G's Life & News Weblog

Welcome to my Life & News Weblog, where we’re now talking News, Politics, & Art. Specifically, a way you can add creativity to your life—or, if you’re an artist or something, a way of avoiding writer’s or artistic block.

I first made this suggestion to representatives of a theatrical company. I was just reminiscing about that experience, when I realized this should be part of the Life & News Weblog. Basically, it comes to shrinking art to the size of a title or cartoon.

There are different ways of doing this. The important thing to remember is that you’re doing this for Your Eyes Only.

For example, you might look through a bunch of single panel cartoons. Collect as many as possible that you simply feel a real connection to. Or, you might look through book titles. Or just plain create some book titles. Never mind, whether the titles would really sell or whether the books ever made money. You’re just looking for something that speaks to you on an emotional level.

After you’ve got a group of say fifteen to twenty-five, pick out a workable number of them. I suggest five to ten.

If you’re using cartoons, give each a title.

Now, we’re all using titles. What you want to do now is create related titles. Think of these as sequels, if you wish. Say, you had collected five titles. Create perhaps three related titles for each. You now have fifteen titles you care about.

Now, write a couple of sentences about each title. Forget about where it came from. If you used cartoons, avoid looking at them during this part of the exercise. Write about the titles as though they were the type of art you do.

If you write articles, write about the title as though you were describing an article. Be general. Be specific. Just write something.

I’ve found that such exercises give you things you want to create. And, it doesn’t feel as though you’re forcing something into being. It feels like you’re jumping onto your own bandwagon.

I know. Sounds kinda mysterious. But, it does the trick. And, you won’t believe the confidence it generates. Give it a try! And, let me know how it works for you.

So, ’til next time, remember to bookmark me at G’s Life & News Weblog.