Who wants a kick in the butt?

Well, that sounds nasty, doesn’t it? Who would want a kick in the butt, let alone actively seek it?

People who know they need one, that’s who.

As a fiction writer, I definitely need one from time to time. I’m actually pretty disciplined. I keep a stable writing routine—after work Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. (Wednesday night is for knitting class, and Friday is just a plain old day off from it). I write in the same place and steadily work on one book at a time.

I pride myself on keeping this routine—and still, even I need a kick in the butt sometimes.

I know what it’s like to work full time and maintain all the activities necessary to function day-to-day. All of that takes enough energy. And then to dig deep and find the drive to do something creative—are you kidding me? Even when it’s your dream to paint, act, dance, whatever—even though nothing makes you feel more wonderful than doing that thing, whatever it is—it can be damn hard to make yourself get off you butt and do it.

It ain’t easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. And I know I’m not the only one who struggles with this. After a year of doing readings and talks to promote my first novel, The Secret Thief, I’ve met and talked with a lot of people who want to write or do some other creative activity and are struggling to find the time, the discipline, the inspiration to do it.

To all of you out there, I offer you a creative kick in the butt—lessons I’ve learned the hard way, advice, tips, books, quotes and a creative challenge now and then to get you going and keep you going on your path to your creative fulfillment. I’m a fiction writer, so my point of reference is the writing process, but everything I offer here applies to any creative activity. Painters, singers, actors, sculptors, dancers, musicians—whatever your creative identity—you are all welcome here.

Questions, additions, compliments, complaints, frustrations, successes—leave a comment. Let’s talk to each other and help each other stay on the path to our dreams.