International Haiku Day was 17 April, which unfortunately coincided with Easter this year. Figuring that most of my readers would be otherwise occupied, I decided to extend the poetry appreciation an extra week and post about International Haiku Day today instead.
Haiku is some of my favourite poetry to write (and read). In my experience, being forced to limit yourself to a small number of words or syllables is one of the best exercises in creativity (and let’s face it, there are longer works that feel like mostly filler).
What kind of poetry do you enjoy reading/writing? Share in the comments…
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Is anyone else feeling stuck lately? It could be winter blahs. It could be two years of mostly staying home and not being able to go anywhere fun or interesting. Or maybe it’s just something everyone goes through once in a while. Whatever the reason, if you’re feeling meh, you can bring back a bit of the spark by injecting some creativity into your day. Give these a try…
Dance
Put on some music and, as the saying goes, dance like no one’s watching. It’ll get you energized and maybe even spark some inspiration.
Cook
Skip the recipes and see what you can put together with what you already have on hand. If cooking’s not your thing, order in and get something you’ve never tried.
Play
Break out a creative or problem-solving game– basically anything that involves active participation instead of just following instructions. RPGs (like D&D) are perfect for this, although you generally need at least three people and a few hours to get the best experience.
Doodle
Blank paper + the writing tool of your choice. Don’t overthink it– just scribble away.
Photograph
Go for a walk or just wander around the house until you find something that catches your eye. Try to get as many different photos of one object as you can.
Daydream
Let your mind wander and see where it goes.
Redecorate
Rearrange the furniture in a room, or plan out your dream house. See the potential in your space.
If there’s something around the house you’ve been thinking of getting rid of, see if you can figure out how to improve it or find a new way to use it.
Compare
Pick (or have someone pick for you) two random things (e.g., a bear and a pair of socks). List everything you can think of that the two have in common (like, a bear and socks are both fuzzy).
Sing, with a Twist
Pick a song and make up new lyrics for it. You can write them down if you want, but it’s more fun to make them up as you go. The lyrics don’t have to be deep– sing about what you’re making for dinner or about your pets or how you’re feeling at that moment.
At its heart creativity is all about seeing things in a new way. Have fun and don’t overthink or self-edit. It probably won’t solve your problems, but being creative can set you free.
What do you do to stop feeling stuck? Share in the comments…
Books take you to new worlds. Download one of mine now:
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com, The swallow is a common symbol in literature.
I don’t have any tattoos (mainly because I can never settle on a design long enough to get one), but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate some attractive ink, especially when there’s meaning behind it. These book lovers did settle on a design, and they picked ones that reflected their love of the literary. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, or just interested in seeing what others have done, enjoy…
Although I think watercolour-style tattoos probably don’t age well, they’re absolutely beautiful when they’re fresh.
Credit photo: Instagram.com/debrartist
I’m not usually a fan of quote tattoos, but this Little Prince one has my full approval:
The clean lines and simple design of this Clockwork Orange tattoo evoke the book’s cover perfectly:
Nancy Drew is pure nostalgia for me. This silhouette tattoo is beautifully done:
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Aspasía S. Bissas 