creative inspiration Archives - Page 2 of 4

Let the Whole You Be Revealed – Following the Opportunities

June 2, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hello all!

Last weekend, I had the honour of hosting a launch of the latest issue of the Lake Winnipeg Writers Group journal, Voices, for which I also served as editor. (Photo courtesy of my proud mom ;-)) The process involved several months of reading and revising, e-mailing, chatting on the phone and in person at reading sessions and, I must say, I quite enjoyed it! It was a pleasure to witness such a diverse and talented group of creator in action.

But it was not something I had initially planned on, to be honest. I have done some proofreading for people I’ve known, which has been rather fun as I consider myself a fixer of sorts – someone who can take an existing idea and bring it to another level. The whole curation process, however, was new to me. But last fall I was asked to judge a poetry contest for the group and, next thing you know, I’m editing an entire journal!

I received much positive feedback on my work which, despite my own perceived failings, was very encouraging. Though I still have a lot to learn, editing appears to be something I can now add to my skill set. When it came time to discuss the launch of the journal, I was informed that it was customary for the president or the editor to take on the duties. With my background as a performer and the years I’ve spent in Toastmasters, I was up to the task.

And, again, the audience and fellow writers seemed to be pleased with my presence at the podium and responded very favorably. So, now, it looks like I can host stuff good too! 🙂

Now, I’m not telling you this is to brag on myself – although I think we need to be able to do that once in a while because it helps us to feel confident in our abilities. This is about allowing yourself to be guided, letting go of your preconceived notions of what you’re supposed to be doing with your art and saying yes to the opportunities that present themselves before you. If I hadn’t agreed to edit, I wouldn’t have known that I would enjoy it and be competent at it. If I hadn’t said yes to hosting, I wouldn’t have known that I could take on the emcee duties and feel good about it after the fact. It’s about acquiring new information showing you what you’re capable of and, perhaps more importantly, what you like to do.

Now, if you feel that these incidental endeavours might derail you or make you doubt yourself, quite the contrary. During this process of expansion, you won’t be casting aside what you already do and already know. You will be letting new things about yourself to be revealed to you so you have even more ways to serve and express.

When you stay with the familiar, you only learn and grow in expected ways. But sometimes others see things in us that we don’t see in ourselves and, in taking these new opportunities, we are exposing ourselves to more of our untapped potential. We experience the fullness of who we are and what we have to offer. And if you come upon your true calling in the process, trust that your new path is the right one for you and nothing has been lost or wasted.

So, next time a chance to do something new comes your way, unless it really makes you feel uncomfortable, go for it! See where the journey takes you. You never know what you will learn and how you will grow when you come out the other side.

On a related note, if you’re interested in some fun and adventurous writing, might I suggest acquiring your very own copy of the latest issue of the Voices journal – with an entry by yours truly, by the way?

You can purchase it at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg, MB and at Tergeson’s in Gimli, MB or you can enquire through the LWWG website, https://www.lwwg.ca/.

Enjoy!

Pros and Cons: What’s Your Creativity Worth To You?

May 28, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

So, I just returned from a whirlwind trip through England and France – and I do mean whirlwind! A day here, a day there, staying in accommodations ranging from friends’ condos to castles. Let me tell you, it’s pretty sweet to wake up in a castle on your birthday!

In so many ways, it was a trip celebrating art in all its forms. We experienced the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Tour, with real sets, costumes, and props from all the movies. We had great fun admiring – and purchasing – the works of artisans at a medieval festival in Sedan, France. We strolled through Montmartre in Paris, filled with art galleries. I even had a moment of incredulity with one piece in particular. I approached a staff member, dubious, “Ce n’est pas l’original.” I said as I pointed to the painting. It’s not the original. And she reassured me, “Oui. C’est l’original.” It was then that I knew I was looking at the original Campbell’s soup can painting by Andy Warhol. #Notaprint. We reveled in the glory of cathedrals such as Ely and Sacre Coeur, where we were a little taken aback by a crazy organ solo after the service that reminded me of the beginning of Ghostbusters. And the patisseries! As beautiful as they were delicious!

