Pen & Prosper's 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Guide

THE TIME IS HERE...

Perhaps now more than ever before, we need to celebrate and embrace the good in life.
This year has been a challenging one for many people.
A struggling economy, weather-related disasters, police brutality, political upheaval, personal battles, pandemonium. True?

The good thing about the holiday season is that it offers us peace, goodwill toward mankind, generosity of spirit, and a celebration of Christ and our year-long blessings.
Good grub, family and friends, and a sharing of gifts simply serve as the proverbial "frosting on the cake."

There's no better time to shift our gears and focus our thoughts and actions on uplifting things. To put away the past and shelve our worries.
What better way than shopping... Hello?

With this as our goal, I present to you Pen & Prosper's 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Guide.
These suggestions make perfect selections for you, a loved one, or perhaps a fellow writer friend (hint, hint). :-)

WHAT JEN RECOMMENDS



ASSORTED TEAS

 

You'll never go wrong with teas for writers. And there are so many options from which to choose. Black tea, Green tea, Chamomile, Earl Grey, to name a few.  And check this out: if you have a dollar store in your nearby area, you can get more bang for your buck! Many carry an assortment of delicious brands and flavors you'll enjoy.

BOOKS

Books are to writers what fuel is to cars. They keeps us "running." They entertain, inspire and inform us. If you haven't already had an opportunity to purchase it yet, may I suggest my new E-book to add to your virtual library? This title goes beyond the lessons I share here on the blog, and is guaranteed to provide a few insider's tips that can save you time and money. To order, simply send $3.99 to PayPal address: Gemsjen@yahoo.com.  And here's the bonus: you won't have to pay any shipping and handling, my friends.  Easy peasy.

VINO

For the "wine snob" on your list. Pair it with some nice cheese, or with some lovely, decorative glasses or decanter.

CLASSES

Would you like to take your writing to new levels? Finish a novel? Start a blog? Banish writer's block? Coffeehouse for Writers classes can help you to learn more and earn more! Register today for a better writing future. Visit the C4W site at : www.coffeehouseforwriters.com


CARDS

The Portable Muse Writing Cards

Saw these recently through the Women on Writing Blog and thought they were a neat idea for stimulating creativity. 30 Creative writing prompts to enhance your productivity.
Get ordering information here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/479444250/the-portable-muse-30-creative-writing


BAKED GOODS

JEN'S HOMEMADE BROWNIES

Simply put: "Nothin' spells lovin' like somethin' from the oven." If this holiday season finds you with a little time to spare, why not "throw down" in the kitchen? For me it's therapeutic and affords another way to express my creativity.
An alternative to making baked goods as gifts, of course, is to purchase some of the nicer store brand versions and put them in a basket with other thoughtful items like a decorative mug, kitchen pot holders, fruit and/or a gift certificate to a coffee shop. My personal favorites are Aldi's Loven Fresh baked goods and Jewel's apple pie. How about you?


MUSIC

I'm a big music lover. And I'm betting that many of you "creatives" are too.
In fact, music serves as the "backdrop" to many of my writing and blogging sessions and helps to set the tone for the day. The above video features a young, talented diva that delivers! Add Andra Day to your playlist for the holidays and beyond. Let me know what you think here.
B/T/W/ Sioux, this one's for you. :-) One good recommendation deserves another.

ON A FINAL NOTE...

This concludes today's post and this year's blog pennings for 2016.
At this time, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for the "gift" of your readership, friendship and support.
This would not be possible without you.

Your turn.

Thoughts? What's on your Xmas wish list?

Any ideas you like here? Any that you would add?

Please note:
Pen and Prosper will be on holiday break, while Jen spreads a little cheer, until around January 9, 2017. Have a happy, safe, joyous holiday season.

...Until we meet again.

JEN

"Ask the Expert" With Designer David Lange

Image Credit: David Lange

Hi, David. Welcome! Can you share with my readers a little about who you are and your professional background?

I am a self taught graphic designer, artist & illustrator. I've always gravitated towards creative pastimes ever since I was young, but have been working professionally as a designer for the past 7 years both as a freelancer and for various agencies.

Describe a typical day.

Having just taken the position of Senior Graphic Designer at a marketing agency, my responsibilities as both designer and creative director include designing collateral and web pages as well as developing and refining our design and development process. A typical day consists of a little of both. There are usually a handful of design projects in my queue, but my focus right now is facilitating the web design process across various compartmentalized departments.

I see on your site that you also specialize in branding. What are some of the most common mistakes you witness with creative artists and entrepreneurs, when it comes to branding efforts?

A lack of consistency in brand strategy and presentation is probably the biggest. It's tempting and easy to follow impulse but erratic branding dilutes your message and the unique value of your offering. It also hinders brand retention and trust among your audience. This usually occurs because there are no brand standards in place, because they haven't walked the company in question through some type of branding process.

How would you describe your approach to working with writers and businesses seeking graphic design services? In other words, what's your U.S.P.?

