Sunday, January 1, 2017

the world begins with new-born skin


 Happy New Year, friend. 

Whether this post finds you knocked down and broken, or rejoicing and victorious: it is time for a beautiful beginning.

Don't waste a single second of your new, glorious, God-given 2017 eaten up with jealousy, self-pity, fear, doubt, or depression. Seek the light, ask for help. Pray, run, fight. And breathe, because you have lungs, and you are so incredibly, vastly loved.


"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
~ Jeremiah 29:11
 
My current goals for 2017: Pursue positive thinking, spend time in prayer, and FINISH MY NOVEL. Yes, folks, I have progressed to...Chapter 3. Glory!

(Major shout-out to my sister and her new camera for these Instax photos)

+ What about you? Do you have any goals for 2017?

Friday, December 23, 2016

how to be creatively productive


So the other day I attempted to write the second chapter of my novel. 

HA!

In forty-five minutes' time, I eeked out a total of three (incomplete) sentences, none of which vaguely resembled human speech. Yep, that's right: I ended up lying on my couch while all productive lifeblood drained away from my limp, lifeless body.

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In an attempt to Stimulate Productivity, and to help all you writers/bloggers/painters/musicians/sculptors/late-night-editing weepers out there, I give you:
ERIN'S GLORIOUS GUIDE TO 
UTILIZING PRODUCTIVITY AND CREATIVITY* 

*EGG TUPAC for short.
Click here for a motivational picture of said egg.
#rememberyourgoals #gah #notmyphoto #thethingsyoufindontheinterwebz #doublegah

NEVER FEAR: CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY IS HERE!

1. Get Good Sleep: I know that getting good sleep might seem like the last thing you want to do, especially when your novel is just begging for you to write it til 3 in the morning (been there). But your body has to come first, and as I've learned, when your body ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

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Seriously though, sleep will make you feel like A RADIANT HUMAN.
And Radiant Humans accomplish their creative goals. Just sayin'.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." 
~ Robert Frost

NO ROBERT, SLEEP NOW

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2. Pray: When writing a blog post or a song or attempting to crank out even three measly sentences for my novel, I ask God to write through me and give me ideas (which is a prayer He's answered in super cool ways). 
"Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. We come from the Creator with creativity." 
~ Maya Angelou

3. Take Frequent Walks: YES CHILD. It is so vital to get moving. I'm convinced that we lose all productivity when we try to sequester ourselves in our creative nooks and never leave. You need to interact with people and nature to get fresh ideas. Your mind needs to relax.

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"It is the marriage of the soul with Nature that makes the intellect fruitful, and gives birth to imagination.
~ Henry David Thoreau


HENRY DAVID KNEW WHAT WAS UP, YO

4. Music, Music, Music: When writing, music is VITAL. I like to listen to music that matches the scene but having some tunes that are wordless or otherwise hard to understand also help me to write. My current musical inspirations can be found here and here.

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5. Nourishment: Once again, if your body ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. You need to constantly be drinking water and nourishing your body with healthy snacks so that you don't creatively crash. Reward yourself with yummy foods like mandarin oranges, Jazz apples (the best kind of apples tbh), or a granola bar.

"I ♥ food.
~ Moi

6. Vary Your Medium: Your brain can get grumpy if you focus too much on one project. Keep your mind guessing by writing a blog post,  then editing a chapter, writing a song, or painting for twenty minutes. That way, you make progress on many different creative endeavors without beating up your brain.

YOU + A HAPPY BRAIN = SUCCESS

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(Thought about using this gif but it's just a little too traumatizing.)

If all else fails, use The Secret Weapon:

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COMMENCE CREATIVE PRODUCTIVITY

+ What about you? How do you get out of a creative slump? 
Any advice on, say, how to Actually Write Your Novel Like You Said You Would?

Sunday, December 18, 2016

blogger appreciation post

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You might ask yourself what this photograph has to do with ANYTHING but it's actually giving me life. In the wide range of personalities that fill the blogging community, I'd like to think of myself as that sassy little lady second from the left.

I had many other post ideas for today (various topics include the impending glory that is Christmas and the fact that life is a beautiful thing and also how I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PLOTTING MY NOVEL) but I just wanted to take a moment to post about how awesome all of you are. 

ERIN TALKS ABOUT HER FEELINGS 

It's challenging at times, being a blogger. Keeping a blog filled with content is no easy feat, what with classes, work, church, relationships, family, and all the other mundane moments of life that insist on interrupting the creative process (Facebook, I'm looking at you). 

But it is such a beautiful thing to be able to, in essence, "do life" with y'all. 

I don't know about you, but technology just blows my mind sometimes. It's crazy to think how blogging connects people all over the world. You may live states or countries away, but we all share a common bond through our writing, and we can speak truth into one another's lives as easily as if we were neighbors.

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This year I've been so blessed to read of your poetry and passions and pain. I've learned so much about y'all's lives and struggles and hearts for the Lord, and it has been one of the most incredible, rewarding parts of my blogging journey. 


To be a part of Burning Youth is incredible, and to read your honest comments and kind words and heartfelt posts just blows me away. To know that there are other young women out there who desire to follow their Father and create amazing things and change this world is beyond encouraging. 

So don't think for a second that you are without impact in this world: No, you are bright, and a beacon of light in an otherwise shadowy place.

The things you all write and create constantly and consistently inspire, motivate, and uplift me in my daily "offline" life. Y'all are heroes. You are the brave ones. You all are so strong, loved, and beautiful.

GAH.

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All sappiness aside, I wanted to give you guys a big hug through my words today. To think that even a single wonderful human being would take the time to read this little oddball blog of mine means the world. Goodness. 

Keep creating. Keep burning bright. 

+ Now that I've sufficiently poured my heart out, we can talk about Christmas. CHRISTMAS IS COMING, GUYS. Have you bought an ugly sweater yet? Have a favorite Christmas song? Anyone else eating all the cupcakes?