Cheating the Muse - Letter E

Exciting times, isn't it? Lots of creative things to do, a workload that could drive anyone to drink, and unlimited time to do everything. Sorry, I was being sarcastic for a moment, but I think you get the idea.

Doing anything creative is fun. Often relaxing. Most of the time, it's incredibly satisfying. And yet, it is not always easy.

Sometimes, it is downright difficult. And might even feel impossible. And yet, the urge to draw, paint, sculpt, write or collage is an inherent part of all of us.

I get excited thinking about the projects I have planned. Projects that are in the making. So why is it so hard when we feel like nothing is working? Or the effort to do something small feel too much?

Unless I am too tired to think, which does happen, or overwhelmed with my todo list, I remain enthusiastic about my creative endeavours. Then, I have to take a step back. I take a day, or even three, to rest or reevaluate that todo list.

We often feel that everything is out of control when very little is within our control. So, when life happens, I remind myself that my projects are still there, as exciting and fun as always. I need to recharge my energies or prioritise my todo list, and then the enthusiasm returns. And often the time and energy to create.

Tomorrow I give you another overview of the past week in #the100daychallenge. The blog challenge, Letter F, will be back on Monday.

Stay creative!

💜Linzé

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

The 100 day project Week 4 (Day 22 to Day 28)

 Hey there creative friend!

A new week and it started with the making of a few bits of ephemera for a new junk journal I intend to make from a paper bag. Not my first, but it was fun since I love bookbinding.

We ended the week with a long weekend, which I used to move my vegetable garden (yes, literally moved it). On Saturday I planted the seeds for winter, as well as two pots with flowers just for some colour.

As always a lot of writing since I love telling the stories of the characters in the growing series, The Nations of Peace.

Until next time!

💜Linzé

Day 22

Top is an envelope from a scrapbook kit that I bought many years ago. I just folded and glued it together.

Middle is a pocket, and bottom are three journaling cards made from an Uno deck of cards I bought because of the size. I don't play Uno.

Time: 2 hours

Day 23

The story is evolving. 😃

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Day 24

Another gouache painting in my sketchbook. With only 5 pages left, I am getting excited to finish it.

Time: 3 hours

Day 25

I started making the junk journal from a paper bag. The blue image is a shell on the fabric that I stitched to the paper bag to form the base of the cover.

It will have three signatures.

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Day 26

Another Thursday session to work on the raven project. I see a few areas that need some attention, but as a WIP, it is not going badly at all.

Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Total time: 10 hours

Day 27

The junk journal finished. Made with a paper bag, covered with fabric, and three signatures made from mostly magazine pages. It is empty, and ready to be filled with thoughts, quotes, or ephemera when I am ready to use it.

Time: 8 hours (over three days)

Day 28

I didn't write all these words today. In fact they were written in bits over the past week in a notebook that I carry with me everywhere. I spent today transcribing the words into the file on my computer.

Time: 3 hours