My USP is the cross section between my passion as an artist and my hyper analytical instincts. I'm obsessed with making brands beautiful and am an advocate of being truly passionate about your personal brand, but I also appreciate the need to understand the "pain" driving the interest and desire for a particular product or service. I like to at least consider whatever data is available to understand the mindset of the customer and the particular buying process they go through.

Do you charge by the hour or by the project?

I try to stay as flexible as possible to avoid the creative process feeling restricted by cost. I usually quote most anything, but smaller projects are more typically the ones I'm comfortable working on for a flat fee. Larger projects are usually looking at a quoted range with just enough room to accommodate all the various unforeseeables.

A lot of writers are opting to publish ebooks these days. Are covers for ebooks different than hardcopy versions? Or are the design elements pretty much the same? 

The principle would be roughly the same but print is more demanding and restrictive. Print typically has more specifications involved that relate to the output (margin, bleed, print-marks, preferred format, color...). Anything that stays in the digital space is typically a little easier to deal with.

What should freelancers look for in terms of hiring a graphic designer or illustrator?

A portfolio of quality work, relevant to the type of design you're hiring them for. The freelance market is mostly driven by cost though. Design is a complex discipline that's cheapened in the eyes of the average consumer by a lot of temptingly cheap options. Good designers know their worth so be prepared to pay for quality. Going the cheap route can be okay for some things but there are a lot of unseen pitfalls for those basing their decisions on price alone.

Any other special talent or unusual hobby?

I enjoy the films of Andrei Tarkovsky.

What quote or expression do you live by?

I have quite a few that I like, maybe not one in particular. If I had to choose one for the moment: "Work hard in silence, let success be your noise."

Nice. I like that one, David.

How can we reach you?
david@bydavidlange.com

Professional
http://bydavidlange.com/contact/

Artwork
http://www.art.bydavidlange.com/contact/

How to "Make Nice" With Your Muse & Produce More

 

Whether your goal is to finish a novel, start a blog, or simply cross off more items on your creative “to-do” list, you’ll achieve more inspired results when you can make your muse a willing partner.
A reclusive muse, (A.K.A. a block in creativity) can cause a block in cash flow and derail your goals.

No output means no income. No income can cause stress, which in turn can cause your muse to become even more resistant.

If you’re on deadline with editors, publishers, or clients, it can become further problematic.
Which is why a strategic approach can improve your productivity, your outlook and your bottom line.

But before we address muse management, let’s examine some of the most common reasons it can abandon us when most needed:

6 COMMON REASONS FOR A LACK OF INSPIRATION OR CREATIVITY

• Stress
• Deadline pressure
• The pressure of expectations
• Fear (of failure or success)
• Fatigue
• Lack of focus

Here’s a perfect example that underscores how pressure can create havoc with our muse and cause us to under-perform. Many years ago, I had to complete a timed essay for a college entrance exam. Students got to choose from about 10 topics with instructions to write a persuasive essay. I completely blanked out. Even though I had been writing professionally for many years.
I folded under pressure.

Luckily, with prayer, I was able to focus (after about 20 minutes of staring at that ticking clock) and I passed the test.
Once I regrouped and lost my fears, I was able to gain perspective.

And you can too.

With this in mind, here are 5 practices and principles to “make nice” with your muse and become more productive in 2017.

 

1. Try a Change of Scenery.

If you’re used to working from home, why not tote your laptop or journal to the local library, coffee shop, or park? Bird watching, star gazing, or simply engaging in conversations with others can often provide information and inspiration for that next chapter of your novel, or next blog post.

2. Color.

Adult coloring books are all the rage. If you’re thinking that they’re just for kids, retrain your brain. According to Craig Sawchuk, a clinical psychologist at Mayo Clinic: “Coloring can help slow down heart rate and respiration, loosen muscles and stimulate the brain.” Many psychologists even suggest coloring as an alternative to meditation.

In 2015, an estimated 12 million adult coloring books were sold in the United States.

3. Take a Break.

That’s right. Though this may seem counter-productive it actually works. Scheduling some “down time” helps to relax the mind, rejuvenate the spirit, and “unplug.” Make it a part of your regular routine to break the monotony and to break through to new levels in your writing.

4. Dabble With Creative Prompts.

Creative prompts serve to jump-start the brain, ignite the imagination, and get those creative juices flowing. They usually consist of 1-4 opening lines, and are also commonly used in creative contests as story starters.

Here are a few sites you’ll want to check out to get going and to give you some practice.
http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts

http://www.workingwritersclub.com/creative-writing-prompts/

5. Read.

When we open a book, we open ourselves to a world of possibilities. Reading helps to broaden our perspective, expand our knowledge base, hone our craft, develop our voice, escape, and understand the needs of an audience.

To quote Dr. Seuss: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
The next time you’re stuck, simply reach for that book on your night stand or coffee table, and your muse will appear before you know it.

　
Though writing is said to be a solitary profession, you don’t have to go it alone. Let your muse inform, engage and guide you.

Follow these five timely tips for greater progress, peace and productivity in the months ahead.

Your turn. Thoughts?

How do you make nice with your muse when you're creatively stuck?

Let's share ideas here.