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Archive - August, 2012

3 Ways to Keep Inspiration Coming

August 31, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Guest Posts, Life with 4 Comments

Photo by AGeekMom (Creative Commons)

Today’s post is by Jared Latigo. He is a designer, writer, and speaker. You can also follow him on Twitter and read his posts on his blog.

At some point, it’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming mediocre. And when that happens, the inspiration stops. It plateaus. And we slump.

But I think there’s a few things we can do to help keep us from falling into that trap. Yes, it takes work…but anything worth doing takes hard work and time. So considering this, let’s look at a few key things that can be done to help us keep the inspiration coming on strong.

Keep Learning

Learning is essential. It’s when we stop learning that all ideas cease. I’ve fallen into that trap before, and it’s not a fun one to be in. Sometimes just giving up seems to be the only possibility. But I urge you not to. We can’t allow ourselves to plateau by not learning.

My suggestion is to read as much about the subject you’re interested in as you did when you first found it. I heard this from Daddy-O during his Killer Tribes talk. He said something to the effect that we tend to engulf ourselves in something, and it inspires us. Then we get a little traction and we think we’re the guru. It’s then that we stop learning about it and become complacent that leads to us being uninspired. That totally makes sense.

The general idea is to keep information coming in and through that we’ll always be inspired to achieve and grow.

Keep Connecting

I know all too well the feeling of being alone. Not that I’m lonely or depressed, but working freelance from home, there’s not a lot of interaction going on face to face. So from time to time I decide to go work at Starbucks or call up a friend for lunch or coffee. It’s a great way to not fall into the trap of being depressed.

And recently, I’ve come across some information explaining how we really need to “connect” with people. Not just be their Facebook friend or follow them on Twitter…but actually connect. Yes, that means directly talking to them. Just send a message saying “Hey, what are you doing?” or something to that effect. You’d be surprised how many people would love to make that new connection with you. It’s important that we do this so we keep forming true relationships.

Keep Sharing

I think it’s funny that we teach our kids to share everything they have. Then we grow up and everything becomes “mine.” Maybe you’ve got some great information in an article you’ve found. Share it. Don’t hoard stuff just because you think you’re the only one that needs it. Share great content, stories, tips and tricks…share your life. Be transparent without being weird. Some people tell far more than we want to know. Sharing is good but please use discretion…the general public doesn’t want to know absolutely EVERYTHING about you. If you aren’t sure about something, run it by your spouse or best friend.

When we share our knowledge and findings…others can learn. And that starts the cycle all over again.

The Takeaway

You get to stay inspired. You will be able to keep the ideas flowing and the content going. I didn’t mean to rhyme there…but I’m inspired. Whether it’s writing, designing, running, cooking or anything in between, we have to stay inspired or we become mediocre. And it’s never a good thing when something like mediocrity settles in for a nice, long stay.

What can you change right now to help stay (or get) inspired?

Step Up to the Plate—Write a Short Story

August 29, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Uncategorized with 12 Comments

Photo by Paul Ottaviano (Creative Commons)

Fiction scares me. It scares me like nothing else. I wrote a story a few months ago that I was afraid to share with anyone. It dealt with really dark material. Suicide. Heroin. Prostitutes. Lying. Cheating.

My mind raced. Would readers think I endorsed all of these things? Or, even worse—would readers think I am a lying, cheating, drug user? What if the writing was just flat out terrible? These questions and a thousand others piled up in my mind. (You can read the short story I wrote here.)

But I ignored the voices. I shared it with others, in spite of my fears.
Why would I subject myself to such a frightful process?

I believe writing short stories is crucial to my growth as a writer.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to blog. Blogging can be really fun. But let’s face it, anyone can blog. Writing a short story is walking out of the on-deck circle and stepping up to the plate.

Okay, so where do you start? What do you do?

First, write something. ANYTHING. Get it down—even if you hate it at first. DON’T give up. Keep writing.

Write, write, write!

Then…

I recommend buying Joe Bunting’s “Let’s Write a Short Story.” I must disclose that Joe is a friend of mine—but please know I would wholeheartedly recommend this book even if I didn’t know Joe.

This book is the ultimate resource for anyone interested in writing a short story. This ebook is very easy to read and is packed full of helpful advice.

