October Baby Boomer Contest – How to Create
In one of my journeys around the Internet I found a writer named Brenda Ueland. She was born in 1891, died in 1985, lived in Minnesota, was married 4 times, and wrote a wonderful book titled:
If you want to write: A book about art, independence, and spirit
Ueland talks about writing, but she is really talking about any creative process – painting, sewing, quilting, sculpting, designing, you name it. I found her book extremely inspirational. For example, here is an excerpt:
“I have established that you should work from now on until you die, with real love and imagination and intelligence, at your writing or whatever work it is that you care about….I am so afraid that… you will put off working as so many wonderfully gifted people do, until that time when your husband can retire on full pay and all your children are out of college.”
My favorite quote:
So you see, imagination needs moodling – long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering….
Moodling – what a great word! Brenda Ueland’s advice is simple: “Tell the truth” and “Don’t do anything you don’t want to do.” There is lots to think about in this little book, and you can find much to inspire you to create whatever it is you want.
The contest: I have a copy of the book that I’m willing to give up (I have another that’s all marked up that’s mine… all mine!). To be the winner of the book, leave a comment on this post no later than midnight, October 7 (that’s next Tuesday). In your comment, tell me what you would like to create – a book, a poem, a wall hanging, a garden, a scupture, a painting, whatever you want. I will use the random number generator to find the winner. Read more about my contest rules at: Thoughts and other Stuff.
I can’t wait to read what you want to create. And I am sure you will love the book.
47 Comments
I am NOT a baby-boomer – l “trifle” older. Recently retired (not by choice – due to economic downturn” I have found myself busier than ever taking care of mt “extra-senior” Dad. But, my dream for retirement was to create children’s books – poems, illustrations. I don’t profess to being exceptionally talented, but desire does count – does it not. Sometimes creativity is all that is necessary. Even if my “audience” is only my 3 granchildren.
Boy – did I not proof-read my entry. Sorry for all the typos. My computer is really slow and takes a while to put my copy in.
well I would love to create a book about house, home and love…family recipes, recipes cherished and collected- funny stories of family and friends…tips for easier living kind of book
When I got divorced, my ex burned all of my poetry (along with other things). I am just now getting the creativity flowing again. This would help me gain that once again.
I want to create a painting of my grandparents house which always felt more like my home than theirs. I have tons of wonderful memories of times spent in that wonderful place.My mom grew up in that house so I would love to do this from old photos for her.
i’d like to write and draw a comic book
I want to unblock and begin to write.
I wish I hadthe talent to quilt
I have about a dozen suspense novels and a great screenplay rattling around in my brain…..I’m always being told that I “should write a book”……perhaps I should!!
I’ve been contemplating about writing a book on the most unusual places on earth to visit; places less traveled and what can be learned from the place. I believe that traveling is not just to see and experience but also to learn. But i am afraid to write because feel that my english is not good enough…
I’d love to write a book and build a web page.
I’ve been writing poetry for many years and love it, but I still dream of other creative endeavors; painting, sculpting or something hands on.
I have a book inside of me waiting for me to write.
a cure for cancer
I would love to create a dollhouse…..a REAL dollhouse, with electricity and everything!
I’ve tried my hand at writing children’s books, but never had the nerve to do anything with them. I would also love to write a novel, I just know there is one inside me! Great giveaway, thanks!
I’m an aspiring memoirist, I’ve been reading as many memoirs as I can to prepare, boy do I have stories to tell! Could use the inspiration, would love to win this!
I want to have a chapbook of my poems jpublished. It would mean a lot to me to know that perhaps just one of my peoms touched someone’s heart.
I’d like to create songs that would really move people.
I have always been into art- drawing, painting, pottery, crafts, writing. I think I would like to write songs. It is a great form of expression and originality.
I write short stories, novels, poetry and screenplays. I was also a creative writing minor in college and as pathetic as it sounds, my dream is to write the next great American novel.
I would love to be able to paint, my dream would be to be able to capture the ocean right before a storm when everthing feels so free, the breeze blowing the salt water, it would be awesome, thanks
A book of poetry
I spent most of my life writing poetry, short stories, and journalistic articles, even though I originally received a degree in Painting & Drawing. In the past few years I’ve begun creating two-dimensional collages inspired by put-together images from recycled magazines (until the imagery and landscape are all my own, and poetic). I’m always waiting to see what the next collage will be, and what my subconscious will end up telling me about me and society in general! So that’s what I want to create now, the next collage, large or small, in between bouts of sculpture, jewelry-making, and pottery!
I have always felt a creative drive, but don’t know where to channel it for success. Writing appeals to me, so I’d like to imrpove my skills there, as well as in a more “artsy” direction.
I have painted a few pieces here and there, but I have always wanted to write a book about parenting or a book for teens on becoming adults. Nice giveaway!
I would love to write a song. I love music and it’s everything to me. I just don’t know where to start.
agsweeps [@] hotmail [.] com
Thanks!!
I would like to write more about my family in book or short story form.
I like to create chaos in my mind as I attempt to write.
I never heard of this book-I want to complete a quilt! I am a sewer and have quilted but I never seem to complete things. Maybe if a win I can read how to gain the inspiration or maybe I need to break down the barriers that keep me from finishing? Thanks for the chance to win!
There are several books I’d like to write. One is “we made it, so can you” with real-life stories of people abused as children or raised in the dangerous ghetto or by drug-addicted parents, or bounced around foster homes, etc, but who made it into the adult world as successful people- community leaders, world figures, sports figures, business people, artists, etc. What factors helped them make it in society now happily and successfully, when so many others fall victim to their circumstances. I’ve got 4 or 5 other titles and ideas floating around, but this one is the one I’m most passionate about.
I would like to create a sculpture of a horse/s head.
I would like to learn how to oil paint.
I always was told I wasn’t a good writer and I have tried to be better at it.
I’d like to create more beautiful movements and feeling to incorporate into my dance.
I want to write a novel and revise/improve a play I wrote. I want to direct them to young adults/teens. Thanks for introducing this book. It looks really inspiriing.
I’ve always wanted to create beautiful cakes. BUT my 13 year old daughter writes, and has written some fantastic stories that sound like published books. She’s been asking me for books like this about writing, and I’ve been wanting to surprise her with something like this because she recently cut her hair off and donated it to locks of love.
My problem is I want to do it ALL! And there just isn’t enough time to do it all, and so I end up never doing anything. But being creative is extremely important to me. My brain is constantly creating and finding inspiration, whether my hands ever move or not. Maybe this book is what I need to get over the feeling of helpless frustration… not to mention the guilt.
A book of poems
I would like to write a book, I have been having weird dreams that would be great to use in a book.
I want to write a book.
I’m a boomer and I love to create, especially pottery on a potter’s wheel.
I’m right on the fringe of boomerhood; I was born in 1965. I’ve loved writing since I was a child, but I haven’t finished very much. I have a half-written romance novel on a floppy disc, the first few pages of a comedy screenplay on my hard drive, and notebooks filled with notations about characters, plots, germs of ideas that have never been fulfilled. I could use Brenda Ueland’s unique brand of inspiration!
I’d love to write a book that kids go crazy about…especially mine!
I would like to create a garden.
I would love to write a book about boys. There is so much about girls and their clothes, etc. I want to share my thoughts and feelings about raising boys with lots of added humor.What an honor that would be.
I’m a writer – mostly I need to do something with all that I’ve collected – its more fire hazard then hobby. Bit I’d really like to mix up mediums and make words into things more considered visual art – finally to begin this – those rocks with words – thought of it – and wall art that says things like – Inspire – that too -but I want to do it with my words and sayings too.