Day 10: Creative Memories

I don't know about you, but creative people tend to be forgetful and generally a bit scatty. I certainly fall into both categories. Very often I will be on the way to my studio space (where I do my art) only to find I have forgotten my paintbrushes, purse, phone or whatever else I really need! Are you that kind of person?

I am also a bit of a visionary. In other words, I get an idea which then sparks off another million in my head. They all swim around getting mashed together and then I usually forget half of them (hence why I forget so many physical things like my phone all the time!). Sound familiar?

Well, this is how I try to handle my forgetful brain; carry a notebook EVERYWHERE! You never know when a creative idea is going to fly into your head, so the best thing to do is catch it and write it. It works wonders for me. When I wake up in the night after a dream, it goes in the book. When I'm on the bus and I see/hear something, it goes in the book. Even when you're on the toilet...creativity can strike anywhere, best to be prepared! At least that's what I find. It's a great way to see your ideas growing and moving forward.

So, don't just forget it, write it!

Day 9: Let's Ride!

Today I've spent my time going up and down, round and round, and pretty much every other direction humanly possible. Yep, you've guessed it, I've been to a theme park!

Queuing (for a lot longer than i was on the ride) got me thinking... it's someone's (amazing) job to design all those rides. How cool!

So get your thinking caps on guys and gals. What would your ideal ride be like, look like, sound like...? Loops and swoops? Splashes and sploshes?

Or for those of you who are left with all the bags, why not design something for you to do while you're waiting for all your friends? Oh and one more thing, please design something to do when you wait in the loooooonnnnngg queues! Maybe a slide or two...

Day 8: Old People

Have you ever spoken to an old person (and I don't mean you're parent!)? I mean, have you ever sat down with someone who has experienced 70/80 years of living? That is a lot of stories! I'm talking about folk who lived through the wars, who remember life before TV and films, before cars and blogs!

The next time you are forced to go to a family reunion of some kind, don't just sit there wishing you were anywhere else, speak to your Grandma or your Great-Granddad and ask them about their life. What's the best thing that happened to them? Their earliest memory? What was their childhood home like? They'll love it! And believe me, they are probably the most inspirational people you'll ever speak to.

Got no grandparents? Go to an old people's home. They LOVE visitors, especially young people, so you're off to a good start already! speak to an old lady at the bus stop, speak to the old man next door....

Who knows where they may take your creative thoughts...

Day 7: How are you creative?

''Just because a man glances up at night does not make him an astronomer, you know.'' (The boy with the striped pyjamas, p82)

What are you? A painter, actor, animator, musician...? Well, if so how regularly do you practise your skills/talents? If you get given a box of paints for your birthday, does that make you a painter? No! You've got to DO it to BE it! And the more you do whatever it is that makes you a creative person, the better you will be. Do it a lot, do it as much as you can.

On the flip side, if you DO paint, be confident! Call yourself a painter. If you DO it, then you ARE a painter, musician, animator, writer. It doesn't matter if you're at school or you work at Pizza Hut. That is not who you are!

So have pride in what you do and have confidence to be it. remember, you gotta be in it to win it!

Day 6: Inspirational nature (part 2)

After musing over the delights of the moving world, I came to realise that I didn't give plants a mention. They too can be so inspirational, especially at this time of year when all of the trees/plants/flowers are in bloom. SUCH colour! Whoever said grass is green lied! There are so many shades and tones. Check out how things change colour depending on the light/time of day.

In Spring/Summer, everything looks full and alive, but in Autumn/Winter, there is a transformation. When I was younger I used to hate Winter; the way everything looked bare and dull. But actually trees without leaves show you just how intricate they are. Have you ever tried to draw one? It's so hard!

Next time you happen to be near a tree, stand right next to its trunk and look up. It really is the most amazing view. The way the branches span over you at all different angles, every leaf trying to catch a ray of sunlight.

Or, the next time you walk past a wall with plants growing through the cracks, stop and take a proper look. It's incredible how nature will find a way to survive, even if we cover it in concrete. Plants will grow anywhere and everywhere, whether we want it there or not! (Gardeners, you know what I mean!)

