Outsiders often think creative people can do whatever they wish. You wield great power when you are the boss. But freedom comes with an equal measure of responsibility. The creative must manage every step in the creative process, from idea generation, creating the work, marketing, selling, managing submissions, to staying organized and on target. With luck, they invent a strategy that gets results.

It is a wonderful feeling when you devise a blueprint which works. The design’s strictures can lead us to question the wisdom of messing with the constructs of a proven method. Success raises the cost of failure. Making an adjustment is intimidating, choosing a different path is frightening. We can’t stop taking risks or trying a fresh direction. Picasso’s works exemplified radical change. He began with realism, switching to what they now call his Blue Period and his work continued to evolve. Each innovation he undertook, carried the prospect that no one would buy his art. But each stage allowed him to grow as an artist. His evolution strengthened him.

Is there a project which frightens you?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

We face many obstacles when we set goals for ourselves. The passage takes us into storms, rough seas, and demon doubt sends messages, advocating we abort the mission. Stepping into the wilderness demands courage and confronting the unknown. The enormity of the task can make succeeding feel impossible.

Forward progress requires trust and the ability to put one foot in front of the other. We advance step by step, meeting each obstacle as we encounter them. We solve the first problem and move to the next. The succession of dilemmas continues in a steady stream. They are the test, the price of admission. If our desire is strong enough, no danger can keep us from following the path and attaining our goal.

What perceived dangers are keeping you ashore?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sometimes the muse abandons us in our quest to create.  We say we are going through a desert, devoid of ideas, lacking inspiration, bereft of dreams. There is life if you are observant. To avoid the heat animals burrowing underground where the earth is cooler. They alter their lifestyle adopting nocturnal habits. Plants develop spines for protection, deep roots connect to life-sustaining moisture in the soil and tough skin to prevent water evaporation.

We must do the same to access the gems we seek. The desert requires us to reach into our core for the gold we pursue. We adjust our procedures, struggling to attain the seeds that spark creation. The amazing thing is the work pays big dividends providing us with things we never imagined. We uncover rich beauty.

Where do you find unexpected beauty?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Human beings like to push the envelope, fight in the arena, blaze a new trail and test their limits. Every individual has a unique, set of tolerable risks. Not all mountaineers want to climb Mount Everest, some prefer to base jump from a two-thousand-foot cliff. It is all about the precise balance of risk vs. reward. We have different definitions of acceptable danger. In accessing our tolerance, we consider our special skill which gives us certain advantages and we define our compelling reason.

There are thousands of reasons to quit, to stay in a safe place, to not try. To succeed, you must dig deep and identify your main purpose, your motivation to groom your mental and physical strength. It will push you to discover the unknown when others would stop, it is what keeps you going.

What is your reason to create your story?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Understanding the purpose of a few individuals we encounter on our path is difficult. Consider the giant SUV dude who switches lanes and threatened to take my front bumper with him. Or the woman in the checkout line who jammed her shopping cart into my heels. SUV dude confirmed the proper working order of my anti-lock brakes. Maybe he was late for a job interview. The brutal attack on my ankles is less obvious. Patience? Unconditional forgiveness? It is hard to say when my cry of unexpected pain elicited zero in the way of acknowledgment or apology.

There are true gems. The stranger who helps you after a fall. The dear friend who answers your call regardless of the hour. Unsolicited encouragement, high fives, and even a smile can encourage us. Harsh criticisms can open a window on a new line of thinking. None of it can happen unless we step outside and brave a few bruises.

What risk will you take today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Today marks a transformation. This week I adjust schedules, shake routines and change the marching orders. Sometimes routines become stale, too easily achieved, too predictable. To improve and grow things cannot remain the same.

It’s scary to alter the actions we know work, but growth doesn’t arise from stagnation. We rise when we try to reach new goals when we push ourselves. Perhaps it is a mistake. But it could be an excellent decision, one that propels us to unprecedented heights. We will never know unless we try.

What chances will you take this week?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

There is a magical quality to early Sunday mornings. Bright red cardinals compete for fat sunflower seeds. Red-winged blackbirds, chickadees, goldfinches, and a downy woodpecker flit between the feeder and the evergreens. Squirrels chase each other through the yard, oblivious to the hawk floating in lazy circles in the crystal blue sky. It may not be Walden, but it is my slice of nature carved from a suburban landscape.

A gentle mist rises in the chill air as the sun promises a warmer day. A deep breath, a hot cup of coffee and a soft breeze erases worry and clears the mind. The early morning brims with promise and ideas flow.

How do you spend your Sunday mornings?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It is a wonderful start when the muse presents you with a complete story, whispering details in your ear. If she is feeling generous, she delivers a riveting beginning, a fast-paced middle, and a satisfying end. She supplies a great plot, well-rounded characters, and intriguing subplots. Let’s be honest, I have deadlines and no time to wait for her to grace me with her presence. I sit at my desk for my scheduled writing session. My goal is to crank out words. And I have bubkus.

I type and a narrative develops. A protagonist appears, and we become acquainted. Together we embark on our journey, poking under leaves, splashing through streams, looking for trouble. It is a grand adventure. Other characters enter to either help or hinder our progress. Sometimes the muse drops by, reading over my shoulder. If I am lucky, she will offer a suggestion. Otherwise, we kick possibilities around and try one or two on for size. Soon, our time is at an end. The tale is a warp. No muse needed.

Are you an adventurer, or do you rely on an itinerary?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Some folks anticipate Friday’s arrival and the week’s end. My weekends are pressure cookers. Invariably, a few tasks scheduled during the week remain unfinished and get pushed to Saturday and Sunday along with other obligations, family dinners, meeting friends, yard work, laundry, and grocery shopping. They consume the hours meant for generating stories, relaxing and recharging our batteries. By Sunday afternoon I can’t wait for Monday’s calm.

The brain doesn’t stop working because the calendar says it is Friday. It is always creating, solving problems, and it demands you pay attention. Finding time to satisfy the creative drive on the weekend is a challenge. Separating work and play is impossible for me, they both live in the same realm, they are two sides of the same coin.

Can you separate work from play?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Tension gets a bad rap. They constantly tell us, we need to eliminate tension. But tension isn’t evil, in fact it is useful. Maybe imperative. We borrow the word tension from the Latin tensiōn-, tensiō “the process of drawing tight”. Tension is a pull in a cable, a cord, a string, a chain… or a tendon. There is an old saying: “You can’t push a rope.”

Body builders practice a “Time Under Tension” technique to help build big, strong muscles. When you are building muscle, tension is key. Structural Engineers use a measure called tensile strength to calculate the amount of force a material can withstand without tearing apart. Bundles of steel cables have huge tensile strength and are used to construct suspension bridges. Simple instruments are stringed. They produce delightful sounds with tensioned strings which vibrate when plucked, strummed or hammered. Storytellers rely on tension to keep their audience engaged in the tale. Tension makes the world beautiful.

How does tension make your life sing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer