Creativity and such

Ah shucks. Hellojed nominated me for another award: the Creative Blogger Award. Here's what she said:

Angie over at Angie's Write has a great turn of phrase and is a fellow writer/blogger; she struggles with her need to write versus a 'proper job'. I hear ya!

Thanks, hellojed! *still blushing* Coincidentally I've been feeling more creative over the last week than I've felt in months. I think the trick was giving myself permission to start something new and work on it as well as the first novel. Somehow it excited interest not only in the second novel idea, but also reinvigorated interest in my first novel, AND inspired me to work on a short story idea. I've had this short story in mind for ages but it was lacking something, which I was finally able to pinpoint last night, at midnight no less. I now keep a writing idea journal and pen on the nightstand for these late night ideas. I've always been a night-owl, and although I can't keep night-owl hours these days with the husband and dog around, I do seem to feel most creative at that hour, so I often find myself sneaking ideas into the journal late at night. This morning, I started the short story and now I'm 2251 words (about 2/3) into it. Hurrah! It's not novel writing, but at least it's getting the creative juices flowing and making me feel really productive since I've written through it so quickly.

So now I s'pose I nominate five creative bloggers? And the Creative Blogger Award goes to:

Helen at Redders Ramblings not only for finishing her first novel draft (huzzah!), but also for those beautiful cakes. We all remember my cake decorating skills, yes?

Kristen of Gold in the Seams of My Hands, not only for braving this blogging malarkey and starting her very own blog, but also for that lovely poetry. I demand more!

Rebecca James published her first novel this spring and is now working on her next meanwhile raising four(!) rambunctious boys and also creating beautiful paintings.

JJ at Tea Stains is writing her first novel while raising kids in a foreign country. I also hear she's a bit of an artist herself (potters creatively).

Clare of Boob Pencil published her first novel with a publisher that subsequently went under; she finished a second novel and is now going through the process of finding an agent. I love how she honestly details her struggles, while keeping her hopes high. Those fabulous drawings of hers in the background of her blog are great too.

To find out more about this award, go here.