What will you find?

Day 5:Inspirational nature

Okay, I couldn't tell you guys yesterday because the event was still too close, but now I feel ready to share my traumatic experience with you all. Here goes...
For the past few months I have been enjoying the company of two blue tits in my garden. They are called Tit and Tat. They live in my next door neighbour's garden and it has become apparent that they have baby blue tits (cute!).
On Wednesday, I went out into the garden and down by the side of the back door was the cutest little ball-of-fluff chick I have ever seen. My theory is that it attempted to fly out of the nest with little success, and became stuck on the floor. So I hid behind my kitchen bin and watched it cheeping away. Ever faithful Tit and Tat came with food for newly named Tot. He was so cute! Every so often he would try to fly, but after getting a few inches off the ground, he'd be exhausted again and just go back to sitting and cheeping.
Yesterday morning I went out into the garden to find Tot sitting on a bush in my garden. I thought: 'Good work Tot, you're learning to fly flap by flap!'
Then, upstairs in my house in the afternoon, I looked out the window to see Fernando (a regular cat visitor to my garden) licking his lips suspiciously! I rushed down the stairs, into the garden and there was no more cheeping. Fernando had killed Tot!
As you can imagine, I was crushed. How could Fernando do such a thing to defenceless little Tot?

As much as it pains me to tell you this tale, I cannot help but feel inspired by nature and how it holds itself together. Look in the garden/park/field near your home. What can you see, hear, smell and touch? Even something as apparently boring as a snail is actually amazing, with its little feelers and trail of slime! Have you ever watched a spider making a web, ants marching back and forth, squirrels jumping from tree to tree? Get out and see what you can see. How will nature inspire you?

PS
You will be happy to know that my housemate took a picture of Tot, so that he will live on in our memories. Yay!

Day 4: Power to the poor!

We're living in a recession, right? So we need to save our pennies where we can, right? Well then, we need to pick up a bargain here and there. Where better place to pick up a bargain than at a charity shop?

I know what you're thinking, charity shops are lame. Well, think again my friend! The other day I picked up a pair of (really nice) 'Bench' jeans for £10!! Amazing! Charity shops really are a great place to find great bargains, so check it out!

What's all this got to do with creativity I hear you ask? As well as picking up some fine clothing, charity shops are full of weird and wonderful bits and bobs which are just screaming out creativity...

Sculptors, get down there and see what incredible things you can find to inspire your making (for such an affordable price!) fashion divas, well, you're probably already on it! And for all you drama folk, just check out the costume possibilities. Book lovers, you'll be in heaven...

So if you want to get creative on a budget, charity shops are the way forward, plus all proceeds go to a great cause, so it really is win, win all round! The more you go the more you find...

What will you create?

Day 3: Basil

If you're from London way, you've got the pronunciation right in my mind! It's 'Bazaw' (with a 'w' rather than an 'l'. It's just how we talk!)

Anyway...what is Basil? Is it a herb, a hotel owner, a plant, a crazy fox named Brush...or is it Brazil spelt really badly?? Is it a cat (I know a well loved cat named Basil)? My point is...YOU decide!

Is it a piece of weaponry used by the Grafinite Fighters from the west or an ancient Chinese tribe awaiting discovery? Is it a code name of a spy kid or a fairy name given as the highest honour...?

If the pronunciation can change from place to place, think how many creative meanings there could be! Get your creative juices flowing with this one...

Day 2: Imagine this...

I want you to imagine you have a friend over to stay. They're sleeping on the floor next to your bed and in the middle of the night you accidentally drop a sock onto them. So what do they do? They freak out! They don't know if it's a spider, a mouse or whatever else their minds turn it into... The question is, how do YOU react? Is it funny, mean, ridiculous??

Now think about a character in your play/story/animation/dance piece...How would THEY react?

Asking strange questions of your creations is a great way to get round, realistic and believable characters. That's what people relate to. So make them real, make them your own...

(Ps, I'd find it hilarious!)

Day 1:Inspiration!

