Like those days in school where we're asked to write about what we did over vacation, John and Kevin discuss what they learned last year about their own creativity, and how they plan to apply those lessons this year. This is an activity every creator should do. By reviewing and evaluating what's working and what isn't, we move our creativity forward and keep the energy flowing. When the flow isn't there, it could be because we haven't dropped habits that hold us back.

Oh, and you get your money's worth in this episode. It's a long one, so grab a favorite beverage and pull up a comfy chair...

John's resource is How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy. A book John describes has having three halves.

Kevin suggests exploring your family artifacts. Those items, letters, and photos from previous generations.

Note: book links are affiliate links to bookshop.org supporting independent bookstores everywhere, including Modern Folklore Bookstore.

Do you get distracted by your creativity tools? Do you put off your creative work because you haven't found the perfect tools? Do you argue online about your favorite tools? In this episode, we talk about these concerns and how to work through the temptation and get to work.

Neither of us read this book, but it appears useful. Unclutter Your Mind: 500 ways to Focus on What's Important by Donna Smallin.

This episode is a little more personal for us. We dig into how we each have managed our creativity while dealing with unexpected and emotionally difficult times. Each creative deals with this in their own way. There is no single best approach other than to use or perform creative work in the manner that serves you best. Creativity can be a therapeutic benefit, but it can also cause anxiety and stress. Knowing yourself and "going with the flow" of what feels best, being open to change, accepting setbacks, etc. is probably the only guidance we can give. But if you've ever struggled with being creative while facing life's biggest challenges, give this a listen. You're not alone.

In this episode, John and Kevin discuss whether creatives should focus on making weaknesses stronger or double down on our strengths. How do we even evaluate what a strength or weakness is? Should we label something as a weakness? We each want to improve in our craft, but what's the best way to frame how we do that?

Kevin suggests reading Cory Doctorow's article about how social media platforms change over time. Why they always (so far) serve the owners and never (so far) their users or the content creators in the long run. Read it here.

John recommends a strengths and weaknesses listicle from Elite Daily. The presentation undermines the message, which isn't actually wrong, but sounds like it is.

In this episode, John and Kevin discuss why taking a break or slowing down our creativity can actually make us more creatively productive. Taking the time to consider our work: the content, techniques, and approaches, even our mindset, will benefit our overall effort.

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• The need to recharge
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• First Ideas: taking time to think of and generate better ideas
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• Living—experiencing life, which fuels creativity
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Bonus! Stay tuned for a special, surprise ending.

Kevin suggested The Art of Slow Writing, by Louise DeSalvo - not just for writers. DeSalvo discusses the idea that our best work comes when we've taken our time to let ideas filter to us. First blush ideas are the easy ones. Lots of examples of famous books that took years not just to write, but for authors to figure out what their story idea was about.

John suggested Laura Veirs's Kaleidoscope Creativity Cards. Draw three cards and put them together as a creativity prompt.

Note: Links to books are affiliate links to Bookshop.org supporting independent bookstores.

This episode features an interview with singer, songwriter, and storyteller, Dany Horovitz. Possibly the voice of his generation. Dany talks about practice, process, and the importance of community and collaboration. He also recommends living life! You can find Dany's music wherever you prefer to listen. Dany's links: https://lnk.bio/danyhorovitz

John read Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day and highly recommends it.

Kevin suggested starting a Creativity Journal. He keeps multiple: poetry and nonfiction ideas and thoughts, a reading journal, a story journal, and a work diary. Here are a couple of resources to get you started:

In this episode, John and Kevin dig into how the pursuit of perfection in our creative work can hold us back. They discuss how and when perfectionism can manifest during the creative process and ways they have overcome the pitfalls.

Psychology Today primer on the psychological definitions of perfectionism: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/perfectionism

Mindful Art Studio: How Perfectionism is Killing Your Creativity:

https://mindfulartstudio.com/how-perfectionism-is-killing-your-creativity/

Psychology Today: Getting Creative by Striving for Excellence Vs. Perfection:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-innovating-minds/202110/getting-creative-striving-excellence-vs-perfection

This month we explore how boredom and tedium can help with the creative process. Do you get your best ideas while washing the dishes or walking the dog? There's a reason for that.

Our minds need to associate freely between ideas, thoughts, and memories. But when we consciously try to direct our attention to create, often the associations don't come. Science says we often need to be distracted just enough for the creative mind to shift into gear.

Why Being Bored May Not Be Bad: A Study

Article: The Unexpected Value of Boredom for Well-Being and Creativity

Bored and Brilliant, by Manoush Zomorodi

Creative Quest, by Quest Love

Kevin suggests: Read a memoir written by a creator, artist, writer, comic creator, etc. Not a biography, and not ghost written, but a personal memoir by the creator. Reading about the lives of other creatives can unlock your own. If you need an example, I recommend Upstream by poet Mary Oliver.

John Recommended: The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin

Note: book links are affiliate links to Bookshop.org via Modern Folklore Press. Bookshop and Modern Folklore Press support local, independent bookstores.