too much concentration on the scene you're writing, or the plot isn't working, or you’re overthinking instead of letting the words flow. It happens. Walking away for a few minutes, hours, or weeks can help get you back into your creative space.
However, if you're writing on schedule, there's pressure and your mind may wander in another direction when it should be focused. It’s the battle of the creative brain. It happens to most of us. You’ve got a great idea and you're inspired to write or you’re working on a project that’s causing you to feel unmotivated. If this is you, don’t worry. Not every day will feel like this, but don’t give up! You’re on the right track. When this happens, take a break or do something to change your mindset and allow creative thoughts to flow. Life happens and it can drain us from the joy of story telling. There are ways to accomplish your writing goals, but maybe you need to start with a recharge and refocus first. 

​If you need an instant boost, try one of these eight tips to feel recharged and refocused. 

Fresh air
Spending time outside boosts our mental health. It’s no wonder taking in the season’s surroundings and the beauty it offers can lift our spirits and renew your energy. www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-of-being-outdoors#better-breathing

Putting thoughts on paper
Whether you’re writing your thoughts in a journal, handwriting a note ( it’s good for emotional health too! Check out this blog post  https://wwwww.charlenegroome.com/for-the-wellness-writer ), or typing an email to a friend, expressing your thoughts is a good way to let emotions flow. 

Limit screen time
Stepping away from devices has a huge benefit to our creative minds. Notifications are a distraction so putting your phone away for twenty minutes or avoiding social media to work on a project will help you focus on your muse. 

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Try something new
Creative people are always doing creative things. Whatever it is: baking cookies or strumming a guitar, using your energy to feed your soul is important for your mental health. Using your hands to create gives purpose and joy in so many ways. By changing your creative focus, you might find that the mental break will generate new ideas. 

Change of scenery
Writing in coffee shops and libraries is fun and it could be out of your comfort zone if writing at home is the norm, trying changing it up. A new place or space to write, can inspire and give you a sense of motivation. New surroundings can recharge your mind.

Moving your body
Simply stretching or doing yoga relaxes your mind and your body. Focus on calming your mind and moving your body for an instant recharge.

Connect with someone you love
Hearing a loved one’s voice or reading an encouraging or kind message is an instant boost. Interacting with someone who is positive and cheery will definitely boost your mood.

Self-care
There are many ways to self-care. It doesn’t need to be a whole day event, although it sounds amazing. Not everyone has the time, but a quick ten minutes to listen to a podcast, read, or listen to music is a good way to reflect on yourself and what you need.  

Self-talk
Only positive vibes! When you feel like you're in a slump and imposter syndrome is interfering with your ability to write, reverse your mindset. If you think, my writing is terrible, say, it can be edited. If you tell yourself, I can't do this, say, maybe I need to take a break. 

There are lots of ways to recharge and refocus. Do what works for you. 
Rest, find your space, and take care of yourself because if you want to write, it takes time and energy to be creative. 

Setting out to write a book is a huge task. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned author, it takes effort and commitment. Writing is hard. Whether it's poetry, blogging, or writing a story, it’s an accomplishment. You did it—the next step, sharing your creativity with others. Wherever you are on your writing journey, take a moment to be proud of what you’ve done. Giving yourself credit is important. Celebrate your wins. For those days you feel ugh, think positive and tell yourself, I did it! There's always room for improvement but the key is, sticking to your creative muse and not giving up. A recharge and refocus might be what you need to keep writing.
I’m cheering for you!  


​***my opinions are my own

When was the last time you wrote someone a handwritten note? When was the last time you received one?
If you recall receiving a card from someone you love, you probably got a shot of dopamine because the expression of good feelings was soaked up like a sponge and chances were, you reread those words to cherish the connection.

Do you remember when pen pals were a thing and you were forced to write a letter to someone you didn’t know? Awkward at first but rewarding when a letter came back and a brief friendship began. Sending letters has lost its popularity but it hasn’t lost the intent for a heartfelt connection.
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Over the years, collecting cards, notes, and personalized bookmarks from a grade three teacher has meaning. They are all expressions of kindness. In a world full of negativity and time constraints, it’s gratifying to open an envelope containing a little note of encouragement and love.

Last November, Canada had a mail strike, which meant no Christmas cards were delivered. Although it was a disappointment, it reminded us of how grateful we are to receive a handwritten card from someone we care about. 

Thursday, January 23, 2025, is National Handwriting Day. It’s a great reminder to flex your hand, crack open the box of beautifully designed cards you’ve been saving, and address it to someone you’ve been thinking about, thanking or sharing in their celebration. Whatever it is, sending joy is worth your time and energy. 