I was surrounded by so much culture, so much beauty, so, so many stairs. And throughout the journey – because my brain is always running on all cylinders – I was confronted with a big question: what am I willing to deal with, to sacrifice, to do what I’m here to do as an artist?

We met a fellow from Regina, Saskatchewan working in a pub who had moved to Paris about seven months ago. I asked him if he enjoyed living in the city and he told me that Paris wasn’t a perfect place but the pros outweighed the cons and he liked it so far.

What may be required of us to fulfill our missions as artist? Do the pros outweigh the cons on our own journeys? The discussion brought to mind a real estate show where a young woman was moving to Paris to study fashion. Seems like the perfect place to pursue such a dream. In her search for a place to live, she came across a place – I think it was a condo – that met her budget of around $100,000 USD and provided a grand total of – get this – 86 square feet of living space.

Would you live in an 86 square-foot condo for your art?

When I was visiting New York, I had the same question. With my interest in theatre and with Broadway being the heart of the medium, you would think it would be a great place to connect and make things happen. But, while it was a fun place to visit and I had a fabulous time, could I really live there?

And we can extrapolate that to other aspects of our craft. Can we accept that there will be rejection, possibly a lot of it? Can we accept that, in the case of performers, we are working while others are celebrating? Can we accept that we may have to be away from home more than we’d like? In the airport in Nice on the way home, there were a couple of what I assumed to be models and I wondered what it would be like to live their lives, and not just what it would be like to be so beautiful and tall. Did then enjoy traveling from place to place or did they find it tedious? Did they mind not being able to enjoy life’s culinary pleasures as much as we mere mortals do?

I read somewhere recently that life will truly move forward when your passion is greater than your fear. Well… okay… it was a horoscope, but it’s a profound, universal concept nonetheless. More than just fear, I take this also to mean that you will move further on your path – it will rise up to meet you – when you are prepared to accept all that the path entails, embrace all of the pros and cons, fully cognizant of the fact that there really is no such thing as perfection.

This is more of a musing that offering any advice, per se, but I invite you to look at your creative dreams – or any dreams, really. Are they worth the rejections? Are they worth the paperwork being filled out to apply for grants? Are they worth hours spent in airports? Are they worth crowded streets? Are they worth a few rats here and there? Are they worth living in an 86 square-foot condo for a while? Are they worth climbing up and down stairs for what seems like all day every day? I mean, you will build up the leg muscles and it does apparently get easier but the stairs are still going to be there no matter what. I’m just saying. 🙂

You may truly be able to create an ideal scenario for yourself – a situation where you are creating your art stress free in exactly the environment that pleases you. I’m not saying it’s entirely impossible. It’s more likely, however, that there will be some aspects of your dream that are less ideal than others. And you will have your own priorities. You alone know what’s most important to you and it is to be honoured, even if you choose not to live “la vie bohème”. But if you can look at the whole picture, all the ups and downs, and see the joys of the process as greater than the potential setbacks – if you can breathe and tell yourself, “Okay. I’m hoping for the best but I’m ready for it all.”- then your dream will rise up to meet you and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Your Excellence: Recognizing Your True Gifts

May 7, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Hey all!

So, I was watching a YouTube video the other day by Teal Swan, a spiritual commentator, about excellence – your specific excellence, to be exact.

What is your excellence, you ask?

Well, it’s basically what you’re naturally drawn to and what you innately excel at. The idea of the video is that we can be steered away from our inherent abilities through various circumstances and we can only truly thrive when we are in a situation where our excellence is appreciated and acknowledged.

So, here’s a question. Have you thought lately about where your gifts lie in regards to your creative endeavors? Have you contemplated the special qualities you bring as a creator? Do you know what mediums really work for you? Do you know what age range, what audience, you want to speak to? Do you know what work environment is most conducive to your optimum creativity?

You see, sometimes we are raised or otherwise placed in environments where we are made to feel like who we are and how we do things is not acceptable. A non-musical family won’t acknowledge or nurture their child’s musical gifts. A group of classical performers rejects the one who has a passion for jazz or rock. Someone who writes poetry all the time is repeatedly told it’s a waste of time and they can never make a career out of it.

