Tag Archive: creativity


I should be working on a feature article now. But I’m not. I’m reading Austin Kleon’s “Show Your Work” on my lunch break.

The feature article’s due soon. Good topic. Great freelance rate. Fantastic interviewee. And the two I’ve already written for this client have gotten smashing reviews. But I’m blogging. Because I need to share something.

Please don’t make a Scenius

Actually, chances are you already have. It’s a good thing.

Austin talks about a scenius, which is like an ecology of talent. “Artist, curators, thinkers, theorists, and other tastemakers.”

The premise, as far as I understand it, is that it’s about creative people supporting other creative people, and it’s from this that tremendously creative people (those whom we might consider geniuses) emerge.

Reading this, my mind gravitates to a scenius centering on a fellow creative named Theresa Crout, and her creative endeavor: Voodoods.

She creates these little clay dudes and holds a naming contest for those that she makes each year. The way she does it is pretty slick. She leans on social media to post the little Voodoods and garner entries.

That Voodood That You Do

I like her art. You can check it out and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You’ll be glad you did. I get a lot of joy out of coming up with entries… Even won a few.

In reading Austin’s book earlier it occurred to me that and her creativity sparks my creativity, which in turn supports her creativity. It’s like a vicious cycle but happier. And fun… it’s FUN.

So I guess in a way, that’s one of the sceniuses (did I just make up a word?) that I take part in as a creative. And I can see how it buoys my own creativity.

What are yours?

How do you engage with other creatives?

And what do you seek to give…and get?

A month. A whole month since my last entry.

Dear God but I missed my blog the way you’d miss a 12-step meeting: sure I could go on without, but it does me a world of good. Still 30 days without and I start to get the heebie-jeebies. And that’s something this writer likes to avoid, particularly when I enjoy writing and do it daily.

Daily, mind you … just not always on Heavy Mental.

Then it occurred to me: why not write about what I wrote about? Truth is, I’m taking a cue from Atlanta designer and illustrator extraordinaire San Smith (pink hair, genuine talent, nice person … what’s not to like?). She has a regular feature on her site dubbed “What I wore today.” Why not fashion something akin to that based on my writing? (San, imitation is flattery … Hope you don’t mind!) So, here goes:

It’s busy season for the Big Four, so work saw me proofing some financial documents. Nothing thrilling there other than finding an addition error — pretty impressive when I consider that I was absent from school the day they taught math.

But the creative writing for the day came in the form of a Facebook reply to a friend who chose to go to the gym over attending a wine tasting tonight. From a perspective not my own, I wrote:

Dear Colleen,
I wish to convey my congratulations on your willpower, gumption, and veritable self-discipline in choosing the treadmill over the tasting.
Sure, perhaps by 1 a.m., you’d find my tantalizing nose, spicy bouquet, and smooth finish would linger and lilt about your senses like a Taser(R) on low-voltage, but the gym is a wise choice. After all, there’s no day like today to do something good for your body. And besides, I’ll be mo’ bettah the longer you put me off.
Best Regards, The Chilean Shiraz

It’s after writing something like that — even when I’m ready to hit the hay — that I recall how much I enjoy writing. Yay words.

So I’ll keep on this weekly “What’d I write Wednesdays” kick and do my best to pepper the other days of the week with posts so as not to get Thursday through Tuesday riled up with jealousy and to keep my true-believer readers guessing. Here’s to (in)consistency.

That’s it for What’d I write Wednesdays … and here’s to 311 Thursday tomorrow. Awwww, YEAH!