Monday, January 3, 2011

A Kick to the Right Side of my Brain

Happy 2011, everyone!

I am so excited for what this year will bring, and I'm eager to get started on a major project I've been planning for quite some time. BUT I still have to finish up the one I'm working on. Exhaustion is common as one enters the last phases of a book, particularly during the busy holiday season, but I was lucky enough to come across some incredibly inspiring art to keep my mind whirring. Here's a taste...

1. JUST KIDS by Patti Smith. I realize I'm a little late to the party with this one, but--wow--if you were one of those "creative" girls in your late teens/early twenties, with no idea what to do with your creative impulses, this is for you. I loved reading how Patti came into her own and figured out what to do with all the ideas exploding in her head.

2. Bonobo is a pseudonym for the Brit DJ Simon Green. I usually can't write to music, but his hypnotic album, Black Sands, calls forth the words like a snake charmer. I'm obsessed!

3. Expanding my Beta circle. I love my long-term betas, but it's always good to search out new, critical readers. I've been lucky enough to meet some pretty sharp, fantastic people and my writing has truly benefited.

4. Black Swan--It's a Hitchcock/Twilight Zone/YA novel mash-up. LOVED it. I mean, I was totally creeped out, but it's been a while since a movie made me feel anything deeply. So...cool.

5. Comic books. My younger son has been writing his own comics. Watching how his 8 year old brain maps out a story has been a lesson in the art of simplicity.

What's been jumpstarting your creativity? Movies? Art? Music? Tell me!

5 comments:

  1. I NEED to see Jack's comics!!!

    Just Kids is next on my list...that and An Object of Beauty. Can't wait. and you know I agree on Black Swan.

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  2. I still haven't gotten to see Black Swan and I'm still dying to.

    Also, the fact that your son is making his own comic is so bad ass.

    <3

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  3. Ugh. I so wanted to see Black Swan with my girls and they went while I was on vacation! I still haven't seen it, but every chick I've talked to either loved it or has some kind of nightmare.

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  4. Must try Bonobo!!

    And, I've got a stack of books to tackle.

    Happy 2011!!!

    sf

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  5. I am SO gonna look into all these things! I am very energized by music too, so I will def. check out Bonobo! Thanks :)))

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