One of my notebooks is labelled ‘Compost Heap’. It’s where I jot down thoughts, stick in pictures and save interesting articles that have caught my eye. I use it to scrawl mind maps of ideas that come to me out of the blue, usually when I’m trying to fall asleep. The writing is spidery and …
Even unzipping the case of a 1960s Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter sends a thrill through the body. Cup of tea on the desk, thesaurus and a childhood dictionary placed neatly alongside, and an intention that here is the time to create. Rolling the paper into the machine, the first line is slowly pondered and, as …
Unexpected, strange, delightful – the stories and characters of dreams have long provided inspiration for novelists, film-makers, artists and poets. But this well of ideas and insight might seem out of reach for the layperson, particularly those who don’t recall their dreams regularly, even though it’s something every single person does every single night. And …
When you think of home décor, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s selecting the perfect colour palette, creating a mood board or finding the right lighting to set the ambience? Maybe, as a final touch, you add a few potted plants or arrange a terrarium on a side table. It’s no secret that nature is …
Poetry. Perhaps you’ve thought about writing it but were too shy to try. Or you tried but were put off by the idea of rules or rhyming. If so, you’re not alone. The prospect of composing a poem can strike fear into the heart of anyone who thought they’d left the subject behind at the …
Do you recognise the frustration of grinding to a halt in the middle of a project, when inspiration dries up and you just feel stuck? It might be a creative endeavour, like a painting or piece of writing, or an essay or presentation at work. You’re staring at a blank screen and nothing’s flowing. One …
The spotlight picks out a podium on the stage. A hush descends over the audience. There’s the rattle of an envelope opening, a clearing of the throat. ‘And the winner is…’ A long pause. And then a name is spoken. Yours. If you’ve ever been in this position, it might have felt unreal. Or perhaps …
There’s only one thing about being creative that’s difficult – creativity. It’s all very well thinking up great ideas, or having the urge to get out your pen or paints, but the gap between thought and action can seem like a chasm. There’s always something more important – or easier – to do instead. It …
Literature repeats itself: classic tales and old myths are constantly referred to or retold in new stories. Have you ever noticed, for example, that Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King borrows much of its plot from Shakespeare’s Hamlet (written between 1599 and 1601)? Hamlet, in turn, was inspired by an ancient Scandinavian saga. Because so …
Picture the scene. You’ve the luxury of some spare time and you love reading. You long to dive into a book, featuring characters you care about and an absorbing plot. It’s why you pick up that novel – only to put it down a few hours later, nowhere near finishing. Not only that, when you …
