#IWSG: Other Creative Outlets

19 Commentswriting
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Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 6 posting of the IWSG are Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Remember, the question is optional!

February 6 question – Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?

I’m bad about getting out there and doing things just for fun. We all know writing has a way of becoming a second job, and usually, I’m about as brutal a taskmaster as any. (Yes, of course I want my revision finished. And I want it finished RIGHT NOW.)

I finally bought that new computer, and the two-in-one form factor (convertible, not detachable) lends itself to more doodling and drawing than I’ve done in years. It came with a Wacom bamboo stylus. Yes, it did. (Well, they were shipped in the same box, and that counts.)

I’m not as good at it as I am with a paper and pencil, but the tidiness of the thing makes my sketches easy to keep track of.

I draw. I paint. And now and then, I do a little photography. (My own, personal camera is a Pentax K1000 I got used years ago. For hiking, it’s usually my camera phone.)

In a setting with more people, and more free time, I also dance. It’s been a disturbingly long time since I’ve done that.

So, Insecurities…

I’ve reached the major rewrite portion of my current revision, and it’s definitely a major overhaul. I’m not sure how much of the original book will be left, right now. At the same time, I do think this is making it better.

We’ll see.

19 Comments

  1. Erika Beebe

    Reply

    I think authors tend to be extremely multifaceted in their other areas of life. I love that you paint and draw and dance. I love to dance too, but like you, I haven’t danced in so long 🙂

  2. trishafaye

    Reply

    Drawing and dance! Those are two talents that were out of stock the day I was born. Both very creative, but yes, require time too, especially when you’re in a deadline crunch to accomplish writing tasks.
    Good luck with your revision!

  3. Natalie Aguirre

    Reply

    That’s great that you like drawing and dancing too and can do it more with your new computer. Good luck with the revisions. I had to cut 30,000 words from my first and only completed manuscript.

  4. Toi Thomas

    Reply

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.
    I too like to doodle, draw, and paint. I currently use a Nikon when I play photographer, but I haven’t done so in quite awhile.
    All the best with your revision.

  5. debscarey

    Reply

    Oooh, another Pentax user 🙂 You’re covering the creative spectrum really nicely there. I, too, used to dance and don’t do it anymore. Age, injury and time to blame, but no excuse for not dancing round my living room. In an attempt to get more active, I rather like that idea. Thank you 🙂

    Best of luck with the re-write – may it go smoothly.

  6. Rhonda Gilmour writing romance as Sadira Stone

    Reply

    Fellow dancer waving. What sort do you do? I’d love to learn more about photography. Interesting side note: My latest book featured an aspiring photographer, so I asked a successful art photographer which camera he’d recommend for my character. His answer: the latest smart phone.

    • Karen

      Reply

      These days, it’s mostly ballroom and other social dancing, but I used to to a little jazz and modern “back in the day.”

  7. Juneta

    Reply

    Congrats on the new computer. I have wanted a Wacom for years because I love to sketch too. Happy IWSG!

    • Karen

      Reply

      The Bamboo stylus is a nice entry point. It doesn’t need a special tablet, and it just works with the touchscreen on my computer. It’s the only one I’ve ever had, but I like it.

    • Karen

      Reply

      I’m not sure I said anything about actual talent. Drawing is definitely more repetition than inborn gift for me.

  9. Lee Lowery

    Reply

    I’m amazed at the number of writers who’ve listed both dance and photography among their creative abilities! I love to design with graphics, but must admit a complete lack of knowledge about Wacom. Something to look up now!

    • Karen

      Reply

      Wacom has a whole range that I covet. The stylus I got is fairly entry-level and works directly with my computer, but they also do drawing tablets that go all the way up to professional levels.

  10. raimeygallant

    Reply

    Yea about the new computer. I need a new one, have since last year, but I’m holding off and making sure I backup all the time, at least until a model I actually like is available. The keyboards on offer in Canada aren’t well suited to me, for the most part.

    • Karen

      Reply

      I held out until I realized the keyboard wasn’t working on my old one. (I kept finding letters that weren’t there while I was revising.)

  11. Angela Wooldridge

    Reply

    I think it’s a good sign that you’ve got so much new stuff to add to your novel. Way more fun than only having 40k words and no more ideas!

    • Karen

      Reply

      I’m starting at about 90k, though. **sob** I’m hoping that it will be more “replace” than “add.*

  12. CD Gallant-King

    Reply

    Ah, new computers are so nice. Always full of so much possibility.

    I’ve always been intrigued by drawing tablets but honestly I don’t draw enough to make it worthwhile.

    Good luck with the edits and revisions! I see a bunch of those on my horizon…

    IWSG February

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