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What is Your Vision for Your Latest Creative Project?

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By Katie Corbett

I decided to blog about my latest creative project (my novel) because I want to use this opportunity to brainstorm a little bit. It can be fun to move away from writing serious posts about deep life things, and think a little more about something fun and creative.

I envision my novel expanding into a series. My novel is about a pac of werewolves, and there are five members in the pack, so I would like to write a book from each of their perspectives. The first book in my novel is from the point of you of the pack Alpha. I think, for the subsequent books, I will write from the point of view of each of the other members. I am even playing with the idea of having each book be written in a different genre, but we will see. That is probably quite controversial, so I will get some feedback from my writer friends before making a firm decision.

I also see this book being made into a movie. It would be really cool to do some creative things with that, since one of my characters is blind, and another one experience is impulse control issues because she is a psychopath. I would love to find a creative Director who is interested in Exhibiting each of these characteristics in a fun way, so the audience can experience a little of what life might be like in that person’s shoes.

Are you working on any creative projects right now? What is your vision for your latest project? Is your vision as simple as getting started? I would love to find out, so feel free to leave me a comment.

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A Discovery Quote That Made me Think

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By Katie Corbett

As usual these days, I looked to my creativity app for inspiration. This quote popped up, and I found it thought-provoking:

“Discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

(Marcel Proust)

I found this quote so captivating, because over the past year, I  have been trying to find new places to go, things to try, people to be friend, in order to make my life more interesting. I took a job that required me to travel two hours one-way at least once a week. I made a lot of new friends, but haven’t had the time or energy to maintain those relationships along with my current friendships. I’ve tried various new hobbies, but have put them aside in favor of other pursuits.

In the end, I opted to dial back my lifestyle to more of what it had been the previous year with a slower pace, and a remote job. Instead of trying to look for the new and different elsewhere, I am now looking for the new and different in my every day life. Seeing every day as a new challenge and a new adventure has helped me remain interested in continuing to do what I have been doing.

Have you ever thought you needed a change of pace, and then realized all you needed was a fresh perspective? I’d love to hear all about it, so feel free to leave me a note in the comments.

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The Joys of Running

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By Katie Corbett

 

 

I have recently taken up running. I am in the midst of my fourth week of the Couch to 5K running plan. I have discovered throughout these weeks that running helps me in some amazing ways.

 

Running gives me something to strive for. Each day I run, I am getting closer to my goal. This keeps me motivated on days when I do not feel like running.

 

 

I am excited to think of myself as an athlete. I decided I wanted to be a runner long before I ran my first race. I trained for and ran a 5K back in 2016, and I am excited to be doing it again.

 

It is my hope that running will help me be more social. Many other people enjoy running, both casually and competitively, and I will need to run with someone in order to run races. (Blind runners hold onto a cord and a sighted person holds onto the other end and they are about 18 inches apart. That way the blind runner can be guided by the cited person without being too close.) I’m excited to meet new people, and run with others as part of my journey.

 

 

Have you recently taken up a new hobby? What benefits does it provide for you? I would love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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Feeling Overwhelmed? Take a Break

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By Katie Corbett

 

When overwhelm starts to occur, it can be easy to try to push through. As a result, you could end up working until you are spent or shut down. I have found it helpful to take a break.

 

Overwhelm can easily happen to me when I need to make multiple choices. The most recent example is that I am tentatively searching for a new dog. There are so many different breeds out there, and it can be overwhelming. I have also taken quizzes and have never gotten the same result twice. And then when it comes to adoptable dogs… It gets even harder.

 

I’m trying my best to take it slow through the process, and take breaks in between research sessions. I’m also trying really hard to be honest about what I’m looking for, so that it will help me weed out the choices that might not be the best for me.

 

Are you in the middle of a project that is overwhelming? What things are you doing to pace yourself and make sure that you are getting all the information you need?

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If There Were No One Else in the World

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By Katie Corbett

 

I am a recovering people-pleaser. I am always looking for ways to figure out what I want, find out what is important to me, and accomplish those things.

 

I have pondered a question that has helped me do this effectively: “If there were no one else in the world, what would you do?” It is a very insightful question, and I have been surprised by the answers I have gotten.

At times, when I ask myself this question, the answer is something relaxing, like read a book, or take a nap. Other times it is something productive, like work on a specific project, or do chores.

 

At first, I was afraid that when I asked myself this question, I would only do activities that would give me the most pleasure. Asking myself this question has helped me trust myself, and recognize what is good for me in that moment without worrying about the opinions or expectations of others.

Have you encountered a question that has changed your life? Let me know; I would love to see it in the comments.