When we are placed in these situations, we can be left feeling out of place, at odds with our world, or we can try our best to assimilate and ultimately lose our unique spark.

But there is a place for everyone in this world. You can surround yourself with people who appreciate what you have to offer. And that begins with acknowledging what you have to offer to yourself.

In knowing your true strengths and declaring them, even if it’s just writing them down in a journal, you are opening the door to attracting those situations where your excellence is celebrated. And when your gifts are celebrated, you are then able to thrive and give the best of yourself to the world, enjoying success and fulfillment on a level that you’ve probably never experienced before.

Think about that for a minute.

Think about how it would feel to be in an environment where you are allowed to do what is easy and natural and be respected and rewarded for it, rather than merely trying to make the best of whatever situation is put in front of you, struggling to fit in as best you can. How fabulously liberating would that be?

So, I invite you, at some point in the near future, to take some time and write down what you feel your true gifts are, both creatively and as an individual, and ask God, the Universe, or whoever you talk to in your quiet times, to bring you to a place where you can joyously share those gifts with others as a radiant, fully-expressed being.

Because that’s what we’re here to be, after all. Fully-expressed and fabulous!

Have a great day!

What To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Creating

April 30, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Have you ever had times when you didn’t feel like being creative? They may last for a day or two, a week, or even months. It’s perfectly normal and okay. But do you ever think about what’s behind it and how to get out of that state if you wanted to?

There are periods in our lives that are simply busier than others. We have family responsibilities. We’re more occupied promoting our existing material than taking on a new project. In these periods of activity our energy can be drained, depleting our motivation to attend to non-essential tasks. It can be hard to make time for our creative pursuits without running ourselves ragged, despite the advice of those who claim we need to make room for everything at all costs to our well-being.

Perhaps you can’t spend hours in the studio or your writing room but what about bringing a notebook to draw or write in when you’re visiting your loved one in the hospital? What about installing a keyboard app on your phone to play with some melodic lines while you’re heading from one place to another on the bus? You know, just to keep that spark alive while you’re tending to other things. You don’t even have to use these tools necessarily, but just having them around may remind you that there is inspiration to be found everywhere.

If you discover you have the time to create but not the will, have a look at what is lying underneath.

I honestly can’t say I’ve ever been in a situation where I have not wanted to create something or other when the opportunity presented itself. I am an idea factory after all and it’s hard not to act when inspiration strikes on the daily. But I will say I have consciously hesitated out of fear – usually fear that what I’m working on won’t be good or that it won’t get out there and all my effort will have been for nothing. True, it’s easier to relax and experience someone else’s masterpiece than to try to create your own but it’s not nearly as rewarding and usually not as fun, but I have been able to get to the point where I can tell myself that it’s a work in progress until it’s done. What I’m recording or writing doesn’t have to be amazing in this exact moment. I’m going to see what comes out and keep making it better until it’s of an appropriate standard. If it really turns out to be a gong show, there’s still probably something I’ve gained in the process – learning a new skill, acquiring new information – so it’s not wasted time. And I know my best work happens when I’m enjoying myself, when I’m having fun, so approaching every note or word with dread is not going to serve me or the project.

Maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit. If you’ve been writing children’s songs for twenty years and it doesn’t excite you any more, perhaps you would be reenergized writing for a more mature audience. Maybe you’ve been working with oils forever and you just need to try some watercolours. It’s not about stopping all together – it’s taking a different approach to what you’re already doing and seeing how that feels.

And, honestly, maybe you just need to take a break or move on to something else entirely. Yes, creating can be joyous, freeing, life-affirming – all that. But it’s also work. It still uses up our time as well as our mental and physical energy. And maybe that time and energy needs to be put towards other things – not necessarily forever but at least for a while.

So, don’t be hard on yourself if you feel you need to shift gears. It’s easy to become overly attached to things like labels and the idea of no longer being an “artist” can keep us in an unsatisfying situation for longer than necessary. Remember – your value is not determined by labels and status. The best thing you can do for yourself and the world is living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful for you and part of that is having the courage to head out in new direction when you are inspired to do so.