Ok, today is the start of the challenge. I am going to blog for 365 days. Yes, a whole year! I want to inspire young poeple to be creative in whatever way they want.

From fashion to fiction, you name it, you can do it. So get out there! I'm going to focus on writing and art 'cause that's what I do, but use my tips for whatever it is that you do to be creative.

So, here goes...

Day 1: What inspires you to be creative? I'm a writer and a visual artist (ie, painter) so pictures and images give me ideas and gets my brain moving! If you're like me, check out the Tate Modern or, if it's old-school art you're into, check out Tate Britain, http://www.tate.org.uk/. What could you do with it...?

Im going to a networking event tonight at Komedia. It should be a good one because lots of creative industries will be there, so Im going to plug my ideas about inspiring creativity in young people. Will let you know how it all goes!

Also, I entered another writing competition as part of the Frome Festival. My story is about a girl called Chloe who, after befriending her nieghbour, find out the importance of community on a snowy day. Prehaps not the best subject matter what with all the sunshine we've been having, but we'll see!

It has been SO long since I wrote on my blog, so I thought I'd better catch up on the year...

I have been visiting two secondary schools around Bath this year, which has been GREAT! Wellsway and Ralph Allen have been brilliant hosts for my 'creative writing and reading lunchtime clubs'. I have been teaching them about characterisation, tension, story openings...the list goes on! The young people have been fantastic. It's been a great opportunity for me to get my writing read by those who I want to write for and its pretty fun too!

In the light of all this, I'm in the process of setting up a creative writing summer school for 11-14 year olds. I'm really hoping this is going to take off. It's going to run in the summer holidays at the Library in Bath. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be great experience and all the stuff I've done at the schools will really help. Hopefully I'll make a little bit of money from it too like a proper writer!

As for my prize winning story...well, I haven't actually done anymore to it, but I have been working on another story about a girl called Libby and her mysterious rescuer, Christophe. I have REALLY enjoyed writing it and the feedback I've got from the young people at the schools has been pretty good. Role on the next competition!

I won a prize!!

Oh my word! I won a prize!!

I won a prize for The Party, so you can now check out the whole chapter I submitted on www.mifiction.co.uk. They gave me the runner's up prize of £50 and are currently pulling together a contract to publish the entire story! I'm really pleased. What a nice early Christmas resent! Not bad for my first competition!

Will keep you posted on any further development...

So yesturday I went to a networking event! It was my first one and it was pretty fun. There were lots of interesting small businesses there, all based in the Bath area. Unfortunately I didnt get any contacts to help my writing, but it was good practice and I gave out some of my little cards, so who knows...!

...in other news...I submitted a story called 'the party' for a compatition. It's intereactive fiction,so YOU get to chose the stories direction. Fun huh! Pretty hard to write tho! Here's the first section for you:

It’s Friday afternoon and you and Becki are having a milkshake in Cafe Willow. The place is packed with people from school, but you and Becki are so engrossed in chatting, you barely notice the people around you.

But then Becki comes out with, ‘Don’t look now, but there is this guy sitting over there and he definitely keeps looking at you, El!’

You look at her with a frown. ‘What? Don’t be stupid Bec, he’s probably just-’

‘No seriously.’ She looks past you and smiles. ‘I recognise him. I think he’s friends with Luke’s brother.’

‘Luke’s brother’s called Ben. I’ve told you a million times,’ you say.

‘Okay, he’s Ben’s friend then. I guess I really should remember, you go on about him so much! Anyway, the point is, the guy staring at you is in Sixth Form,’ she says, still staring at him.

‘Maybe it’s you he’s looking at,’ you suggest, but Becki isn’t listening.

She moves her head slightly towards you and leans closer. ‘Well?’ she smiles at you. ‘What are you going to do?’

You look down at your milkshake for a while. You are feeling uncomfortable about it all. He’s older than you. What about Ben? So, you can either, tell Becki to drop it (go to section 2) or pluck up the courage and look round (Go to section 3).

Which would you chose I wonder?

Thats all for now folks

Ems x