Deb Lund ad lib

If you’re a client of mine, or a creative friend, you’ve heard me talk about Eric Maisel. He’s the guy who started this whole crazy amazing creativity coaching gig. I’ve read and recommended books of his in the past, and this is another one you might want to see…

In this book, Maisel turns his decades of coaching, teaching, and creating into nine keys to help people come up with solutions to their creative challenges.

Eric, would you be willing to highlight one or two of these keys for us?

I start with the “mind” key because I believe that getting a grip on our thoughts and doing a better job of thinking thoughts that actually serve us are supremely important skills to master. Most people do a poor job of “minding their mind” and choosing to think in ways that serve them… If people did a better job of “minding their mind” by noticing what they were thinking and by making an effort to replace defensive and unproductive thoughts with less defensive and more productive thoughts, they would live in less pain and they would give themselves a much better chance of living the life they dream of living… There’s really nothing more important than getting a grip on your own thoughts!

Boy is that true! I think most of us in the arts struggle with that on a regular basis. I wouldn’t have become a creativity coach if I hadn’t. My clients know that I understand what’s going on with them!

Another key that interests me is the “stress key.” What are some of your tips for reducing stress in an artist’s life?

Life produces stress, the artistic personality produces additional stress, creating produces even more stress, and living the artist’s life is the topper! An artist must learn how to deal with all of these stressors—and how to deal with them effectively. You might try “writing your stress away.” …You can reframe a given demand as an opportunity… You can have a fruitful conversation with yourself and answer the following four questions:

1. What are my current stressors?

2. What unhealthy strategies am I currently employing to deal with these stressors?

3. What healthy strategies am I currently employing to deal with these stressors?

4. What new stress management strategies would I like to learn? An artist needs to honor the reality of stress and make plans for dealing with it!

 Thank you, Eric. Probably the best advice I got from you was to consider letting go of my idea to start my novel over from the beginning. I still may need to start over, but at that point in time, that idea was totally stopping me from even opening up the document. Thanks for being a great teacher and coach. My own clients thank you, too.

We all want to belong, to fit in, to find our place. Sometimes this means leaving our comfort zone. Taking a risk. Stepping up…

This little guy left the safety of his mom’s side, and posed, frozen in place, as she wondered for a moment what had happened to him.

Sometimes our creative acts get that response. We jump, bewildering those around us, until they’re able to see the big picture. And sometimes we don’t see the big picture ourselves, but we know what we have to do.

What are you being called to do? What one little (but maybe scary) step can you take today? Let me know below…

For a couple of decades now, we’ve written our resolutions in the sand at local beaches during low tide. The premise is simple. As the tide comes in, our resolutions are either carried off to the Universe to become reality, or there’s no sign left of them, relieving us of any guilt or accountability. Either way works for us!

However, this year, before writing my own (actually, these are mine, too), I wrote some for you…

Persistence

My mom called me stubborn when I was a kid. I didn’t know what a necessary quality being stubborn would turn out to be for me. I don’t use that word any more, and neither should you. Our word is persistence, and you’ll need it. So many creative people stop when they hit the wall. When they think they’re not good enough. When they think “I can’t!”  Hitting the wall means you’re close to breaking  through. Stay on course.

Passion

You need that fire in you. The fire that says YES! That fire that is a hunger, a thirst, a drive so vital it can’t be stopped.

With enough passion, you’ll find inspiration. With enough passion, persistence will be easier. With enough passion, you’ll check off that list of resolutions in no time.

Passion is contagious.

Place yourself in the path of passionate people. Provoke passion in others. Pile on extra helpings of passion. Set your world on fire!

Play

Creative work is play. No cutting corners here. Take time to explore, dabble, doodle… Do not limit yourself to what appears to lead more directly to a desired outcome. It’s a trap! When the paint spreads, drips, or runs, see what it wants to become. When an object appears in your writing, don’t question it. You’ll find out what it’s for later.

Stay clear of the shoulds. Stomp your feet and shout, “I am done being a perfectionist!” Make many mistakes! Be intentional about it! And when they show up uninvited, let them have their play time, too. There are no mistakes. Let those gifts give you an edge. Let them set your whole world on its edge!

Play is practice paired with pleasure. Play is process. Play is pure expression. Play!

Practice

No, I’m not going to tell you to put in your 10,000 hours. Just keep on playing. Let play be your practice. And view every creative project as practice. If it leaves your hands and finds its own place in the world, let it go. And if it doesn’t, let that go, too.

Peace

Wherever you are is where you are and it’s okay. Trust that you’re in the right place. Artists need Peace. We want whatever we want and we want it now. We wonder why we’ve been left behind.  Why our talent and timing have abandoned us. Why no one seems to have recognized our genius or our gems.