Pen to paper isn’t just an art, it’s a health benefit.
According to Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/positively-media/202403/writing-by-hand-can-boost-brain-connectivity, writing by hand deepens content processing and supports emotional health. 

There are at least a handful of benefits of handwriting. It improves memory and recall of words, boosts creativity, and sharpens critical thinking. It also has psychological benefits. It’s probably one of the reasons why journaling is good for your health. Psychology Today, states ‘writing helps people process life’s emotional ups and downs through sense-making.’
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As a writer, you love words, obviously, but sometimes saying the right thing or making a note personal can be a challenge. After all, it’s not about creating fiction. Speaking from the heart takes practice. If you’re new at it or rusty, write when there’s a special day. It’s easier to say congratulations, followed by encouragement than tapping your pen on a blank card wondering what to say. 

Try sending a postcard: Wish you were here or write a little note in your child's lunch box with: You Got This! 
Doesn’t it feel good to express positive vibes and well wishes? There’s energy to giving, and the same goes for receiving. It’s like you’ve passed the torch of kindness. 
Keeping notes and cards in your writing space will remind you of how far you’ve come and the people who are there to cheer you on. 

​The thrill of draughting down thoughts on fresh paper sends an automatic spark of creativity. Putting your energy into a personalized card or notepad will not only provide health benefits, but it’s a great mood booster and spreads kindness. It's a positive note, we can all get behind.

Learn the brief history of handwriting here. www.history.com/news/a-brief-history-of-penmanship-on-national-handwriting-day. 


​***Opinions are my own.

How to Bring a Positive Vibe to Your Workspace

January is the month where we pause and reflect on what we want to work towards for a promising new year. We make resolutions and refocus on our goals. We buy into thinking about what we need or should be doing to enrich our lives. Yes, health and happiness are key, but if you want to start on your wellness journey, it’s important to surround yourself with positivity. A positive mindset will help give you hope, encouragement and ward off imposture syndrome.

Positivity starts with being gentle on yourself. It’s easy to get frustrated or upset when receiving a pass on your manuscript. If writing or creating art is truly your passion, remind yourself these are steps toward success. Keep going, learn more about the genre or art you’re creating, try again, and don’t give up.

Carving out time for your muse can be tricky, but it’s possible when you put your mind to it. Finding your space, whether it’s a coffee shop, a restaurant patio, or at home, surrounding yourself with inspiration will fuel your mind. 
If writing at home is where you find the time to write, creating a welcoming environment for yourself, is the first step to productivity. Whether you're writing at the kitchen table, in a converted closet, or have a room dedicated to your muse, it’s important to clear your space and claim it as your own.

If your writing space has lost its inspiration, it’s time to change it.
Surrounding yourself with personal things that support a positive mindset will help you get into the groove. You don’t have to paint or buy new furniture to reap the benefits. Making a vision board or using a special notebook for ideas are mood boosters. 

If you're looking for ways to up your creativity, here are five ways to get you there. 

Declutter
It’s easier said than done, but it's a good start. Look around you. Does everything on your desk need to be there? What purpose does it serve?
Studies show that a clean desk space boosts mental health and productivity.
If you need help with this task and want to learn more, you can check out
maurathomas.com/cluttered-desk/ for an interesting take on the science behind decluttering.
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If you have a home office, take time to reorganize. Clean the bookshelf, shred paper, sort through pens without ink, dust trinkets, and lose things without purpose. 

Scents
There’s nothing like stepping into a room with a vigorous or calming scent.
Candles, potpourri and defusers are a wonderful way to add scents to any space. 
​If you want to enhance performance and energy levels, select scents such as citrus, (lemon and grapefruit), eucalyptus, or jasmine. ​

Reference: 
https://www.aromadesigners.com/top-5-best-fragrances-for-the-office/#:~:text=Fragrances%20such%20as%20lemon%2C%20eucalyptus,overall%20quality%20of%20your%20work.

Colour
A pop of colour can freshen up any mood. If you have an office space, pick a colour that makes your heart happy. It’s okay to be bold if it gets your mind into your creativity. A feature wall is a great accent to bring out your personality. Whether it’s colour or pictures, the space is yours and it should get you coming back to write.

