I have an ever-expanding collection of creative books, most of which I keep near my desk. These are the four I have been reaching for lately.
This book is chock full of little tidbits of advice. And the advice that resonates with me changes each time I pick it up. Right now, I’m loving this advice:
Keep a logbook, a place to write down what you do each day
Create a blog: “Having a container can inspire us to fill it.”
“Surround yourself with books and objects you love.”
This is the book that inspired me to start a creative journal in the first place, and to do so in a composition notebook. This book collects hand-drawn syllabi, assignments, and handouts from the college classes taught by artist Lynda Barry. There is tons of inspiration here, including the Daily Exercise.
This is by far the best collection of collage images I have found. The paper is thick, and the images are high quality. There is a bit of a vintage tilt to the subject matter, but I have found myself coming back to this again and again as I collage.
This book contains dozens of creative prompts. What I love about it is that it combines visual creativity with written creativity, which is my happy place. It also includes interviews with other journal keepers. No matter how much of a funk I’m in, I can always find something inspiring here.
I just finished listening to Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, by Matt Paxton. I had not heard of Paxton before, but I tend to read a lot of decluttering/minimalism books. This one approached things a little differently, acknowledging the emotions attached to stuff.
Paxton is an expert in helping people downsize and declutter their stuff. One of his key ideas is a legacy list, which he defines as 5-6 must-have keepsakes. This concept helps people to select only those inherited items that mean the most to them. I love the idea of curating items from my grandparents and parents that have meaning, and I will definitely be working on my legacy list.
But Paxton emphasizes that the stories behind the physical items are even more important than the items themselves. Which brings us to notebooks, of course. I feel called to write down my stories.
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
As a young teenager, I was faced with the problem of what to get my grandparents for Christmas. I had a budget of near-zero, which required some creativity. Eventually, I landed on making a memory book. I created a list of questions I wanted to know about them, purchased some spiral notebooks, decorated the covers, taped a baggie with the questions cut into strips into the notebook, and wrapped them up. That was about 25 years ago. My dad’s parents both eventually completed their books and gave them back to me as gifts. They have both since passed away, and those books are treasures, not just to me but to the whole family. It is the only place I know of where any of their stories are written down.
I have written a daily journal off and on for most of my life. I compile photo albums religiously. But I don’t always take the time to write down the stories. I am going to make an effort to write down my stories, starting with this list I created for my grandparents:
List the important dates in your life.
What fun things did your family do together?
Write down make-believe games you played when you were young.
Describe your best friend in grade school.
Describe your grade school years.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
What special activities were you involved in in school?
What was the best part of high school?
Tell about the fashions when you were growing up.
Describe the first time you drove, your first car, and when you got your license.
When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What was your first job? How did you get it, and what did it pay?
Describe your wedding day in detail.
Write about your first child – the pregnancy, the preparation, and the arrival.
Describe each of your children’s personalities and funny quirks.
List and describe hobbies you’ve had throughout your life.
List some special awards and recognition that you’ve received.
What is your favorite food and what exotic foods have you tried?
List the top ten influential people in your life.
Describe everything you remember about your mom.
Describe everything you remember about your dad.
Describe everything you can remember about your grandmas.
Describe everything you can remember about your grandpas.
There are times when I look at my creative notebook, and I have no idea how to fill the page, how to invite the creativity. Sometimes I just need a little push.
This is a list I have compiled to help me get unstuck. Maybe it’ll help you too.
Textual Play 