A couple of weeks ago, hubs and I volunteered with our church small group to support the Lighthouse Family Retreat charity. I wasn't entirely sure what we would be doing, but I enjoy giving others a boost with my talents and free time. One look at the many colorful crayons, pencils, and makers on each work table, and I grinned.
It was my time to shine.
All through grade school, I was known as the quiet girl who draws—among many other less desirable nicknames. Being a creative introvert wasn't a fun time, especially in a private school my parents could barely afford. How do kids find these things out? I did have a couple fellow misfit friends who shared my love of art. The older I got, the more I realized how different I was from most kids who excelled at sports and being social.
It wasn't until art school that I really broke out of my shell and found true kindred spirits. One of the greatest lessons I wish I could pass on to younger creative outcasts is this: you will eventually find people who share your passions.
Creative projects used to earn me temporary acceptance among my snotty peers. They wanted an A, and I wanted to feel seen. Now, my art skills are a hidden talent reserved for those who know me best. It's one thing slip in a casual "I like draw", but an entirely different visual when I sit down, pick up a pencil, and whip out a cartoon giraffe. My friends and their kids loved coloring in my artwork.
And all of our joint creations moved on to bless others.
That day, my table created around a dozen cards for kids battling cancer. I got to know a few members of my small group better, and they now have an entirely different picture of what "I like to draw" means to me. Group projects are a fun way to get out of a creative rut. I didn't expect that artistic boost, so that made it even more enjoyable. It reminded me how much I miss writing stories with friends.
Back in high school, I had a close friend who loved to write. She was much better at it than I was, and we shared our stories with each other. Hers were about dragons and elves. Mine were about anthropomorphic cat people in Africa. We wrote poetry (mine was awful and made her laugh), but we had a blast injecting all our family and puberty-related angst onto paper.
Best of all, we had accountability.
I can't say enough about setting personal writing or art goals and letting someone know I'm doing it. This method may not work for everyone, but I'm five times more likely to meet a goal if I have accountability. I'm almost 100% certain to meet them when someone I know is taking part in the same challenge I am.
And writing stories with another person, our characters taking turns, is an excellent creative process.
Writer's block is one of those dreaded motivation-killers that plagues all writers once in a while. It's normal to get burned out or lose connection with a story. Plot holes happen. Self-doubt happens. Wanting to admit defeat and burn everything you've ever created can happen. These markers are huge indicators that it's time to try something different.
Shelve a plot, outline, or draft until you can revisit it with fresh eyes.
Read a genre or author you wouldn't typically choose.
Try a completely new creative hobby like sculpting or calligraphy.
Create a character, hit up a fellow author friend, and see what random shenanigans ensue.
Changing pace is super helpful to me. I get cozy in my comfort zone. Before I know it, I'm content with my cups of tea and sketchbooks, but if I don't stick my head around the corner, I might miss the unicorn walking in the hallway.
No, I don't have unicorns in my house—unless you count this tapestry I picked up at the charity thrift store where I volunteer...
But you get the idea. Venturing out can help us all explore our inner selves. A fresh perspective could be the creative dirt that plugs the plot hole or the angle we never would have seen when we dwell among the familiar. Yes, it's a cliche concept, but that's because it's true.
And because I was that young creative who spent far too much time alone, I'll always be an advocate for those "quiet kids who draw or write."
Keep on smilin'!
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