#IDEAS Applied: #Creative Block? Then Start Having Fun And #Juxtapose Absurdities!

"Sustainable creativity is nurtured and created  from rigorous Brain Care, regular practice and mental frameworks that are somewhat  childish, yet in many ways emulate the innate absurdities often created and experienced during REM  (dream) sleep - where playful insanity has it own rational universe that makes complete uncommon sense"   

- Nouvo Picasso

BREAK Your CREATIVE BLOCKS BY JUXTAPOSING ABSURDITIES

By Nouvo Picasso, June  2019

In addition to facilitating and teaching the Picasso Creative Writing Method I will often attend other Creative Writing Groups to explore, learn and practice creativity, creative writing and discover new creative mental models; and most particularly, to apply and test concepts related to - "Juxtaposing Absurdities."  A few days ago, I attended such a group with 14 other Creatives and students at a classroom in Toronto. 

At this group, the facilitator  presented and suggested we all write about a topic - "Simple Pleasures" and  handed out a writing  prompt called "Tiny Happy Things" - by Nanea Hoffman - as a point of reference and guidance for the writers. 




Most the writers in the group stayed more or less within the theme and intent of the prompt - there were no real crazy creative deviations. Which is sad because so many people miss the "real fun" of  being creative and just releasing and stretching the creative spirit into untold directions and dimensions. It frees the mind to dream with infinity's soul.

Needless to say, I enjoy these open-ended prompts immensely as it allows me the opportunity to practice blending and creating a rational connection among or between seemingly wild and absurd unrelated ideas. Anyway, here's  what I created  that day in about 30 minutes. Even though each verse may appear disconnected and unique - there is a hidden thread that manifests itself in this turbulent chaos of absurdities. That in and of itself may reveal an heretofore untold and  subtle universal truth?

I firmly believe that all critical and creative thinkers should engage in this or similar forms of juxtaposing exercises on a regular basis to stimulate and strengthen the neurological  pathways that are the key to our cognitive creations. And to also better connect with our REM dream powers.  Like anything else, practice provides the practical and sustainable way to improve what we do. 




Polish Penguins Make Papal Visit For Climate Crisis 

Sexy snake feet on an alligator feather's souffle,

Cigar-smoking Ukrainian mushrooms dancing with Irish Booga whales 

Fat yellow martians singing silent night with Santa in the key of C



Complex pleasures with a simpleton's delight

The Milky Way  chasing the universe to Kentucky Fried chicken at the crack of dawn

One more lie, One more politician, One more election

There goes a a pink dwarf stalking a one-eyed Cinderella to the show

Short chickens singing gospel songs while flying south for a respite. Hallelujah! 



Complex delights with intuitive pleasures

He said, she said ...but, there are  no more good pronouns to believe in

Tomorrow asked today, but there was no profound answer

So elephants swam to North America to play hockey with kangaroos

Ask the wise rooster who can lay his eggs on Friday?

All monkeys are hatched from the souls of birds with umbrellas

Clouds only exist because the dreams have disappeared. Angels stole them!




Complex intuitions with innate reforms

For once upon a time, it was the last time

Look to the green skies where devils sip California wine in the dark

Then Dracula kisses the werewolf, before the Italian opera. Figaro, Figaro...

Their toilet breaks and the slush crashes onto the planet



Innate reforms lost beyond eternity's shores... maybe forever!

#IDEAS: Breaking Through Your #Creative Blocks

Be kind to yourself, even when you feel uninspired. Remember, everything you need is already within you! But you are only human.

•  By FENNY NADORP

HOW TO OVERCOME CREATIVE BLOCKS

A common problem that affects all creatives

Fenny Nadorp is an entertainment and creative industry life coach with more than a decade of experience. She has been trained by neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) legend Tony Robbins, Chloé Madanes, Magali and Mark Peysha. She has teamed up with Mixmag for a series of topic discussions that artists, industry members and fans alike face to create and encourage a safe environment to openly discuss mental health issues.

Creativity is a beautiful thing. As a creative, it's important to take time to step out of the real world and into a world you've created - far from reality, and focus on your own visions and thoughts. Every creative knows that one day, you will hit a creative block. It can last hours, weeks, months and sometimes, even years... especially when you don't take proactive steps to do anything about it.

When you hit a creative block, inspiration seems to disappear and you can't find energy to create. You sit down to work, but nothing appears. When you hit a mind blank like that, it can be frustrating. You might lose motivation and feel empty. During a creative block, it's easy to procrastinate and get sidetracked with other mundane tasks, like scrolling through socials (which can easily lead to feeling like you’re missing out).

