Friday Fun: SP Studio

Here's your chance to be a cartoonist! Make your own South Park characters. It's fun, it's easy, it's Friday!

Creativity Tips: Plant Something

Plant a petunia.
It's good for the soul to dig in the dirt.

Plant an idea.
Start small. See how it grows.

Plant your feet firmly on the ground.
Make it tough for anyone -- or anything -- to knock you over.

(Now, it's your turn to be the creative gardener. What else should we plant?)

Creativity Exercise: Make a List!

Don't groan over the post headline. I'm not talking about a "to do" list. This is far more fun ... this is poetry! List poems aren't as structured as the old 5-7-5, but they open the door to amazing poetry.

And don't tell me you can't do it, because we can all make a list. Read this example, then give it a try.

Among the Things He Does Not Deserve
by Dan Albergotti from The Boatloads.
© BOA Editions, 2008.

Greek olives in oil, fine beer, the respect of colleagues,
the rapt attention of an audience, pressed white shirts,
just one last-second victory, sympathy, buttons made
to resemble pearls, a pale daughter, living wages, a father
with Italian blood, pity, the miraculous reversal of time,
a benevolent god, good health, another dog, nothing
cruel and unusual, spring, forgiveness, the benefit
of the doubt, the next line, cold fingers against his chest,
rich bass notes from walnut speakers, inebriation, more ink,
a hanging curve, great art, steady rain on Sunday, the purr
of a young cat, the crab cakes at their favorite little place,
the dull pain in his head, the soft gift of her parted lips.
----

Once you've made your list, go back and look at where Albergotti breaks his lines.

Creativity Tips: The Perfect Mistake

I was cleaning out old emails, and found this note from a friend ... sent when I was in the midst of a crisis:

Love you and call me if you need forever.

She meant, " ... if you need anything." But her mistake is perfect, and said exactly what she meant. Mistakes can be marvelous.*

By the by, the crisis is long gone. The love remains.

*I could be making a mistake here. I may have already used this on the blog. It doesn't matter. I don't feel like searching for it -- and I do feel like starting our week with this reminder: A creative team just isn't complete without a friend you can call if you need forever.

Friday Fun: Get Ready for Memorial Day

My friend Steve led me to this Do It Yourself site, full of cool projects. Check out the Memorial Day ideas! I'll see you back here on Tuesday -- enjoy the long holiday weekend!

Creative Inspiration: Yehuda Amichai

Yehuda Amichai is rapidly becoming my new favorite poet. The more I read, the more I like. Here's a quick sample:

I Know A Man
© Yehuda Amichai

I know a man
who photographed the view he saw
from the window of the room where he made love
and not the face of the woman he loved there.

Translated by Chana Bloch

Site Seeing: Creativity is No Accident

Thanks to Leslie for pointing out this fun post on successful, creative kitchen accidents. I like the story about potato chips.

And look at what the Big Rabbit did with our Monday post on blue!