 

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Benefits of Review

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By Katie Corbett


There is value in going back and reviewing things you have made earlier in your life. I have had a novel in the works since 2009. Yesterday, I took some time between doing a load of dishes and preparing for Thanksgiving to read over that very first draft ever. Needless to say, my writing has improved a lot since then. But I did learn several valuable lessons from that experience.

 

I learned that reading my old writing could be enjoyable. I compared it to looking at baby pictures: sort of cute, slightly embarrassing, and I’m definitely grateful no one else will read that book.

 

It was fun to see how much my writing has improved since then. I have gotten much better at dialogue, more readily able to show instead of tell, and my plot points have gotten tighter.

 

Even though that first draft is basically garbage, I know that my novel wouldn’t be what it is today without that writing. I needed to write to figure out who my characters are, what kinds of things they would do, and how they would interact with each other. That first draft definitely helped me flesh out a lot of those points.

 

Have you taken the time to go back and look at previous work? What insights did you gain from the experience? Can you think of ways in which that previous work has impacted you now? I would love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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Reflections on my Writing, Part 3

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By Katie Corbett

 

Here is the third and final part of my essay about writing. Enjoy!

 

I feel my writing has become varied and diverse, and I discover more new surprises about it the more I write. Writing every day has been a wonderful challenge for me, and I hope I can continue the practice. I may skip a day or two here and there, but when I do, I don’t feel complete again until I have written something new. Topics and ideas abound, and it is my hope that I’m able to explore as many as possible. Even if I never get published again, I know I will continue to write. Writing releases me, teaches me about who I am as a person, and helps me reflect on how those around me impact my life.

 

So, sit down, pull out your notebook or laptop, and reflect on your writing. Here are some questions to get you started.

 

  • Why do you write what you write?
  • How has your writing process changed over time?
  • Are there some aspects of your writing life you’d like to change or improve?
  • What do you struggle with as a writer?
  • What has been your biggest personal accomplishment in your writing so far?

 

These are just a few of the questions you could ask yourself. Take a few minutes to explore who you are as a writer. You never know what you’ll find out, and chances are, you’ll be glad you took the time to get to know yourself, and you’ll discover gifts and secrets within your writing you never knew existed.

 

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Reflections on my Writing, Part 2

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By Katie Corbett

 

Here’s the next part of the essay on writing. Enjoy!

 

Finding inspiration used to be one of the biggest road-blocks for me. I used to just write whenever the mood struck, but that wasn’t nearly enough to justify writing every day. Fortunately, I discovered “Naming the World,” by Bret Anthony Johnston. The book is packed with writing prompts and exercises on every topic pertaining to writing, from starting stories, to character development, to point-of-view and tone. Without the prompts to spark my muse, I’d still be sitting at my keyboard, waiting for her to show up.

 

As for word-count, I try to write at least 500 words per day. The guideline gives me something to push for, yet it is attained easily enough to not be an arduous rule. This is necessary as I am still adjusting to having the full-time job I started in January, which doesn’t leave me much time to write.

 

As with anything, maintaining balance is most challenging. I love to write, but I love to read as well—fiction and nonfiction alike. I have also decided I want to research getting an MFA in fiction, so research—not to mention applying to prospective programs—cuts into my available time. I try to write a short piece or poem each night, because I can usually spare an hour or two in the evenings for my personal pursuits, and sometimes I’ll have gained ideas or inspiration throughout the day. Then, I might read a bit of nonfiction—mostly pertaining to the craft of writing. While I’m lying in bed at night, I’ll break out a novel or collection of short stories and read a chapter or story—or two. I also read fiction while on the bus traveling to and from work, which, in addition to making my commute more interesting, buys me a little more time to write each day.

 

The one area which still lacks a time-slot in my schedule right now is seeking potential places to publish my work. I have the resources—I’ve gotten a few books that list literary magazines and publishing houses—but I haven’t put much effort into setting a time to do market research. Part of that might be a confidence issue. I keep wondering why anyone would want to read my writing. All writers have this problem, though, so once I get back into a critique group—and into a network of supportive fellow writers who know the struggles and set-backs writers face—I think it might be easier to have faith in my pieces as potentially-publishable works.

 

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Devotionals Can be For Business, Too

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By Katie Corbett

 

As you can probably tell if you’ve been reading my blog for some time now, I love plans. There are times, however, when I want some of the planning done for me. That’s why I’ve had a lot of success working with books that suggest an activity, thinking prompt, or mindset shift every day, week, month, or season.

 

Books like this are commonly associated with weight loss plans, religious practices, or building healthy money habits. It turns out, these books exist for business activities, too! Listen to this short audio about why I love books like this! Enjoy!