Day 54: Spinebreaker

I have decided that today is the day to tell you about a really great website. If you are into writing and reading of any kind Spinebreakers is just for you.

It's especially for teenagers with book reviews, interviews, short stories and lots more. If you look at the back of your books at home and it might have their logo on the back. If it does, it means it's reviewed on their site!

There's also loads of competitions for script writing, story telling, poetry writing..

It's even got music and videos to explore too!

Check it out and see what you will find...

Day 53: What's your shop?

Okay, here's a question for you, if you could open a shop (money aside) what kind of shop would you open?

I like questions like these because you can make them as extravagent as you like without actually doing anything! Just a little dream in your mind...

If I had to answer this question, I'd have to give it a lot of thought because there are a million different shops I would like to run! Lucky for you, I have already given it lot of thought so that saves everyone some time!

I would open up a cake shop/ little cafe. I would make all the cakes myself with organic, vegetarian produce (I'm a veggi by the way) and I would also make vegan options too! Everyone is happy in my cake shop. It would have art work from local artists hanging on the wall which you can buy. There would also be a little bookcase in the corner with books you can just take as long as you replace it with another you've already read, no money requried...

So there's a little bit of my shop to 'taste'.

What would your shop be like? You can be as creative as you like, making whatever shop you want with whatever you want.

Just a little thought to start the day's creative museings...

Day 52: Franz West

What do I have for you today?

A sculpture.

This piece of art is called 'The Ego and the Id' by Franz West, an Austrian artist. It was on display in New York at the Doris C. Freedom Plaza (edge of Central Park), where public art has been shown since the 80s. So, millions of people walk past this spot everyday. Cool, huh.

Well, what do you think? Do you like it? Is is beautiful, fun, strange, ugly, pointless? What does it remind you of? Everyone has an opinion about art and I think it's an important thing to discuss. Getting other people's opinions can extend you own.

So, why not write a comment. What do you think? Does it inspire you? How? Why not?

I guess the real question is, which is Id and which is Ego? Do you think these names are significant?

Questions, questions, so many questions...have a think.

Day 51: Six weeks of summer

So now it's the holidays! Woop woop. You know what that means? Six weeks to get creative!

Ok, it might be a bit unreasonabe to ask for 24/7 creativity for the whole six weeks, but my point is that you now have some space. No homework, no revision, on going to school every day. So what are you going to do with all that time...?

Well here are a few suggestions for the creative thinkers out there;

Look back in your notebook (or whatever it is you use to unload all the ideas from your head). There are probably loads of creative ideas in there that are just dying to be explored. What better time than now. Find one idea that really excites you and role with it. See how far it takes you. Now really is the best time to start, 'cause you've got six weeks ahead of you (potentially) before routine kicks back in and you lose time/momentum for it.

Or, look in your local paper, library, the Internet for creative stuff going on in your area and sign up. There's bound to be loads of stuff at this time of year. Get involved in whatever it is you fancy. You never know where it might lead you or what new friends (contacts for all you networkers) you will meet.

It might be that some (many) of you are going away/have loads of other stuff planned for the summer and the thought of being creative just doesn't fit in. Well, think again my friends. Creativity is everywhere! Whatever you're doing, keep an eye out. Take that pad with you and see what you find, hear, touch, taste, on your travels. Nothing is a wasted experience when you're creative.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is don't waste your summer away. Use it. If creativity is your thing (or you want it to be your thing) then embrace the time you have and get creating. Whatever you do this summer, be inspired by it!

Day 50: Lost property

Over the last few days I have been thinking about lost property and all of the weird and wonderful things you might find there. They really are such interesting places. There's always odd shoes. How can someone lose only one shoe? Didn't they notice one foot didn't feel the same as the other on their walk home?

Obviously there are your bracelets, jumpers, a hair band or two and LOADS of umbrellas! People take them in and then it's not raining when they leave, so hay presto, it gets forgotten and therefore 'lost'.

You see, 'lost' things aren't really lost, you just don't know where they are. They have to be somewhere.

Anyway, before I go completely off the point, I figure it's that time of year where things like lost property get sorted through and either chucked away or taken to a charity shop. You know, it being the end of term and all.

So my challenge to you is to find a lost property box and take three (or four) items at random (obviously get permission first!). Then, make something out of them. Fit them together somehow.

It could be a story; how do these items fit together? (like the boy on the bike from yesterday!)

Or, they could be props for a drama or a dance piece.

Use them to inspire lyrics.

Literally make them into something. Cover them in paint, glue, soil, cotton...Maybe you could undo a jumper (if it's one of your items) and make something new out of it?

Whatever you do, do it with lost property. Find what's lost and create with it!

Go...

Day 49: Imagine this...

...a boy no older than four or five is wearing a blue jump suit. He rides into a cinema on the smallest lime green bike you've ever seen. Attached to the handle bars of this bike is a white helium balloon.

This is exactly what I saw yesterday afternoon. Just your normal Sunday afternoon, apparently.

I had to ask myself, under what circumstances does a 4(ish) year old boy, a green bike, a white balloon and a blue jump suit end up in the same place, a cinema of all places?

It's one of the strangest things I've even seen in the cinema and it got me thinking...why? How did he get himself into such a predicament?

Well, that's where you come in my friends. YOU can decide. Get your creative brains working on this mystery and who knows what this little wonder boy could turn into...

Have fun!

Day 48: Inception

I went to see this film the other day. Don't know if you've heard of it? Called Inception? You know, the one that's sweeping the nation with it amazing ideas and concepts behind dreams and all their potential...

Of course you've heard of it! In fact most of you have already seen it (most likely) and if you haven't then GO!

It's the most inspiring film I've seen this year, so I figured it was definitely worthy of a blog entry!

Think about it. Dreams. They are so illusive, they slip away from you so quickly. Sometimes you don't even know you had one.



This clip is so interesting, don't you think? I never thought about the fact that you never know how you get to a dream...What did YOU dream last night? Anything inspirational in there?

The potential of dreams for creative inspiration is incredible. Use your dreams. I have a little section in my memory for dreams. There's dreams about mermaids and flying from when I was a kid. Nightmares about huge spiders and panthers I can't can't forget.

The idea of dreams might be even more inspirational than your actual dreams. Only you can decide that.

Something to think about. With dreams the possibilities really are endless...aren't they?

Day 47: Pick a picture

When we are being creative, I think it would be fair to say that most of us have a picture in our mind to work from; where we want it to go, how it will look post creation...

Writers (of all kinds), do you know what your characters, settings look like before you start? How do you know...? What about designers (fashion or otherwise)? Where do you get your ideas from?

Well, I am suggesting a 'tool' today to help you visually create your masterpieces.

Check out Flickr.com. Its' a sight where lots of people put their photos up and you can search through them all to find exactly what you're looking for.

For example, if you were writing a story where a character finds an old book, you could type book into the search and find it. You never know what picture's you'll see and how it will inspire your stories.

Or, type in your character's name and see what comes up...

This sight is GREAT for all you photographers too. It's a place where you can share your work with the world and get feedback. Who knows where that might lead...You can even set up a photo blog! It doesn't have to stop with photographers. Artists, sculptors put your work up too.

So, all of those needing a visual boost, you know where to go. Try it. What will you be inspired by...?

Day 46: Mind the gap

Today is one of those days when there isn't much going on in my brain, creative or otherwise. I'm not really sure why. I just got up this morning and nothing really functions properly.

I've looked at 'this' and nothing inspired me, I've looked at 'that' and again, no spark.

What does one do on such an occasion when they have committed themselves to writing a creatively inspiring blog every single day...?

Well, to be frank (rather than Emma), we all have days like these. So this is what I am proposing,















Simply a space. A gap. What do gaps need? Filling. Do with it what you wish. Own it, use it, create with it, in it, on it...You never know what it might inspire...

Day 45: The Tate movie project

As always, I have found something really exciting for you all to get involved in! The Tate (big art gallery) is making a movie and they need your help. It's for 5-13 year olds. Perhaps a little young for some of you, but have a peek anyhow.