Keep your eyes on the prize, but relax. Marvel in the unknowing. Sit still and know what you seek is already on its way. Live as if the peace you need already held you, encircled you and all in your life.

Be peace.

Be, know, and watch it grow.

Blessings on your journeys and your creative projects…

Happy 2013! May it be your best year ever!

What about me?

If you’re a writer, artist, musician, actor, or anyone who loves to dabble in the arts, you can thank the person who saw my last post and said, “But, what if I want a creativity coaching deal that isn’t about school visits?”

So, for ten people (because I need my own creative time as well), I will offer the same deal I made to kidlit creators working on school and library presentations—a whole month of coaching for $195!

Why coaching?

Countless writers, artists, and musicians either don’t get started, get stuck, or give up on their projects. As a creativity coach, I partner with people who want to create in order to achieve their artistic goals, supplement their income, or to add more joy and meaning to their lives.

What’s the deal?

A whole month of coaching for $195 ($125 savings) covers your initial questionnaire, a phone call to address your concerns, and (for the first time ever) unlimited email follow-up (I request you check in at least weekly, but if you want to connect with me daily, that’s fine, too).

Why you?

My creativity coaching training was through the Creativity Coaching Association, but I came to the field with a practical background in the arts and education. As a child, my first passion was art, and it’s been a lifelong activity. I went to college to major in theater and speech, and ended up with a music degree instead. I’ve taught music K-12, theater classes for kids, and directed choirs and acted in plays. My master’s degree project over twenty years ago was on teaching writing, and I’ve taught writing ever since. I’m also a continuing education instructor and author.

Why me?

When I teach writing or creativity courses, present at conferences, workshops, MFA programs, schools, or libraries, and especially when working with my clients, I find it’s not craft skills or artistic ability that stops would-be creators. They hit the wall, and because of not understanding the creative process, they decide they’re done. That their dream wasn’t possible. They hear voices tell them, “Who do you think you are?” and they listen to those voices. That’s a shame. Do you know anyone like that?

Don’t miss out! Make those New Year’s goals come true for you, for a friend, for a loved one…

Let me help you explore what’s getting in the way.

Why now?

Because you’ve waited long enough, and even though you may deny it, you know you deserve it. I believe if you have been called to something, whatever you need will appear step by step. I’m here. Need a hand?

Happy New Year,

Deb

Congratulations! Your children’s book or CD is out, or about to come out, and now you want to get it in front of kids. Hmmm…

Where’s the best place to get kid exposure? Schools, of course. Schools. Just the word alone takes you back. The halls. The looks. The dread… You’re feeling like you’re in Jr. High again.

What if they laugh at me, or make fun of me? What if they just roll their eyes? What if they all hate me??? Okay, maybe you’re not feeling that hopeless, but you still have concerns.

Children’s book creators, musicians, actors, and other artists who visit schools are often introverts who work alone. The pressure from publishers and others to get out there and market books and services, especially through school and library visits, can feel overwhelming to many creative people.

I’m a creativity coach, a past school librarian who hired artists to perform at schools, and an author who visits schools regularly. I’ve presented sessions on school visits at several conferences and have coached many individuals on developing their presentations and overcoming their fears and concerns.

I partner with authors, illustrators, musicians, and others to identify their presentation topics, their inspiring stories, their methods for comfortably managing audience behavior, and their unique gifts to share as they support teachers and students. The goal is to not only promote books and other products or services, but to teach, inspire, and enjoy connecting with audiences.

Whether you’re new at presenting to kids or a seasoned educator like me, you might want to take advantage of my new year’s special. A whole month of coaching for $195 ($125 savings) covers your initial presentation questionnaire and evaluation, a phone call to address your concerns, and (for the first time ever) unlimited email follow-up (I request you check in at least weekly). That’s a fraction of what you can get paid for just one school or library visit.

You and the students you see deserve to have your visit be the best experience possible. Give yourself the gift of feeling prepared and confident going into your presentations. Or better yet, tell a loved one you found the perfect gift for them to give you!

Happy new year! And may all your creative dreams come true…

Congratulations to everyone who participated in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 12 this year! It doesn’t matter how many manuscripts you piled up, how good they were, or if they ever get published. And if you’re stuck on that, read my last post!

I’m a picture book author, and yet, these nudges from Julie have helped me come up with more stories than I would have left to my own resistance! Thank you, Julie, and to those of you who keep saying you want to write picture books, get yourself over there!