Here’s how I recommend you use this ebook:

1. Read through this book and take some notes as to what stood out.
2.Then apply it to what you wrote when you revise.

For example, I enjoyed the section about the 8 Literary Techniques of Prize-Winning Stories. One of the tips is to write intentionally long sentences; an excerpt is given from Tim O’Brien where he wrote a longer sentence. Then the next tip is to write short sentences. An example is given from the work of Cormac McCarthy. Then it is noted how each style is used to achieve a different effect.

In my story The Last Fix, I used primarily short sentences to keep things as action-packed and tense as possible. But that pace can and will wear out a reader. I know I will have to use intentional longer sentences in the story to give the reader a rest.

This is just one small sample of useful information in the ebook. I truly recommend this fantastic resource.

If you get the ebook today you will get it at a discount, as the price will go up on Thursday (8/30). You can buy the book here.

What is something you can do to step up to the plate TODAY?

Schedule The Fun!

August 27, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Guest Posts, Life, Uncategorized with 13 Comments

Photo by JaQueline (Creative Commons)

This is a guest post by Chrystal Murphy. She is a writer, mom, friend, and Quitter who strives to help us all live a better life; whether it be through organization or showing you how to make homemade laundry detergent that is safer for you and the environment. You can connect with her on Twitter or on her blog.

We all have only 24 hours in a day. With work, school, family, church, yard work, housework, friends… how can we possibly find time to “do it all”? All too often it is the fun things, the good things, that get brushed aside to make time for the work of life.

Playing with our children is put on hold to cook dinner. Going for a walk with family is canceled to finish yard work. Hobbies we enjoy are set aside and forgotten as the work and chores of life squeeze all our time and energy.

How do we fit in the fun things of life? The solution is quite simple really; we schedule them.

I know, I know…”schedule” and “fun” don’t seem to go together. Fun should be spontaneous and adventure should happen on a whim. What if instead of leaving the fun and exciting things in life to chance or one week vacations, you planned them into your daily routine?

From 6:30 – 7:30 every evening you turn off the tv, put down whatever you’re cleaning or working on, and play in the floor with your kids. Or perhaps every Friday evening you plan family game night. Maybe every Tuesday afternoon you take your toddler on a “field trip” to the park or playground or museum. Why not schedule a time every day from 3:00 – 4:00 to read or invest in your dream? .

You get the idea.

Decide what activities you enjoy, what activities are meaningful to you. For example, I love to read. Reading the latest teen fiction book may seem petty to some, but it’s an activity that I thoroughly enjoy. It helps me relax and regain a bit of sanity. Maybe you want to write or exercise. It could even mean making a phone call to chat with a friend. Whatever is important to you—make sure you schedule time to do it.

We each must determine how we will spend our time. I encourage you to invest your time as wisely as possible. So go ahead. Pull out your calendar and schedule the fun!

Question: What’s one thing you wish you had more time to do?

I Choose to Encourage

August 24, 2012 in Dreams, Guest Posts, Life, Uncategorized with 24 Comments

Photo by Cas_KS (Creative Commons)

Pilar Arsenec is a legal secretary by day and a writer by night. On her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, writing, singing and cooking. You can connect with her on her blog, Ordinary Servant, www.ordinaryservant.com.

Encourage: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

I like that definition . . . to inspire with courage.

Well, I definitely like to inspire, but I’m not quite sure about the courage part.

I love to read or watch stories of ordinary people who overcame great odds and succeed in their dream.

There is nothing more inspiring. I simply can’t get enough of it.

These stories give me hope. They help me keep going and not give up.

I can recall many times in my life where I just wanted to call it quits. I was struggling with depression and felt hopeless.

Everything around me looked grey. I couldn’t see a light at the of the tunnel. I didn’t believe things would ever get better or change for me.

I’m thankful for all the saints God sent my way to pray and encourage me in my darkest hour.

I believe their prayers and encouragement got me through it.

You never really know what another person is going through.

They could look fine on the outside, but be in total despair on the inside.

Never underestimate the power of a smile.

You just never know what a simple smile or hello can do for someone suffering from depression or hopelessness.

This is why I encourage others as much as possible.

What is one thing you can do today to help encourage someone?

