Thank you to those of you who commented on my previous post to let me know that your basic Kindle or Nook e-readers are not backlit and therefore, not a source of blue light. My apologies for making an incorrect assumption and lumping all e-readers in with tablets, computers, i-Phones and similar devices. If an … More Bedtime Reading Bad for Sleep? It Depends
Many writers read in bed as part of our bedtime routine. We read until we’re tired, then it’s lights out. But if you read in bed by the glow of a Nook, Kindle, iPad or other device, you may find that you read and read and never really feel tired. Not until you have to … More Bedtime Reading Causes Writer’s Block
Rachel Vilsack requested a post on how to capitalize on creative flow at those times when “I come up with new, great idea that is exactly what I’ve been looking for, but it happens when I don’t have time to write, like when I’m at work. I get jazzed to work on the idea just … More How to Capture Creative Flow When You Have No Time
I regret to say I didn’t know Ann Marsden. I wasn’t conscious of her work, although I’m sure I’ve seen many of her photos. A coaching client brought her to my attention and sent me a link to a Creative Minds video of Ann talking about her creative process. It’s surreal to watch a video … More In Memory of Ann Marsden
Writers have to know how to relax in the moment so we can move out of the resistance caused by a limbic system takeover and re-engage our creative cortex. But even better than knowing how to move out of resistance is knowing how to avoid it in the first place. A regular relaxation practice gives … More Keep Your Creative Cortex Engaged – Brain Basics Part 3
After the last post on the neurology of resistance, many of you may be thinking “Okay, so writing resistance is normal and I don’t have to feel guilty or embarrassed. That’s a huge relief, but what do I do next? How do I get past resistance and start writing again?” The key is the RAS … More Relax Your Way Out of Writer’s Block – Brain Basics Part 2
Joel Canfield asked me to review “the foundations and high-level perspectives about why we struggle with this stuff, and why your excellent solutions work.” I’m happy to oblige! Here are the brain basics of writer’s block. Do You Have What It Takes? If you’ve ever questioned whether you have enough discipline, will power, ambition or … More Brain Basics About Writer’s Block
Two posts ago, we looked at how and why you need to shift from high to low prefrontal cortex to be creative, which left us with the question of when to shift brain states. The previous post reviewed what brain states are most effective in the first three of the six stages of the creative … More When to Shift Your Brain Part 2
The previous post illustrated why creativity demands you shift from an active prefrontal cortex to a quiet prefrontal cortex and explained how you do that. That leaves us with the question of when to shift brain states. I haven’t found a lot of research on what specific areas of the brain you want active or … More When to Shift Your Brain into “Creative Overdrive”
Remember that writing project that you stalled out on (or are currently stalled with)? The one you just couldn’t get any traction on because your brain is in neutral or reverse? Obviously, you need to shift gears to a creative brain state to get moving on that again. The trouble is there isn’t just one … More Do You Know How to Shift Your Brain to “Creative OverDrive”?
Bane of Your Resistance 