We came

We pledged

We wrote

We posted

We celebrated

My own 12×12 participation will be much easier this coming year, because I also got to play over at PiBoIdMo! Doesn’t that sound like fun? And I won! Here’s why…

Picture Book Idea Month gave me permission to stop and consider a multitude of ideas for writing. Instead of working away on an idea that popped into my head, I had a list to choose from. Yes, I did keep lists, but I didn’t always use them.

The difference is this: Because of PiBoIdMo, I was working on quantity of ideas. But, once you get past the obvious ones, you get into the more creative ones. In my normal process, I think of a good idea, then write. During PiBoIdMo, I kept going on the idea stage longer than usual.

And now, I’m a winner not only because I made my quota, but because I have a better writing habit. In fact, as the PiBoIdMo community will tell you, we’re ALL winners.  Thanks, Tara Lazar!

My 12/12/12 suggestions for aspiring picture book authors & illustrators:

1. Write! Many people prefer the idea of writing to the work of writing. I avoided writing for years by reading about it and by saying I didn’t have time. Practice, practice, practice!
2. Learn your craft. Attend classes and conferences. Read books, magazines, and other publications. Sign up for online newsletters.
3. Know kids and kids’ books. Go to the library and check out a stack every week – the books, not the kids. Observe kids. Hang out with them. Volunteer at schools, libraries, scouting or 4-H groups, etc.
4. Join SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). They’ll teach you everything you need to know through their website, handouts, newsletters, and conferences. Get involved!
5. Participate in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) with Tara Lazar. (Click on the PiBoIdMo banner above for more information.)
6. Take those PiBo ideas and head over to Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 and write a manuscript each month of the year. (Click on the 12×12 picture at the top of this post.)
7. Join or start an online or in-person critique or writing support group. Find writing buddies. Libraries, colleges, and SCBWI may help.
8. Sign up for manuscript critiques at conferences, but have a thick skin about it. You don’t really want to hear it’s perfect, do you?
9. Research publishers and editors. Follow all submission guidelines. Get a copy of the most current Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market.
10. It’s often harder to get a good children’s writer’s agent than it is to get published. Finding an agent is probably not one of your first steps.
11. Don’t send in a manuscript a friend illustrated for you. Editors select the illustrator. If you write and illustrate, consider letting them know the text and artwork may be considered separately.
12. Expect Rejection. Most stories are just practice, and everyone gets rejections. Celebrate those rejection letters!

And if you’re ready for a little coaching, I’ll have a few openings in the new year!

I’m already here! Those dreams, those thoughts, those ideas that couldn’t possibly happen, happened!

I just figured this out this morning. Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Yes, yes, I know. You might even have been one of the them. People have been telling me this, that I’m already there. And I always think, no, there’s so far yet to go (I couldn’t possibly list all there is to do to get where I want to go)… So, why now, with no extra accolades, possibilities, or goals reached, did I come to this conclusion that I’m already there? I don’t know!

Maybe I just stopped and looked at what I had.

What I do know is that the epiphany involved figuring out what was real and what was childish dreaming. No, your big dreams are not childish. What’s childish is the expectation that they’ll be exactly as you planned them. That the world will stop, everyone will revere you, every other aspect of your life will get easier, and you’ll be filled with unbelievable joy.

You do get moments of these.

I wanted to live “out west.” I wanted to adopt. I wanted to write books and get published. It’s here. And so are the dirty dishes, the trying teenagers, the dog who pesters me for walks, the requested revisions (confession: I love revision). But the dream… it happened.

I can focus on not having or I can focus on having. I’m choosing having. Kid issues, schedules, health concerns, financial obligations, dealing with the business end of writing and publishing. So much on my plate. So much to complain about. But they are all the result of getting what I asked for!

Be careful what you ask for. It’s just an old saying that doesn’t apply today, right? (But I bet you could come up with a great novel idea based on it!)

SO WHAT if you didn’t sleep well last night! (I’m not making light of that—it plagues me, too.) But what was that dream you dreamed? The one that actually came true, but in disguise? What’s in your life you could only visualize before?

Don’t think about the next, and the next, and the next thing you want. Don’t buy into the gotta have this, this, this… Look at yourself. Look at where you are. Where you really are if you don’t buy into the poor me stuff.

Celebrate.

You had a dream, however big or little it may seem to you now, and you did it. You changed something in your life. You became more you. In the middle of the mess of your life, you can hold on to that dream. To the fulfillment of it, no matter how shabby its coat. Own it. It’s yours, and don’t ever toss it aside for the more glamourous elusive one.

You can have that one, too.

In fact—just look!—you already have it.

You’re Already There!

You knew this, didn’t you!—without me even mentioning the G word.

