CHILDREN CAN UNBLOCK YOUR WRITERS BLOCK!
BY JANE SUTTON
The past week my life has been topsy-turvy. My imagination has been boosted into overdrive. My written words are short and appear in bursts of colors. I’ve read the same several dozen books over and over again. This creative surge has nothing to do with my current projects. I didn’t discover some super pill or eat a magic mushroom. My husband and I have simply spent the past 5 days with my 2 ½ year old grandson while his parents are away.I see him frequently because they live nearby. But regular visits can’t compare to the exhausting responsibility of being a round-the-clock caregiver. I keep reminding myself, I’ve done this before and survived. My grown daughter and said grandson are my proof.
Though I can’t remember the last time I felt this tired, and my normal routine is way out of whack, it’s been a fabulous experience because he’s reminded me about the important things in life. Such as:
It’s perfectly fine to burst out into a song in the middle of the grocery store, if the mood strikes.
Getting down on your hands and knees to look at a bug crawling in the driveway provides a whole new perspective to the world. The expectation of a reply to the question, “Where’s he going?” can act as a verbal writing prompt.
Sometimes you should stop everything you’re doing to spin in circles in the living room for no particular reason.
The most important use of a dining room table is to make a tent. Forts can be made out of any available materials.
It’s possible to travel in space, back in time, to the beach, or to undiscovered lands without leaving your bedroom.
Stuffed animals and other inanimate objects have a distinctive voice of their own and love to say what they’re thinking.
Kissing an owie and then placing a Dora or Diego Band-Aid on the spot really does make the hurt go away.
Crayons make great rocket ships.
An entire house can become the Village of Sodor for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
I’m confident now, that the next time I come up against the brick wall of writer’s block or my muse goes on an unplanned hiatus, I won’t panic as I’ve done in the past. Instead, I’ll simply sit back and try to look at the world through the eyes of a child.
JANE SUTTON'S BOOK, THE RIDE
The Ride begins in California where Barbie Anderson, unaware that her mundane existence will soon be unraveling, approaches that fateful Thursday as she had the other 8,395 days of her marriage. When news about the death of a relative reveals shocking family secrets and an unexpected windfall, Barbie begins to question everything she’s ever known including her identity. Her attempts to come to terms with the revelations and restore order to her life are hindered by guilt and self-esteem issues as well as an alienated daughter and an obsessive husband. When a handsome stranger enters the fray, Barbie finds herself embarking on the ride of her life down historic Route 66 towards Chicago, encountering the road to self-discovery along the way.
BUY THE BOOK HERE:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Jane-Kennedy-Sutton/dp/1595071938/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233850866&sr=1-1
ArcheBooks Publishing
http://archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/CONT/TR/TRDesc.htm
TO CONTACT JANE SUTTON:
Email – jane@janesutton.com
Web page - http://janesutton.com/
Blog – Jane’s Ride http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com
11 comments:
Children are wonderful. If you listen to them you can learn so much. Great post, Kathy and Jane. I enjoyed reading it.
I agree, children are inspirational, a joy, and a hoot!
Jane, great article...I think I'll skip the spinning around though - it'll too difficult to get up once I fall down!
Great post, Kathy,
Karen
Jane, great post. I'll try thinking like a kid the next time I'm stumped.
Well done feature, Kathe, and Jane ... excellent advice! My main man, JC, said, "be ye as little children," and I believe that is a truism on many levels. Kids never lack for creative drive, curiosity, and a thirst for exploration. A spiritual trainer I once studied under had us follow a little kid around all day and do everything the kid did. It was one of the most liberating and enlightening experiences of my life. I'll never forget it and highly recommend it.
The Old Silly
Greetings, Jane ~
I have enjoyed getting to know more about you and your book, The Ride. Your description of your grandson's activities reminded me of when my children, then my grandchildren, were his age. All adults should hang out with young children to renew their wonderment at the world and everything in it. It reminds adults that life is an adventure!
Cheers!
Harry
Thanks for stopping by everyone-great comments too.
Always great to hear how other writers deal with writer's block.
Jane, your book sounds wonderful. I can relate about the 'tired' -- when I was pregnant with my third son, now in his 20s, my sister quipped, "Be ready to be tired for about the next five years." Too, too, true.
Margaret Fieland
Jane, glad Kathy found you and featured you. It was fun learning more about you.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Award-winning author of The Frugal Editor http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor
The Frugal Book Promoter http://www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
I'm late checking in because I've been baby sitting the little guy again and this is the first free moment I've had since 5am this morning. Thank you for hosting me Kathy - it's been fun. I've enjoyed reading every comment and appreciate you all taking the time to visit and let me know you were here.
Jane, wondeful ideas! Kids have always inspired me too, their wonderful world is the only way out of the hard reality...
Great post Kathy!
Liana
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