It's a difficult cycle, because without your creativity, it can feel like you're hitting more than just a creative road block. Worries about your income can begin to creep in, and feel exhausting and frustrating.

This is where it becomes important to try to pull yourself out of this dark state of mind. It's important to remember that creative blocks happen to everyone, and it isn't happening because you are failing. You are simply human.

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BREAK THE BLOCK

#Rules To Help You Create a Great #Plot

"Your first attempt might not be perfect; it will take time and practice to come up with a great storyline—and once you've got it, you still have the hurdles of character and setting to overcome"

The Golden Rules for a Good Plot

 

Follow these rules to ensure you have a good plot

Is it your dream to become a best-selling author? Have you spent countless afternoons daydreaming about selling a million copies? If so, you probably have the motivation it takes to write a great novel. Every great novel has a good plot, full of suspense and endless ups and downs. If you want to hit the big time with your novel, you will need to focus on your plot structure. While we can't provide a formula for a guaranteed bestseller, we can offer a few basic plot rules that can ease your journey down that road toward a good plot.

Plot Rule 1: Create a plot skeleton

 

 

A plot outline will help you choose a complication and the steps to resolve it. This is the plot. Your character must want or need something and be prevented from getting it. This is the complication. How do they get it? This is the story. Once your character figures out how to get what they want, well, there's your plot. Remember, outlining your plot in advance won't limit your creativity, but rather ensures a good plot—one that doesn't stray too far off topic.

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HOW TO PLOT A NOVEL

 

#BrainCare: #Marijuana Could Have Very Serious Impact On Long-Term #Brain Health

"Addiction is real. It's a slow downhill kind of thing … it takes some years to get to that low point, and years to slowly build yourself back up,” said Warner. “Recovery isn’t easy, even for a guy like me..."

 

 By Shamard Charles, M.D.

Chronic pot use may have serious effects on the brain, experts say

 More research needs to be done to highlight the long-term effects of marijuana use on the brain, body and our behavior, experts say.

 

As marijuana legalization builds momentum across the United States — with Michigan becoming the latest state to allow recreational use by adults — researchers are warning that more studies are needed on the long-term effects of chronic pot smoking on the human brain.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, but little is known about its effect on health or how addictive it is.

According to a 2017 poll conducted by Marist College and Yahoo News, more than half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once in their lives, and nearly 55 million of them, or 22 percent, say they use it currently. Close to 35 million are what the survey calls "regular users," people who say they use marijuana at least once or twice a month.

"Surprisingly, many people freely admit to using marijuana, but underreporting remains an issue," said Jonathan Caulkins, a drug policy researcher and professor at Carnegie Mellon University. "To correct for that one should fudge upwards by a factor of 20 to 40 percent."

COMPARING NORMAL BRAIN TO  LONG-TERM USERS

 

With Michigan's Election Day ballot measure, 10 states and the District of Columbia now allow the drug's open use; 33 states plus D.C. allow medical use, leaving many to wonder if the U.S. will follow Canada's lead in legalizing marijuana nationwide.

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HOW TO RECOVER FROM POT USE

 

 

Are You Suffering From #Brain Fog?

"Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. It is avoidable and treatable. Learn what to do about it"

Brain Fog: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Brain fog is not a medically recognized condition, but is a commonly used term that sums up feelings of confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity.

Having brain fog is fairly common, but it’s not normal.

When you feel foggy, unfocused, and like you just can’t think, your brain is sending an important signal that there’s an issue in your life that needs to be addressed.

What Is Brain Fog?

 

Brain fog can be defined as “the inability to focus, pay attention, and concentrate on mental tasks.”

It’s a constellation of signs and symptoms with no specific cause.

There are no tests that prove you have it and no drugs to treat it.

Frustratingly, if you mention it to your doctor, she may not be of much help.

She may even make you feel worse by telling you it’s all in your head.

So you’re probably on your own to figure out what’s causing your brain fog, and how to stop it.

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THREE MORE TIPS

#Create Your Powerful Novel #Outline

Finding the Novel Outlining Process that Works for You

There’s nothing more nebulous than trying to produce a decent outline for your novel.

With dozens of outlining methods to choose from, all of which seem to work well for some writers but not for others, defining the outlining process that works best for you and your stories can be more than a little intimidating. How much detail do you need to include? Is outlining really necessary? Isn't there a better way? 

Writers, it's time to cut through the chaos and get down to business. Let's find the outlining method that works best for each of us in today's breakdown!

The Key to Creating a Powerful Outline

Outlines are tools authors create to help them write better first drafts. So when it comes to creating an outline that lends power and purpose to your drafting process, it helps to first understand what your drafting process is. 

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TRY THESE 3 EASY STEPS