What The Notre-Dame Fire Says About Our Values

April 22, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

The world reeled at the news of the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris last week. And I’m not exaggerating too much when I say that. Most of the time I think it’s completely cheesy when someone claims the entire world is affected by anything. It’s like, get over yourself. But I know I wasn’t alone as I watched my social media feed be dominated by news coverage, memories, and hopes regarding the historic edifice. Having never been to Paris and not being a Catholic, I have no personal emotional connection to the building, but the loss of such a monument was saddening nonetheless.

Now, you can say what you want about all the money that was donated by wealthy tycoons to support the rebuilding. What more significant problems could they be solving with all that money? What is the Vatican doing about it? They have billions. You can interpret it how you wish – and I’m not saying your questions are not valid – but I would like to entertain another interpretation to the events following the incendiary incident.

While it is a pivotal location to the Catholic community, the people commenting on Notre-Dame are not only Catholics. The mourners cover every faith and non-faith out there. So it’s not just about religion.

Stories like Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame have brought the idea of the cathedral to the imaginations of the masses, elevating it to an almost mythical status. And visitors can’t help but be mesmerised by its beauty and power – the architecture, the stain glass windows. They are captivated by its art.

Think about that. The world is in mourning over the loss of art. Corporate moguls have donated over a billion dollars to the restoration of art

People – even those who pride themselves on their practicality and claim art is a waste of time that takes energy away from more important matters – are affected by art in ways they may not even know. Why do you think some governments over the ages have made the creation of art an illegal act? It’s not because it is a waste of resources that should be utilized elsewhere. No, art has been outlawed because it has the potential to be so powerful, so influential, that it poses a threat to their domination.

We may or may not ever become part of something on the level of Notre-Dame, as inspiring and delightful a notion as that might be. But we cannot forget that what we are doing as creators is important. It’s worth doing on some level. Even the most logical among us – those who love to tell us to get a real job or do something useful with our lives – still remember their favourite childhood story, the song that was playing when they had their first kiss. They are not immune to art’s power. They must acknowledge that someone wrote that story, composed and performed that song that became a part of their history – part of the soundtrack of their life, as I like to say.

If it is within us to do so, we have a right and a duty to contribute to the history of our and future generations with the art we create. We cannot know what will become of it. Our work may be momentarily enjoyed and forgotten. It may endure and be celebrated for hundreds or thousands of years. It is not our job to prophesy the fate of our art. It is our job to create it and share it as we are so inspired. As the reaction to Notre-Dame will attest, the world needs us to do so.

Are Your Extra-Curriculars Serving You?

April 15, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Now, before I begin, I realize that extra-curricular usually refers to those activities outside of school hours but let’s just say that, for the purposes of this discussion, I’m talking about those things that we do, other than the necessities like grocery shopping etc., that lie outside the scope of our work. Wow – that was a long sentence! But I’m kind of the run-on queen so I’m running with it. Ha! Get it?

We can begin engaging in an activity for many reasons. We think it will be fun. We can see the skills we’d learn as being useful. We have the opportunity to contribute to our communities. We like the people we’d be working with. A friend or family member thought it would be a good idea. I’ve done it for all of these reasons and probably more.

As the months and years go by, however, we need to take to the time to evaluate whether these activities are honestly advancing our lives or our work. We start something for one reason and we can stay in it for another and, if we don’t reflect periodically, we can find ourselves more involved in these other efforts than we are with our own process of creation.

I had someone challenge me recently. She asked me about the things that I really loved. And then she asked why only one of my extra-curricular activities had anything to do with those things. Why was I still engaging in activities that, while fun and beneficial in the beginning, had perhaps run their course and weren’t serving me anymore? And why wasn’t I connecting with more people and organizations that could actually help my career?

There is certainly room for diversity in life. If you are a writer, it doesn’t mean that every single club you belong to or contribution you make has to be about writing. If nothing else, we need to have a rich experience to fuel our creative inspiration.

