Cheating the Muse - Letter D

 

Downtime. Today, I want to talk about doing nothing. Or almost nothing.

I am exhausted as I sit here writing this post. It's been a long day. I had to have my car serviced, which meant braving the traffic during peak time.

Then, I had challenges with the tests I had planned. Not problems, but the preparation time took much longer, so I couldn't do everything I had planned.

Of course, I am not letting the project slip past the planned date because I have some extra time built in. With years of experience doing this work, I have learned to add a day or sometimes two days to ensure I finish the job as promised.

But now I am home, too tired to think, and now I have a challenge to attend to. Did I mention a list? So, for today, I will pick something that won't take more than 5 minutes.

Challenge fulfilled. And that is a success in my book.

Until tomorrow!

💜Linzé

Cheating the Muse - Letter C

Hey there, fellow creative!

I mentioned a list yesterday. Like many (or maybe most) people, I use lists in several forms to plan. Whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly. I don't have many monthlies, but daily and weekly? Absolutely!

Since my effort last year to do #the100dayproject was such a dismal disaster, I got bored and stopped after day 10. I decided to take a different approach: I would commit to time, not a specific project.

Today, April 3, is day 40 of the 100 day challenge, and I have yet to wonder what to do. Hence, the list.

So, what does that list entail?

• The answer is simple: things I like to do—art, craft, or writing. My list does have some details, such as working on the raven drawing or editing the novella Rowan, I Dare You.
• Other items are not specific. There, I have binding a journal or making collage ephemera.
• One item on the list is something I have wanted to do for a while now: finish nearly full sketchbooks. They take up space, but a completed sketchbook is a satisfying thing. I love that feeling!

I have completed several of these but have many more to go. Am I sticking to the list? Oh no, it's a guide to help me when I am too tired to think about something to do. And that is the point of the list: it's a guide, a support for difficult days.

If you're a writer, watch for my post for the Letter I. I will share some exciting ideas specifically aimed at you.

Until tomorrow!

💜 Linzé

 

Cheating the Muse - Letter B

Today, I want to talk about creative challenges. Since 23 February 2025, I have done something creative every day for the #100dayproject. I tried to have a theme last year, and do it 100 times. Yeah, that didn't go so well because I was bored to tears by day 10.

So why mention the 100 day project, or even the A-to-Z blog challenge of which this post is a part?

The answer is simple: I don't like to fail. Don't get me wrong, neither my writing nor my art is perfect. My fabulous editor, Vanessa Wright, polishes my words, but my art is all me. So why mention failing?

The word is probably not the best to use in the context of what I mean, so let me explain. I like a challenge because I commit myself to creating something. The "fail" would be not creating that something.

This year, my 100 day project, is not a single project. Nor is it a themed project, not by any stretch of the imagination. I only committed to a daily practice; that's it. Whether it is 10 minutes, or two hours. The amount of time doesn't matter. Only the effort does. 

So far, the shortest time I spent has been 30 minutes. The longest was 6 hours. It only happened because there was no pressure. I shared my projects on this blog weekly if you want to see what I did. No pressure.

One hundred days is a long time, and if that is not for you, why not commit to once a week? I do that, too. My art group and I meet on Thursday evenings for 2 hours. We started in 2020 - yes, during lockdown, and it has been going almost without interruption.

Tomorrow, I will share some things on the list I made for the 100 day project. Yup, I made a list. 😉 Until then!

💜Linzé

Cheating the Muse - Introduction and A

I find "inspiration" as something I need to do something creative, too much effort. I usually have so many ideas that the choices are more of a problem than wondering what to do.

For this blog challenge, I am going to do the same as last year: make a list instead of trying to follow the alphabet.

This list is not complete at all. It is just my way of deciding what to do next and, sometimes, choosing a project for my art group to do next.

So here we go for the letter A - commitment and accountability 

My art group meets once a week on a Thursday evening for two hours. That time is scheduled in my calendar as a non-ending event. I am always looking forward to it. That is my commitment.

Doing art or crafts with friends also keeps me accountable to show up.

If you are a first-time visitor to my blog, welcome! Comments are welcome.

Tomorrow, I will share with you how I use creative challenges to keep the creative juices flowing.

Until then!

💜 Linzé

The 100 day project Week 5 (Day 29 to Day 35)

Hey there creative friend!

It's been a words week, that's for sure 😀 With working on the new book, and editing the novella, lots of words flowed out of my proverbial pen this week.

The good news is that the novella is finished, and I emailed it to my awesome editor on Thursday evening just as our art group meeting started. I spoke to her earlier in the day and told her the planned release date. With my next novel's release date coming soon, I need to focus on that instead of worrying about the novella...for now.

There was time for a bit of art and craft. Of course, a new set of acrylic markers helped the creative juices to flow too. 😂

Until next time!

💜 Linzé

Day 29

Working on the new novel.

Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Day 30

More words...LOL! 

Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Day 31

Some writing done during the day, but mostly after I finished work.

Time: 2 hours

Day 32

The final draft is now done and ended up at about 47,000 words. It might be shorter after the professional edit, but that's okay.

I prefer to get a book out that will be it's best version, which it will be with an awesome editor like Vanessa.

Time: 6 hours

Day 33

Another journal card made from the Uno deck on the left.

The 10x10cm painting on the right was done with new acrylic markers that I got a few days earlier.

Time: 2 hours

Day 34

I made a journal tag. The back has a pocket for storing ephemera or a journal card.

Although it is a large tag (16x8cm), it will fit the junk journal I made last week.

Time: 2 hours

Day 35

Not much time to write today since we are having a party for my husband's birthday and there is a lot to do before everyone arrives.

Time: 40 minutes