10 Minute Tip

Image from Start Where You are by Meera Lee Patel

For the very last 10 minute tip of 2015 I'm going to share some books with you that I'll be using in 2016 to help nurture my creative spirit. I've already bought these books and had a chance to look through them and admire them, so I hope you will find them as inspiring as I do...

The Little Spark 30 Ways to Ignite Your Creativity by Carrie Bloomston is a book I've actually had for a few months. I plan to keep it handy this year and revisit it regularly. I've actually read it cover to cover and loved it, but it's a book that needs time to marinate. That means, I need to go back and actually spend time with some of the challenges or ideas that it suggests. I need to do the exercises now that I've read the words. It's a beautiful book and it's fun to flip from page to page. It's not a book that necessarily needs to be started at the beginning and finished at the end. Know what I mean?

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert  is a book that found me at the exact right time I needed to find it. I had heard of it online and decided to pick it up when I was in the local bookstore. I have only read the first third of the book so far but it totally nails the creative process for me. It clearly explains some of the biggest questions I seem to have. While some may describe it as a 'self-help' type of book I think it is much more of a 'how-to guide' for living creatively and encouraging the creative process in your life, whatever form that takes. It is real and tangible in the ways it discusses the process of being your best creative self. I'm much more in favor of a hand's-on approach to 'steps-to-take-next' kind of person and this book is the guide that does that. I hope you will read the reviews and enjoy this book as much as I have far.

The 52 Lists Project: A Year of Weekly Journaling Inspiration by Moorea Seal is probably the perfect book for me. I love books, and I love lists, so a book that I can write lists in is just about perfection in my opinion.  It's a prompt for each week of the year, that requires a list response. I get to write a list each week for a whole year. The photography and graphics are beautiful and the prompts are thoughtful. The only thing that will be difficult for me is to actually wait a week between lists! I want to write them all out now!!! It is arranged by seasons of the year and I can see that it will be so relevent as the year progresses, so that will help me be more patient I hope. I bought this book because of the reviews, and now that I have my hands on it, I know it was good decision for me. The lists are a starting point for developing new habits or changing behaviors. I can't wait to see where this leads!

Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel is the book I am most excited about! This small journal is filled with the most amazing artwork and gives journal prompts and written excercises to complete for each quote. It is so gorgeous that I almost don't want to write in it. I did buy some ink pens in beautiful colors to help make that easier. The quotes are thoughtful and interesting and the questions are given in a way that is engaging creatively. I am excited to begin my journey with this little book and I know I'll spend some quality time writing and drawing on it's pages.

I would love to know what you think about these or any other books on nurturing creativity. Please leave a comment with suggestions for books that I need to check out, I would greatly appreciate it!

Enjoy every page!
Diane


      

The fine print: I was not paid to endorse any of these products. I simply like to pass on a good thing when I find it. If you purchase anything through the links here, I will receive a tiny reward. Your support is greatly appreciated!