But there are only so many hours in the day and we only have so much energy to expend so it behooves us to use that time and energy as effectively as possible.

So, I invite you to look at your extra-curriculars and decide what’s actually working for you and what isn’t and consider that it might be time to let something go. Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself.

Do I still enjoy this activity? You might just be doing it out of habit or obligation.
Does this activity assist me in my career or life purpose? Does it further what I’m here to do?
What I am I getting out of this activity? Sometimes we can continue doing something because we receive validation or we like the people even though the activity itself doesn’t appeal anymore. Is there a better way to get the benefits? If you’re in the club because you like the people, for example, you might want to just get together for coffee once in a while rather than have a structured regular event that you have to plan and prepare for.
What would I be doing with my time if I wasn’t involved with this activity? Would you be spending more time on you craft? Is there another activity you’ve been interested in that takes place at the same time that would work better for you? If you find yourself thinking, dang, if I wasn’t doing this, I would be able to do that,that might be a clue for you.

Our time is precious. As creators, we have so much to offer. We need to ensure that the way we spend our time and energy allows us to bring the best of ourselves to the world and having our attention scattered in too many directions in not in anyone’s best interest. Make no mistake, it can be scary to say no or good-bye, particularly when we’ve been a part of something for a long time. But there a saying that people (and I’m extrapolating to things and opportunities) come into our lives for a season, a reason, or a lifetime. And if you can give yourself permission to let go of the things that no longer work, you can then fill your hours with what truly delights and inspires you. You’ll only be the better for it!

Hidden Clues : The Wisdom In Your Distraction

April 8, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

You’ve probably heard people say that if you have goals you want to accomplish in your life, you need to look at those goals in relation to how you’re actually spending your time and adjust accordingly. The theory is that if you say you want to be a singer, for example, but are spending most of your time watching television rather than practicing or recording, in noticing this supposed conflict you can dispense with the distraction and redirect more energy towards pursuing your goal of singing.

This is a totally valid concept – we can certainly allow ourselves to be taken off of our path out of fear, especially when we’re talking about a potentially delicate thing like creative expression – but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, may I present another possible interpretation of such distraction?

What if you are, in fact doing exactly what you want to be doing? What if what you think you want isn’t what you actually want and, rather than resisting your “distraction”, it’s more about parlaying it into something more fulfilling?

So, let’s look at the watching TV all day thing – something many of us can fall prey to for any number of reasons. Maybe we’re searching for inspiration. Maybe we’re legit tired or overwhelmed and need a break. Maybe it is a real distraction because you’re afraid that your practicing or whatever project you’re “supposed” to be engaged in isn’t going to work out somehow. Totally been there.

But what if it’s something else? When you’re in this mode, I invite you to take a conscious approach to it to see if there might be some wisdom or insight there for you. What kinds of shows are you watching? Cop dramas? Sit coms? Cooking or baking shows? Can you pinpoint what in particular you might be attracted to about those shows? Ha! I just wrote “shoes” down by accident and if I hadn’t caught it, y’all would be, “Wait. When did she start talking about shoes?” Anyway, have a look at that. Do you love all the medical procedures and terminology in your hospital dramas? Do you love the character development? Do you love the witty dialogue in your comedy?

In being aware of your thoughts during these moments of distraction, you may discover some new things about yourself. It might be providing insight into some new elements you want to bring into your life. I love watching baking shows not only because I have a sweet tooth – believe me, I would reach into the TV and pull out those cakes if I could – but there can be such artistry and beauty to these creations. A visual feast as well as a gastronomical one. So, I don’t know if I need to become a baker necessarily, but I realized I definitely want to try my hand at cake and cookie decorating. In fact, I was on a waiting list for a class a short while back. And, in general, I think there is more of a visual component I can incorporate into what I do. Maybe you want to take a stand-up comedy class if you find yourself repeated attracted to it. Maybe you want to try writing if you love the storylines and dialogues of your favourite shows. Maybe you want to look into the medical field if you love the operating room scenes.

