tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post3869040317885338619..comments2024-03-28T21:37:32.436-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: 4 Keys to Unlocking Your CreativityJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-46260297326024976822022-11-28T20:48:41.795-05:002022-11-28T20:48:41.795-05:00Such simple advice but excellent. Often these type...Such simple advice but excellent. Often these types of articles are in depth. Which can be counter productive as those of us struggling with creativity are probably already overwhelmed. Your advice will be helpful to me as I'm in a bit of a rut at the moment with not only writing but creativity in general.<br />Just found your blog! Discovered it from one of Iain Broome's bookmarks from his Draft Mode newsletter. Wow, your website is amazing!Cindy Bahlhttps://cindybahl.medium.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-67944656488371348012011-08-22T05:14:26.171-04:002011-08-22T05:14:26.171-04:00Oops. . . "just"Oops. . . "just"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-59247621522992231402011-08-22T05:13:18.773-04:002011-08-22T05:13:18.773-04:00Jody, thanks for this post. I love Anne of Green G...Jody, thanks for this post. I love Anne of Green Gables too, though I didn't discover her until I read my daughters' books. My byword for our girls growing up when they complained of being bored was, 'You aren't bored, you are jus in between activities.' And then it was time to figure out what the next activity was supposed to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-11201626120498321922011-08-19T13:19:43.912-04:002011-08-19T13:19:43.912-04:00Hi Alisha! You're right! Letting our kids get ...Hi Alisha! You're right! Letting our kids get bored is so counter-culture, isn't it? Especially with all of the activities that kids can get involved in! And while the activities aren't bad, sometimes our kids miss out on the growth that happens when we allow them that downtime at home.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-52376573147331141822011-08-19T00:09:15.080-04:002011-08-19T00:09:15.080-04:00I really enjoyed this post! And I love the fact th...I really enjoyed this post! And I love the fact that you allow your children to get bored to get creative - it's funny how that seems so counter-culture in our society. :)alishahttp://www.alishasanvicens.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7771176848660394312011-08-14T04:26:05.628-04:002011-08-14T04:26:05.628-04:00I hope I can cultivate the same outdoor nature I g...I hope I can cultivate the same outdoor nature I grew up with walking in woods, climbing trees, etc. Already my son is so creative and wants his dad to make everything with cardboard. So nice to hear him making up adventures.Catherine Johnsonhttp://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-1063826795957267292011-08-12T21:47:33.715-04:002011-08-12T21:47:33.715-04:00Siri, That's so true! When I reread books that...Siri, That's so true! When I reread books that I loved as a child, now I'm better able to see how they inspired me! I wish you all the best as you work on having a bit more media silence! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-85350865446836995402011-08-12T10:48:19.767-04:002011-08-12T10:48:19.767-04:00Just this morning, I walked by an open manhole and...Just this morning, I walked by an open manhole and thought "A tunnel to the Morlocks!" (from The Time Machine). I don't do that sort of thing very often, though, so thanks for the reminder.<br /><br />I reread the first Anne book last year. I'd forgotten how much I loved it...the sentences had been engraved in my brain, and as I read, I remembered each one with a thrill of recognition. There's something else to add to your list, Jody -- reread what you loved as a child and remember why you loved it.<br /><br />Media silence...I struggle with this one. I've come to lean on Twitter for writing motivation, and always have Firefox open. But like you, I took in very little media growing up (besides books!!) and my writing had room to flourish. Need to look seriously at making more space in my head.Siri Paulsonhttp://www.turtleduckpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-30363532085014547682011-08-11T21:47:34.887-04:002011-08-11T21:47:34.887-04:00Thank you so much for buying my book, Britt! I hop...Thank you so much for buying my book, Britt! I hope you'll enjoy it!<br /><br />And Holly, I loved the romantic tension between Anne and Gilbert too. There are definitely some great fiction techniques we can learn from Montgomery. But as you said, there are other aspects that are dated. Nevertheless, it's very easy to see why the series has become a classic! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58934768872435226572011-08-11T17:40:26.414-04:002011-08-11T17:40:26.414-04:00I love Anne of Green Gables! I recently blogged bo...I love Anne of Green Gables! I recently blogged bout Kate Middleton possibly trendsetting this book again. As a child, this Anne captured my heart and continued to do so as I grew with the series. The romantic tension between Anne and Gilbert fascinated me in Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island.<br /><br />I've always felt as though Anne and I are kindred spirits (since age three until 7th grade, I used to tell people my name was something other than "Holly" because I despised my boring, plain name). <br /><br />You are absolutely right about Anne being full of creativity! In fact, she inspired me to write, as well. The first manuscript I ever started sounded very reminiscent to L.M. Montgomery's writing. After delving into the craft, I discovered 19th century writing just doesn't cut it anymore. Oops.. . <br /><br />I'm thrilled you blogged about this, and I'm so glad your kids are enjoying Anne Shirley, as well. When I have a family of my own, I hope to instill an appreciation for my favorite childhood reads. Though the times in which these characters are written may very well fade, the characters themselves do fade so easily.Holly Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06439288384303839640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-41700234607568738432011-08-11T11:43:30.588-04:002011-08-11T11:43:30.588-04:00A great post. "What if" is the question ...A great post. "What if" is the question that seperates those who are mainly logical and those who are mainly creative. <br /><br />Also...I'm a HUGE fan of Anne. I still pull out the Anne of Green Gable and Anne of Avonlea books and read them. There's a little of her in all of us!<br /><br />FYI: I FINALLY received THE PREACHER'S BRIDE today. I've been so behind on my reading and was thrilled to have your debut novel in my hands. I can't wait to get started!<br /><br />God Bless<br /><br />~Britt MitchellBesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397116071436885635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48741292971103157832011-08-11T10:12:23.369-04:002011-08-11T10:12:23.369-04:00This is a great post. I can always tell a differen...This is a great post. I can always tell a difference when I'm aware of how much media is coming in. Even the television on while I'm washing dishes or clothes - that constant noise keeps me from thinking creatively. Thanks for this reminder!amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01309565812925901793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7340695654356761512011-08-10T21:24:57.252-04:002011-08-10T21:24:57.252-04:00I Love Anne of Green Gables. I believe I have rea...I Love Anne of Green Gables. I believe I have read all of Lucy Maude Montgomery's books. The collection I have is old, but still treasured. I think we as writers all have a great imagination and are "Kindred Spirits" as Anne would say! Great post. Thank for sharing.Maeve Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788413883600771145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-65142005959071019492011-08-10T17:21:53.707-04:002011-08-10T17:21:53.707-04:00Oh, Jody, I knew I liked you--but now I have yet a...Oh, Jody, I knew I liked you--but now I have yet another reason to like you! I love, love, love all things L.M. Montgomery. (Caroline, her other books are great, aren't they? In some of her short stories you can see her trying out names and plots that show up later in her novels.)<br />Back to the topic of the day: creativity.<br />Reading fed my imagination. Lots and lots of trips to the public library and coming home with stacks of books to read.<br />I wanted all my kiddos to be readers because books open the world to them. Sometimes when they say, "Can we watch TV," my answer is, "No. Read a book."<br />And I find the older they get, the less I have to tell them this, especially if I keep their favorite books near at hand. <br />And now my youngest even writes her own stories ... just like I did when I was her age.<br />;o)Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15266632335660828362011-08-10T15:57:11.452-04:002011-08-10T15:57:11.452-04:00Thank you for this post. I had given up on myself...Thank you for this post. I had given up on myself that I could be creative and hopeless that I could put my writing and ideas in a novel. My imagination, dormant for many years, needs to be nurtured and exercised. Thanks for the inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-76753836680721776432011-08-10T15:47:54.753-04:002011-08-10T15:47:54.753-04:00Love Anne of Green Gables! I also love Jo March, a...Love Anne of Green Gables! I also love Jo March, and always dreamed of having an attic to dream and write in. <br />With a one-year-old in the house, media noise has gone way down, so that has helped with my creativity. <br />As for seeing the world with fresh eyes, I try to have a notepad with me and when I see something like a waterfall, I try to write out a description of it. Sometimes it takes awhile to get out the ordinary description before the creative description comes out, but it's worth the time.<br />Thanks for the post!!Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14683245998938431038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-78334582434781457102011-08-10T14:41:40.138-04:002011-08-10T14:41:40.138-04:00So fascinating today to hear of how many of you we...So fascinating today to hear of how many of you were influenced by Anne of Green Gables too! <br /><br />Caroline, I haven't read any others by Montgomery, but now you've inspired me to check into them (especially her journals!) Thank you! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-88156201816372581422011-08-10T14:20:38.761-04:002011-08-10T14:20:38.761-04:00I adore Anne. I re-read all the books when I was g...I adore Anne. I re-read all the books when I was going through a difficult divorce several years ago and realized that I'd lost the part of me that was like her because I'd stopped day-dreaming. Interestingly, I ended up marrying someone who totally reminds me of Gilbert Blythe and we're very happy! <br /><br />My creative time is often in the car - my daughter and I tell tag-team stories as we drive and we sing a lot (it keeps the baby happy). But I also tell myself stories as I sleep as an insomnia-busting technique. It backfires sometimes, so I keep a notebook by the bed for really good ideas!Megan Stirlerhttp://meganstirler.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-49364350381303605342011-08-10T13:17:32.075-04:002011-08-10T13:17:32.075-04:00Oh, I just love Anne of Greene Gables! And I total...Oh, I just love Anne of Greene Gables! And I totally agree with you, I think we can cultivate creativity in our daily lives. I have a sister who used to always say she didn't have a creative bone in her body. Well, one day she took up beading and started designing jewelry! Everyone can be creative if they make the most of their imagination and opportunities for creativity.inluvwithwordshttp://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-55091270423011158822011-08-10T10:59:24.502-04:002011-08-10T10:59:24.502-04:00Jody, have you read LM Montgomery's other book...Jody, have you read LM Montgomery's other books? I'm partial to Emily Starr. One summer a friend send me home with two grocery bags full of LMM books, the ones I hadn't known existed before then. I spent those months happily reading on the couch.<br /><br />And her journals are even better. Though her life was difficult, LMM's journals are a treasure. I'm planning a re-read soon.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-88145404857530636422011-08-10T10:36:09.558-04:002011-08-10T10:36:09.558-04:00Okay, Anne of Green Gables, one of my ultimate fav...Okay, Anne of Green Gables, one of my ultimate favorites. And I agree with the imagnination, we have to allow space for it to grow. We can be so bombarded by outside "noise" that it can interrupt that creative process. I imagine best when close to nature or listening to music. It just puts me in the right frame of mine. <br />My 4 year old daughter picked up 5 little stones from the stables the other day. They were "dinosaur teeth" and she could identify what each one ate and how big it was by looking at its "teeth" I was happy to see her imagination was alive and well:)<br />Great post!Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925811510913201292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-37666641659803437832011-08-10T10:34:12.662-04:002011-08-10T10:34:12.662-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03925811510913201292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-13147177149616832812011-08-10T10:19:54.375-04:002011-08-10T10:19:54.375-04:00Creativity comes to me through just about anything...Creativity comes to me through just about anything, including the heart wrenching. For instance, yesterday I drove by an accident. Later I discovered via radio that it was a young boy who had been hit by car. As sad as that is, and I did immediately lift prayers for whoever was huddled on the ground, my mind started spinning a plot. What injuries could a character who faced this have. What effect would that have on his/her family. The driver? How on earth would he/she manage now, with all the guilt and what-if's that must haunt him?<br /><br />Sadly, even tragedy doesn't give the imagination/creativity a rest.Eileen Astels Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11098531184044931737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-18990527761471270432011-08-10T10:12:52.393-04:002011-08-10T10:12:52.393-04:00Very positive and useful stuff here Jody!I love mu...Very positive and useful stuff here Jody!<br>I love music. I really, really love music. And yet, somehow, I love silence just that little bit more.<br>Jane GrayThe Time Sculptorhttp://thetimesculptor.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-72356525467886380352011-08-10T08:45:16.161-04:002011-08-10T08:45:16.161-04:00That Anne with an "e." Montgomery painte...That Anne with an "e." Montgomery painted her well. <br /><br />I've just been contemplating vulnerability. Brene Brown's been doing some fascinating work and it turns out that "whole-hearted" people, people who live with vulnerability, are more connected. Connection, in real life and in books, is so compelling. And I think it's the connectedness of Anne Shirley -- her ability to put herself "out there" -- that makes her so winsome as a character and allows us to see her creativity.<br /><br />JenniferAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com