Guest Posting for Jon Acuff Today

August 22, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life with 0 Comments

Photo by Iammikeb (Creative Commons)

I’m excited to be guest posting for my friend Jon Acuff today. You can read the post at Jon’s blog here.

If you are visiting from Jon Acuff’s blog, welcome! Thanks for stopping by. My blog is a place that you will find HOPE, encouragement and practical tips that you can use as you pursue your dreams.

Here is a sample of some of my writing:

Can You Help Me Stop Being Arrogant?

The Cost of Being You

What’s Your Story in Six Words

How to Have a Successful Guest Post

I’m Not Here to Impress

Why I’m About to Explode

August 20, 2012 in Uncategorized with 11 Comments

Photo by kahunapulej (Creative Commons)

Emotions build.

Slowly they start to rise.

Closer.

Closer to the surface.

Trying to hold them inside is useless.

For me it is a combination of the following:
Joy.
Fear.
Boredom.
Excitement.
Peace.
Frustration.
Discontentment.
Happiness.
Anxiety.
And several million other emotions.

The eruption is inevitable.

So what do you do?

Three options that come to mind:

1. Ignore your emotions and say everything is “fine.”

2. Allow negative emotions to take over.

3. Use your emotions to create something positive.

I try to choose #3 as much as possible, but often fail.

The other options require much less effort.

Be aware that another eruption is ALWAYS coming.

Just knowing that can help you gauge where you are.

I challenge you to be intentional with how you respond.

Do you feel this tension as well? How do you recognize it? Please share in the comments.

Why I Love Joy

August 17, 2012 in Guest Posts, Life with 3 Comments

Photo by Cath Hetherington

Today’s post is by Cath Hetherington. Cath is one of the most authentically upbeat people you will ever meet. Her writing can instantly lift your spirits. You can connect with her on Twitter @cathloves or at her personal blog here.

I love joy, but that wasn’t always the case. And the more I think on it, the more I see that the obvious is true; that during the difficult chapters of our lives, we aren’t naturally joyful. But why?

Well, the automatic response is that joy and hardship are incompatible.

But, please excuse my British parlance here, that is bonkers. And false.

I believe that we think joy is often inappropriate. It’s inappropriate to have joy when your relative is sick, inappropriate to seek joy in a job you hate, inappropriate to be joyful when life is hard. And trust me, I understand this line of thinking because for so long that was my thinking.

Until I read, REALLY read, this verse.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

When in the thick of what I like to call the tough times, I have never accused patience or love of being inappropriate. I have never thought that kindness or goodness have no place in the tough times. So why do we think that about joy?

Why is joy inappropriate?

Brace yourselves, here comes the shocker, its not. Its just not. I’m not belittling the difficult times, nor am I asking you to claim they are good, but there is a reason that we are told to “rejoice always”.

Such a beautiful reason; that stems from a beautiful truth—even on the worst day, Jesus died for you.

Even on the worst day, the maker of the universe loved you enough to humble himself to death on a cross. Even on the worst day, God has given you cause to look up from your situation and see that He has it under control, because you are His.

And there we find joy. Perfectly appropriate joy. In abundance.

What is something you are joyful about today?

Nervous Breakdown to Confident Quitter

August 16, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life with 1 Comment

Photo by Tom81115 (Creative Commons)

I did a podcast with Andy Traub about the Quitter Conference for the Quitter Conference Conversations podcast. I hope you can give it a listen. Thanks!

You can check it out right here at Andy’s site! Thanks to Andy for the chance to share my story!

Guest Posting for Life Before The Bucket

August 15, 2012 in Guest Posts, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Photo by iammikeb (Creative Commons)

I’m excited to be guest posting for Adrian Waller’s Life Before the Bucket blog today. If you don’t know Adrian, he is a great writer with one of the coolest beards you will ever find. I’d love it if you would stop by and read my guest post there today. Thanks!

If you are coming over to Unknown Jim from Life Before the Bucket, thanks for stopping by! I write about life, pursuing your passions and following your dreams. Whether you don’t know what your passion is, want to move forward on your creative journey, or just want to embrace life to its fullest, this blog is for you.

Here are a few posts I think you might enjoy that give a good sample of my writing:

The Cost of Being You

Date Yourself

Life of a Writer

Roller Coasters Aren’t for Toddlers

I Quit!!!