If you’re someone who gets overly drawn into social situations that you feel are taking you away from your work – phone calls, coffee meetings, whatever – there’s likely a reason why you’re letting it happen. If you are always the one giving advice to your friends – and are happy to do so as opposed to resenting it – perhaps you’d be great as a counsellor. Do your meetings often take place over delicious meals? Being a food critic or a chef might be right up your alley.

My point is, these distractions might be giving you clues to complimentary activities or a whole new path that might be very fulfilling for you so it’s worth some contemplation and analysis, in my humble opinion. Of course, it could totally be a psychological mechanism to protect you from potential failure or frustration, too, but I’m just saying.

Have a great day!

Four Tips on Giving Constructive Feedback

March 25, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Lately, I have been tasked with editing a literary journal for a writers group. It was an honor to be asked and, truthfully, it has been rather fun. I delight in witnessing the creativity of others and it makes me feel good to help people on their artistic journeys.

Often, as we become more experienced artists, others will come to us seeking feedback, either looking up to us as mentors or viewing us as equals who might be able to offer a fresh perspective. If you haven’t already, I’m sure you will soon hear the words, “Can you have a look at it and tell me what you think?” soon enough. Now, you can always politely decline if you really feel hesitant but, even if you are a bit nervous, why not try taking on the challenge?

There is an idea that, even though someone may be at the top of their field, they may not make the greatest teacher for any number of reasons. It takes a certain something to be able to impart knowledge in a constructive way that the recipient can really learn from and not be put off by. Having been a voice teacher for ten years and having proofread many pieces of writing, I have learned a few things about offering creative advice that I thought I’d share with you. So here we go.

Tip #1: Know Where Your Mentee Is At.

We are all at different stages on our creative journey. Some of us are just starting out, some of us have been working on our craft for decades. Before you start offering criticism, take into account how long your mentee has been creating. The longer they have been doing it, the more detailed feedback you can provide, using the vernacular of the trade. With newer artists, it’s best to keep it simple and to not overwhelm them with too many things at once. When they are just beginning to explore, you don’t want to risk them becoming discouraged. When I was working with a young, beginning voice student, I would take it step by step – if they were having troubles matching pitch, I was not going to focus so much on the quality of their vibrato until the more fundamental skill was under control for the most part. First things first. Try to recall how you developed your skill set – if you in fact felt it helpful to you – connect that to where your mentee is on their trajectory and use that as a gauge to determine how deep to go.

Tip #2: Try Suggesting Rather Than Dictating

Maybe I’m too easy on people but I tend not to dictate when mentoring – unless I’m really in the zone. Then I’m all, “No. Stop. Do it again.” I kind of like me in that mode, to be honest, but you have to be aware of when it may it may not be appropriate. Anyway, I had someone involved with the literary journal mention to me that they not only appreciated my “expert” feedback but the gentle way I shared it and I honestly don’t know which part meant more to me – the fact that they saw me as an expert or the fact that I was gentle. I know these days we talk about being more assertive and assured – the recommendation particularly applying to women – and I agree we do need to own our knowledge and experience, but a little tact can go a long way. Try saying, “Perhaps you might try…” or “Let’s look at what can happen when…”. Not only does it help to ease you into the issue, it also creates awareness that creativity is, in many ways, a fluid, evolving, experimental thing. There are certain elements of your craft that may be rather definitive – like a question should be followed by a question mark – in which case you can be more direct (but still kind) in your recommendation. But there are some things that are more trial-and-error. What works for some might not work for others. Many singers are all about posture and being upright and, yet, there are amazing vocalists who hit the high notes bent over with their head against the wall. You can’t argue that it works for them so, really, the best you can doing in some cases is try it out.

I was actually faced with a conundrum of sorts when a writer who had submitted a narrative piece mentioned that he preferred to use spaces between paragraphs rather than indents. I thought that, while it isn’t the way literature is customarily presented, aren’t rules and norms meant to be questioned? After all, these existing norms came into play by replacing previous norms.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget The Why

When one is teaching or advising, it can be rather tempting to simply say, “do this” or “do that” and expect the student to obey without question. But even if they do follow your instruction and give you the result you desire, they aren’t really learning. They simply know that, in this specific case, this is what they’ve been instructed to do, even if the situation may or may not ever arise again.