I've been on the website and it looks like there's LOADS going on. Basically they are going to make a movie in Summer 2011, but right now they need YOUR ideas/designs/storyboards to make it happen. They are calling writers, artists, sound techies, editors...to get involved in their production. If your work is chosen you get your name in the credits and everything!

This is there 3 stages on their site:
1) Design a character and make new friends
2) Get new skills and be creative
3)Your work could be in the movie!

Perfect for creative thinkers like yourselves, I think!

So check it out here and see if stardom could be on the cards for you!

Creativity really is everywhere...woop woop!

Day 44: What's in a name?

I think William has really posed an interesting question here. What is in a name?

Do you think names are important?

There are definitely names I like and names I don't. For me my taste in names is usually defined by other people I know. In my primary school there was a nasty little boy called Nathan and he is the only person I've ever known called Nathan. So, understandably, I don't really like it (sorry if you are/know someone called Nathan). But the name Jenna, I've never met anyone I didn't like called Jenna.

I'm pretty sure that you have similar stories.

So it would seem that there is something to names. I think it's definitely something to consider when it comes to giving our characters names in plays, stories, poems, dramas, scripts...

I am 'drawing up' two new characters at the moment and I know one of them is called Holly. It was just the name she wanted, but the other character (who is also a girl) is more tricky. I don't know what her name is yet...this is what brought all this name stuff up!

Are names important? I wouldn't say 'Emma' really defines me, but I can't imagine being called anything else.

Something to think about...

Day 43: Street performers

This morning I took a little stroll into town, as you do, and was inspired to write today's entry about street performers.

Living in Bath, we get performers all year round, but the summer is the best time. The sun is shining, tourists are everywhere and everyone has a bit more time to enjoy the smaller things in life. Before I moved here I'd only really seen them in Covent Garden, London when I was a kid. It's kind of weird living in a place where people come on holiday!

Anyway, back to the point! Usually, street performers become invisible to me as I go about my business, but this morning I found myself stopping to watch a women twiddling, throwing and curling hoola hoops. We was mesmerising and I thought, what an amazing talent to have where you can stand in the street and get money for it!

So, now I turn to you and ask, 'what could YOU bring to the streets of Britain?'

There is such a lot of different performances all the way from human statues to fire breathing jugglers! There are lots of arty types at my uni who busk on the streets of Bath, lots of them being guitar playing singers. Now that's what I call affective creativity. You reach out to the community and you get a few bob on the side! Ideal.

So, what are you good at? Do you have a talent that could be calling you to the streets (to perform, I mean)? If you've got it, use it! Give it a go and see where it takes you and/or what it makes you!

There are a few technical things to consider of course, like the fact that you need a licence in some places (ring up the council and check in your area). But after that's all done you're ready to go...

How will you perform to the masses this summer...?

Day 42: Time to boogie!

Ok, so today I wanted to find something that wasn't anything to do with writing and I found it.

To inspire all you dancers out there (and everyone else for that matter) I found this video. It's actually a T-mobile advert with the slogan, 'life's for sharing.' Just watch it and be inspired. It really is surprising how random people who blatantly are NOT involved join in and get their groove on.

Creativity is infectious! This video proves that!




So, how will YOU share YOUR creativity with the world...?

Day 41: Words

"People around here didn't waste words; language was a tool, not a treat. You didn't roll it around on your tongue, revel in it."

'What I Was' by Meg Rosoff

If you are anything like me, then you probably use words way too much! I talk ALL the time, the more words the better. Chat, chat, chat.

Do you use more words when you're around people who don't talk very much, or do you tend to be the quiet one? Should we revel in words, or should we see them as a treat?

I guess the real question is, how do we use it in our creative work? Do you use words wisely?

If you write plays, scripts, poems, stories, articles, dialogue, comedy...then words are really important. It's vital to get the balance right. That good old saying sums it up pretty well, 'it's quality, not quantity.'

Think about the way you use words. Do you need to edit a bit more? Do you need to use a few more? How about the words you are using, is there one that would work better?

Think about it. How will you use your words...?