15 Minute Writer

How to Write: Allow Your Play To Support Your Work

November 22nd, 2011 Tags: creative writing, encouragement in writing, have fun writing, how to write, productivity, writing tips
Posted in Creative Writing, How to Write, Keys to Success in Writing, Writing Encouragement, Writing Tips

When you go out to do something relaxing are you alert for ideas that would give you solutions? Are you open to ideas to help you solve a problem at home or work?

Open your eyes to see and ears to hear because ideas and solutions are everywhere. They come more freely when you give yourself a break and go do something fun!

Here’s an example from my own life. A friend invited me to go to an small artist colony here in Arkansas. Terra Studios is the home of the original bluebird of happiness.  I hesitated because of my long to do list for my work. I had just set my goals for the month for my productivity group and I felt self imposed pressure to get started on them. However, I had decided as part of my work goals to intentionally invest in creativity and fun activities. I had put it on my list of things to do so now I had to do something fun.

This decision to incorporate creativity activities as part of my goals started last summer when I stayed with my sister for a couple of months in San Diego. We had a blast going on creative adventures together. Since returning home I missed those adventures so I decided to schedule creative opportunities. I wrote my friend back and we found a day that would work for both of us.

The day we left, the sun shone bright and the trees still showed off all their beautiful fall leaves. As we drove, I soaked in the various array of colors, orange, red and yellow mingled in with some still green.

During our drive, I told my friend about my Conflict to Peace in Relationships blog. She shared a story of a conflict she had with a friend and a great idea for a blog post popped in my mind. I pulled out my blank notepad and began scribbling down notes to remember when I returned home.

When we arrived at artist colony, we thoroughly enjoyed all the creative statues, pottery and glass. As we toured the back of the building and watched them blow the bluebird of happiness, my eye caught a pink bird of hope they created for women who had contacted cancer. Another idea came to me for direction in my writing.

Then on the way out, I stopped to read a group of plaques with inspiring sayings that motivated me in my writing. A realization came to me, I came to play but my play supported my work and gave me significant ideas. Fortunately, I was prepared and briefly wrote down all that came to me.

3 Tips to Capture Ideas

1. Keep a pad and pen near you at all times.
2. Take brief notes but enough so you can remember the essential details.
3. Write as soon as you get home or within the next day while it’s fresh on your mind.

Have you thought about the connection between play and work? Sometimes we get so focused on work, we forget that play is an important part of work. Maybe if you realize that play can support your work whether it’s at an office or at home, you’ll take time to enjoy your life more.

What about you? Do you take time to relax and do fun things. What do you do to capture the ideas and solutions that come to you?