But a more in-depth explanation allows your expertise to really shine while giving the mentee something tangible they can take into the future. If they have written, “The two tonne truck hit the pothole, splashing water all over the windshield” – this example really hits home for me living where I do at this time of year J – instead of simply adding a comment telling them to “hyphenate two tonne”, take the extra step and explain how compound adjectives are usually hyphenated when they come before the noun but not after. In doing so, in addition to correcting the immediate error, the writer will have new information to improve their writing on future projects.

Tip #4: Thank Them for Asking and Receiving

It can take a lot for someone to ask for help. If an artist is coming to you for advice, know that it’s because they value your input. No matter how high up you are on the creative ladder, resist the temptation to get a swelled head about it and simply express gratitude that they have seen you as worthy of providing feedback – something like “Thank you so much for asking me. I am honoured that you feel I have something to offer your project.” And if they show appreciation for your comments after the fact, which they hopefully will, realize that receiving criticism can be hard for many of us. Our projects are our babies and part of what keeps us going is somehow believing we’re awesome. You can try responding with, “Thank you for hearing my comments. I know it can be hard to receive feedback on something close to our hearts. I’m glad you have found my suggestions to be helpful.”

So those are a few tips to help you give constructive feedback. Just my suggestions, of course. 😉

Thank Your People – Showing Gratitude for Your Creative Allies

January 15, 2019 by tprochera 2 Comments

We are not islands. We do not live in bubbles.

Okay. Enough with the metaphors. Sometimes whether we like it or not, we exist in a world with other people, and those people can have fundamental impacts on our lives and careers.

I can say that my family has been largely responsible for me being who I am. Growing up, my parents not only exposed my sister and I to art forms like musical theatre but they encouraged my creativity, tolerating my banging on the piano when I made a mistake, cheering me on when I performed, and paying for lessons and whatever else was required. Before my father passed, he made sure to tell me that if I wanted to be a songwriter, I should go and be a songwriter. And when I have thought about giving up, when I have contemplated getting a regular job and leaving music behind, my mother and sister remind me that this is what I’m here to do and they’ve got my emotional, spiritual, and financial back. Or is it backs?

Anyway, I guess my point is that we don’t do this alone. Yes, we work really hard to hone our craft, pitch ideas, promote the heck out of our latest project on social media, and we’ve gotta give ourselves props for our efforts. But while we’re reaching for the stars and getting our diva on, acting like it’s all about us (not that I’ve ever been that way 😉 ) it can be all too easy to expect the support to just be there or forget all the investment that others have made in us from potentially a very early age. It behooves us to remember those who are helping us on our path. And I don’t mean in an “all the little people who helped me get here” award speech kind of way.

Family, teachers, mentors, the keyboard guru at the music store, the super helpful tech support guy – we likely wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing without them. Seriously, I am a very tech-savvy individual but if I didn’t have someone to call when things went really wrong I wouldn’t be able to function at all because my tech is how I do what I do and I’m not sure I’d want to go back to the days of wax cylinders. At any rate, we need to show our appreciation for the contribution of others to our work and our lives.

This gratitude can be expressed in different ways depending upon the relationship – I keep telling my mom that she’s getting the west wing of my mansion. Sometimes an honest, heartfelt thanks is all that is required. Sometimes a small gift is more appropriate. Just make sure you don’t let things go unsaid or treat these people like they are at your beck and call because, believe me, they have other things they can be doing with their time, money, and energy.

Now, the appreciation is its own reward – it just feels good to tell people you’re grateful – but it also allows the recipient to become even more invested in you and more willing to step up and go the extra mild in the future. Like I said, you should do it just to do it without any expectations but it could be a nice bonus. Just saying.

Tell those who have come out to your show that it was great to see them and you hoped they enjoyed it. Thank those who have agreed to proofread your writing by taking them out to lunch if you can’t out and out pay them. If you want to give the Geek Squad guy or girl a hug for replacing your hard drive without losing any data, tell them so, even if they don’t want you to actually do it.

