I've had a peek a the Jan-Feb issue of Poets & Writers magazine and it looks like a wonderful issue. First of all it has the 7th Annual look at Debut Poets. I always love his feature and have sometimes in he past known one o two of the poets. Even so, it's always fun to see things like their age, experience, time spent both writing and then finding a home for their book, advice, etc.
There is a special section in this issue that is on inspiration. Several articles that deal with things like:
- Clearing some of the stumbling blocks to creative thinking
- Opening your writers mind
- Inspired reading
- Inspired revision
to name a few. Some pretty interesting stuff to think about in this material. Reading the fist one on stumbling blocks to creativity opened my eyes to some things and also reinforced some notions I've come to on my own in recent times.
I was particularly interested in the author's citation of some of the material from Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. For example his 5 stages of creativity:
- preparation
- incubation
- insight
- evaluation
- elaboration
Most of these really require some shield from the bombardment of simulation hat comes from outside interferences/influences like you would have while exposed to an Internet connection. Csikszentmihalyi talks also about the 4 obstacles to creative accomplishment.
- Psychic exhaustion
- easy distraction
- inability to protect/channel creative energy
- not knowing what to do with energy
These articles would be a great read during the holiday beak in advance of the new year and (gulp) need I say resolutions?
