Post by Jenny
It’s that magical time of
year: if the children in your vicinity haven’t yet gone back to school, they soon will. Stores are already putting the bins of school supplies on clearance
in order to make room for Halloween candy. (I wish I was joking.) If you’re one
of those forward-thinking parents, you will wisely stock up for next year’s
back-to-school shopping season. If you’re like me, however, you will not. Instead,
you will procrastinate so you must once again make fifteen separate trips, at least
one of which takes place after even the bats have gone to bed, and still come away
without a graph paper composition notebook.
Somehow it all gets sorted
out, and after the frenzy settles, I find myself taking stock of how things are
going in my writing world. Inevitably after summer, I can only give myself
a C- at best. But just as students must gradually peel the layers of summer
idleness from their brains, so must many of us.
If you feel that your
writing energy is lagging in these dog days of summer, hit the school clearance
bins and stock up on supplies for yourself. Start with a spiral notebook and a fresh pen. Yes,
it’s old school, but do an internet search on writing vs. typing and you may be
inspired to go retro for at least a few minutes a day. Writing by hand better stimulates the brain’s reticular activating center, which
improves learning. It also integrates visual, motor, and cognitive skills,
which can help keep your brain sharp. And it keeps you away from computer
distractions that eat away at your writing time. (It may not, however, keep you
away from the sour cream and onion potato chips left over from your
end-of-summer barbecue.)
But maybe you’re not quite
ready to write. In actual words. That make sense. So pick up a box of colored
pencils or markers and doodle or draw. (Don't worry, you won't be graded on it. You don't even have to stick it on the fridge if you don't want to.) Grab a glue stick and a pair of scissors
and craft a collage. Make shapes with a compass and protractor. Engage your hands in creative
activity and your brain will soon follow. With ideas. And characters. And
plots. And words.
What was your favorite
school supply? Does it still inspire a little bit of creativity?
5 comments:
Notebooks. I still can't pass a stack of new college ruled, 3 divider notebooks without buying one. This year I'm trying hard to stay out of the school supply aisle wherever I'm shopping.
Mine was crayons. Especially the big box with 64 colors!
The Big Chief tablet was my school days favorite. Nowadays, though, I have to stay away from the office supply stores and Walmart and Target when they start running their clearance sales because I cannot pass up college-ruled composition books, college-ruled notebooks, journals or pens with pretty-colored inks. My stash will last me two lifetimes.
Oh, yes. I'm an office supply freak, too.
I love all those things too. What it is about a brand new notebook? All the potential...
No one should outgrow crayons, especially the big box!
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