So, that’s my message for today. Realize that you are not alone in this – even if you’re writing all your songs, performing all the instruments, and producing the tracks – and express gratitude for those who are have come along for the ride.

On that note, I feel compelled to share the song Thanks from Ladybug Crossings. You know, ‘cuz it’s about gratitude.

Have a great day and keep on creating!

So Many Projects! When You’re Swamped With Creative Inspiration

January 8, 2019 by tprochera Leave a Comment

Sometimes we can get creatively blocked – our current projects have been completed we have no ideas for new projects to undertake. That’s alright. We don’t have to be “on” all the time.

But sometimes – at least I hope you’ve experienced this – there are so many ideas going through your head – so much inspiration – that you don’t know what do with it all and you can’t decide what project to actually focus on. That’s not a bad problem to have. J I’m actually in the process of releasing an ebook about how to keep those creative juices flowing – I regularly have several ideas a day and I want to help others have the same type of flow -so keep tuned for that.

Anyway, realize that you can be working on more than one project at a time. You don’t have to spend eight or ten hours a day on one book – it’s alright to spend the morning on one story and the afternoon on another. You may think you won’t make as much progress but your attention can only be sustained for so long. There comes a point when you think you’re working but what you’re putting out is, well, how shall I say it – gobbleygook. So it’s probably a good idea to split your time up a bit to keep things fresh.

Understand that all of your ideas may not come to fruition – perhaps they were never meant to – and those that do won’t necessarily happen at the same time. Some projects may have to be put on the back burner for a while. You have to trust that the projects you chose to undertake are the right projects for you for some reason or another.

Alright – enough with the preamble. Here are some tips to help you decide what to work on and when.

First of all, you can narrow down the projects that actually inspire you. Some ideas are just random passing fancy – you see a butterfly and you think you should do an art installation about butterflies. And maybe you should. Maybe it’s going to be your signature piece. You can certainly keep all ideas on tap, but some things hit you in the gut and keep coming back to you. Those are the ones to go for because they will keep you working. Keep in mind, however, that this is a creative industry so, if you do want to make a living at it, some projects may be more marketable than others. But , even if it doesn’t make you millions of dollars, you can still be learning something from the process – maybe it’s a new technique, maybe it connects you will something that can help you in the future.

Is there a deadline of some kind? Even if you’re not hired to work on a project with an expected turnaround time, there can still be better or worse times to put something out there. For example, if you are interested in composing some Christmas music with the hopes of having them licensed for holiday movies, you’re not going to start the process in November and expect to hear your handiwork on your TV screen in December. I mean, the following December maybe but these things are set in motion months ahead of time. Books discussing trending topics need to be finished rather quickly or they will no longer be relevant by the time they are published. If you’re writing a play for a specific situation, like a fringe festival, it has to be completed before the start of rehearsals, not before the start of the festival. Kind of obvious, I know, but it had to be said. 😉

While we’re on the topic of deadlines, if you are interested in obtaining grants to fund your projects – something many artists do – you have to be mindful of deadlines for applications and when you are allowed to actually begin the project. If you have an idea for a grant-worthy project, you will likely need to do preliminary preparation well ahead of time so you can submit your plan before their deadlines – depending on the funding organization, some programs are always open to submissions, others accept a couple of times a year. And, even when you are accepted – which would be awesome – you may not be allowed to begin your project for another several months, according to the agreement. So, with the long-term preplanning involved, you want to get started on it as soon as possible while having other projects to fulfill you in the meantime.

In fact, it may not be a bad idea to always having one short -term and one long-term project on the go. That way, you can scratch that itch that wants the immediate satisfaction of completing something – and might make you some money in the process – and still have that magnum opus, that masterpiece they will be talking about for generations to come. You can be submitting articles to your favourite magazines while you’ve got your epic novel on the go.

So, those are some tips if you are in the blessed situation of finding yourself overwhelmed with inspiration. Have a fabulous day and keep on creating!

Tiffany