Inspiration from the Common Wealth of Writers to Boost Creativity

By Creative Life Consultations

The 2014 team directing the XXth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow had declared they would:  '... be passionate in our work and encourage flair and creativity in all that we do', and they most certainly were.  Is this approach the secret behind the successful and prolific careers of critically acclaimed poets, novelists an

• Language: English
• Publisher: Creative Life Consultations
• Release date: May 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781910033036

Book preview

Published in the UK

By CLC Publishing

Copyright © Jacqueline Smith 2013.

The right of Jacqueline Smith to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical or photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Typeset by The PotHole Press, Hamilton, UK.

You can learn about Jacqueline Smith by visiting her web site

Creative Life Consultations.

Inspiration from the Common Wealth of Writers to Boost Creativity

Commentary and Editing

By

Jacqueline Smith

For

Eileen G.V. Smith

18th May 1929 -18th Nov. 2012

My Greatest Inspiration

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: How It All Begins

Chapter Two: Early Inspirations

Chapter Three: Music & Laughter

Chapter Four: Having Vision

Chapter Five: Received Wisdom

Chapter Six: Beckoning The Muse

Chapter Seven: Just Sit Down and Write

Chapter Eight: Finding Your Voice

Chapter Nine: Crafting

Chapter Ten: Last Words

Chapter Eleven: The Writers

Notes

Credits

Introduction

‘From a little spark may burst a mighty flame.’

~Dante Alighieri(1)

Ihave a deep interest in encouraging others to embrace their creative process with conscious awareness so that they can make the most of the talent and hard work that they pour into their literary and artistic efforts. I hope the commentary that frames the inspiring responses from the book’s contributors encourages readers and writers to happily consider that there are actions we can take to boost our creativity when it seems to be waning.

The book was inspired by and compiled from interviews carried out for a monthly poetry event featuring well-known published poets and writers including novelist and poet Kei Miller, playwright and poet Skye Loneragan and poet Liz Niven. Many of them hail from around the world but at the time were living in or around Glasgow, Scotland.

As I drew together the interviews, which were focused on aspects of crafting as well as inspirations and influences, I became more and more excited by the advice the writers offered. It struck me as essential to the creative process and having resonance for all writers - be they poet, novelist, playwright, short story writer etc., as indeed are many of the featured writers, though billed primarily as poets at the time the interviews took place.

Another outstanding theme was the variety of international origins and countries where the individual writers were either born or had travelled to. Co-incidentally the city of Glasgow’s successful bid to host the 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 highlighted the fact that the writers’ origins and influences and the sharing of their work was in accord with the inclusive values that The Commonwealth of Nations seeks to encourage and promote.

The 2014 team in Glasgow state in their Mission, Vision and Values that: ‘We will be passionate in our work and encourage flair and creativity in all that we do.’(2)

We too, as writers, work with passion and that passion is the source of our creativity. We play and craft with words to inspire our fellow human beings.

The writers who participated in the interviews gave spontaneous first-hand testament to what has contributed to their development and success. The variety of their origins and influences has only served to enrich their creative process all the more.

Writers from America to Zimbabwe give details of the most formative influences and inspirations in their writing. They also share advice given to them as they began their writing life and advice they would offer to other writers. Most importantly, they offer insights into their own creative process. This impressed on me just how much common wealth in experience and skills exists between all of the writers. This seemed too rich, too inspiring, not to share.

There are several excellent Scottish poets featured. Many of them have been guests of other Commonwealth nations and beyond during their careers as writers, poets and playwrights through exchanges and for residencies, exporting and promoting Scotland’s own unique voice and literary heritage around the world.

I felt privileged to hear first-hand about each writer’s creative process which has subsequently helped my own writing and development work. It brought me to the realisation that sharing their fruits with other writers can only enrich each of our literary endeavours by positively influencing our destiny as writers. Let’s allow ourselves to be influenced, to be inspired and feel the joy of boosting our own creativity.

‘To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music that words make.’

~Truman Capote (3)

Chapter One: How It All Begins

‘Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.’

~ George Bernard Shaw (4)

Who or what started you writing? Was it a teacher, a parent, a book or an experience never forgotten that rumbles away like a rhythm that won’t let go, or an