Yes, you’re overwhelmed. No one else has your schedule, your commitments, your health concerns, your financial situation, or your precious family with all their issues. You want to write/draw/paint/sing/act/anything creative, but you just don’t have the energy, and besides that, there’s all that junk from your past.

Sorry. Just talking to myself again. Oh, you thought I was talking to you?

Guess what? We all have the same number of hours in a day. Quit rolling your eyes! When you hear yourself whine, just say STOP! Try one of the activities that has worked in the past to get you out of the cave/tunnel/dark place/funk/whatever cutesy name you give it. What works for you?

Meditation?

Walking the Dog?

A bath?

A call to a friend?

A gratitude list?

Howling at the moon?

Okay, so you’re not ready to undertake that major revision yet, and you didn’t get everything organized this week the way you wanted. Don’t beat yourself up! (just doing some inner creativity coaching here…) You can always take a baby step, and it doesn’t even need to be a creative one.

Go ahead. Address that envelope to the editor or agent you think might be interested in your manuscript. You don’t have to mail it right now.

Write the title for that ten-minute play for the local theater.

Clear off that table in the back room where you intended to set up your paints. You don’t have to paint just yet. Give them a chance to lure you over. To seduce you.

Clear off the top of your desk. It will look more inviting when you walk by. And it counts for decluttering points in heaven.

Put that saxophone together and leave it out on the corner of the ping-pong table so when you walk by to get to the laundry room you can pick it up and blow and few notes. That’s all. Just a few notes before your inner critic can put down her newspaper and bonbons and lumber over.

Of course we want to be productive. Of course it’s better if we get our butts in our chairs and produce something. Of course you’re a rotten, no-good, unworthy and worthless jerk if you don’t produce. And you’re certainly not an artist/actor/writer/musician if you’re not creating all the time! Oops. Who let Miss Midge in here?

Be nice to yourself! What would you say to a friend stuck in the cave/tunnel/dark place/funk/whatever cutesy name they give it?

I thought so. Go ahead. Talk to your inner artist! Or that kid who used to wear those shoes at the top of this post. Creativity coaches need coaching, too.

It’s almost here… The answer to feeling left out of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for those who prefer the poetry and petite package of the picture book!

As a picture book author, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to participate. (I’m jazzed by the manuscripts that emerged from Julie Hedlund’s 12×12, a perfect follow-up to Picture Book Idea Month), and now, the zany, creative, and lovable Tara Lazar asked me to write a blog post for PiBoIdMo (yes, that’s an I for Idea, but you gotta admit it is a Bold plan).

But I’m not the only one you’ll be hearing from… Here’s the calendar. Check out who else will be on board!

Don’t hesitate! Sign up today! Oh, and when we get to Ward’s day to post, be sure to thank him for the logo and wish him a happy birthday!

Had I known what a blast this event would be, or how many friends I would see, I would have joined PNBA (an organization of booksellers from 5 states) and attended their Fall Trade Show years ago. You can bet I’m not going to miss any more than I have to in the future.

Of course, staying in Tacoma’s Hotel Murano and being one of the 20 featured authors in PNBA’s Author Feast (table-to-table musical-chairs every 15 minutes for speed-dating booksellers) probably influenced me, but I also loved showing off the talent in our Western Washington chapter of The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.

We set up a booth in the exhibit hall on Sunday and featured several authors and illustrators who had books published this year. The uber-talented Kevan Atteberry created a huge poster for us…

My big news is that I’m now working with Rubin Pfeffer, agent at East West Literary. Rubin is responsible for creating Simon & Schuster’s Beach Lane Books. When I met Rubin this spring, he told me when S&S gave Allyn Johnston and Andrea Beebe Welch their own imprint, he tried to move my dinobooks over with them (which is what I did later with Michael Stearns’ help). I think Rubin and I will be a good match.

Those of you who know my strong education background will not be surprised that I’m beyond excited about upcoming school visits, especially one where I have the opportunity to really make a difference by doing a week-long writing residency at a small elementary school, primarily working with grades 3-5. It’s their way of boosting those writing scores, and it’s the perfect fit for my background and training. I’m forever blown away by the responses I get after school visits, although I’ve always said that passion is contagious.

My goal now is to find schools who haven’t been able to do school visits and offer them deep discounts. If you are a parent, teacher, or school librarian who has tried to convince others of the benefits of school author visits, this is the time to try again. First of all, check out my earlier post on the benefits of school visits, and then contact me about sending your school the following flyer and a note about my presentations.

So, back to that question: When do I write? Now. Whenever I can fit in a moment. Rubin sent me great revision notes, and now it’s time to tackle them.

Best wishes for your own writing, reading, teaching, or whatever “feeds” you these days… Keep in touch!