If you’re looking for an elaborate design, check out romance author, Heatherly Bell's new feature wall in her office. It’s stunning. https://www.instagram.com/heatherly.bell/

Decor 
If you’ve had the same decor sitting on your shelves, try switching things around. Add a plant, change your photos, and a new memento. Whatever it is, make your writing view a place you want to surround yourself in. If your office is the kitchen table, give yourself a view by adding flowers in a vase, place an inspiring quote where you can see it, or place framed photographs beside your computer. It doesn’t matter where you write, make it your own.

Music
If you want to be inspired by your characters and story, you can listen to music while you create.
Some authors make a playlist for inspiration and to experience the tone of their story.
Another option is playing instrumental music or using a sound machine for white noise. 

Artists love their creative time and where ever you choose to embrace your muse, it's about enjoying the process. By creating an inspiring space for YOU will not only boost a positive mindset, but you'll be productive and well.

Find what works for you. 

Happy creating!
Comment and tell me what brings you positivity to your workspace. 

Whether you make resolutions or use a word to give meaning to the new year, we all hope for some kind of change to excite us about what’s to come. It gives us something to look forward to or something to strive for to be better. Whatever it is, you have to love what you do, or you’ll quit and not give it your all.


Let’s talk writing. If writing is your focus, do you have an end goal? Are you wanting to finish a rough draft, or publish your story? If you’ve started your writing journey, you know it’s not something to be done overnight. It takes time. If you make a plan, chances are, you will be closer to your accomplishments.

One way to see your progress is to break down your goals into twelve mini ones, spread throughout the year. Each month can be something to work towards, such as signing up for a conference or working on a story to submit to a contest later in the year. Whatever it is, making small adjustments to your schedule will bring you closer to your goal. If you signed up for my newsletter, you will receive a PDF of a goal-setting, one-page calendar to help you draft your ideas. Like this:

If you're only thinking about this now, or you didn’t start January first, don’t worry, it's all good. Finding what you want is the first step. Consider this month to ponder and figure out what goal or goals you’d like to achieve. Once you have your goal, think about how you'll accomplish it. The best way to do this is by using the SMART method. 
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time.
For example: I want to sign with a literary agent. This is what I need to do:
Specific-  What do I want to accomplish?  
I want to find the best agent to champion my work.
Measurable- How will I reach my goal? 
I will query X-amount of agents by the end of the year. 
Achievable- Is it possible to reach this goal? 
While you don’t have control over getting an agent, you can work towards building relationships and finding the best agent for you.
Realistic- Have you finished your manuscript? Is it polished to the best of your ability? Querying agents takes time for both parties, so don’t waste it. 
Time- How much time do I give myself?
​There is no exact time for an author-agent relationship. It can take months to years. If you're serious about publishing, you have to keep writing and improving your craft.

Need inspiration on taking your writing to the next level? 
Here are 8 suggestions to get you started.

1. Complete a manuscript. This seems obvious but if the desire is to write a novel, but the dream is too big to wrap your mind around, focus on writing a short story and move on to writing a novella. Once you have written The End, you know you can write longer. Challenge yourself.

2. Join a writer’s group. It’s a great way to meet other authors and support others with the same passion. If an in-person group is not feasible, try finding one online. 
Connect with other writers. If a group doesn’t interest you, connect with authors writing in the same genre. It's a great way to learn and perfect your craft.

3. Whatever your writing experience, attending a writing conference is fun and is full of benefits. You will not only get support and encouragement from others, you will meet new people ( yay for writing friends! ), learn something to benefit your muse, and network. 

4. If getting a literary agent is important to you, research, attend conferences, do online pitch parties, and follow agents for industry knowledge. There's a lot to learn here. It takes time and energy to find the best fit, but be patient. 

5. Submit your work to contests. The ones with industry professionals are always good. Sure, you’re in it to win it, but it’s always a great way to get feedback on your manuscript and it's another chance to practice your skills. 

6.If you’ve written stories but haven’t been published and want to try doing it yourself,  self-publishing might be for you. It's a great way to learn about yourself as a writer, promote yourself as a professional and accomplish your dream. There’s a lot to learn on this subject. I may visit this on a future blog post, but if this is your goal, then you need to make SMART goals to achieve it. 

7.Find a beta reader or a trusted reader for feedback. Polish your story to the best of your ability. Writing is subjective, but getting honest feedback from someone you trust is invaluable. 

8. Time. It takes time to learn the craft. Be patient with yourself. Learn what you can and enjoy the process. Every time you write, you get better. 

Here’s to a new year and new accomplishments. Let me know how you’re taking your writing to the next level. Do you have one goal or many? What’s your plan? I’d love to know.
Cheers to creativity!