Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Nature and Nurture - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the mind and heart
of children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

I've been thinking this morning about how we become storytellers, artists, musicians, poets. Is it nature or nurture? Are we born with gifts for art, or are we born as a clean slate but lucky enough to have had someone--or several someones--introduce us to art and encourage our artistic expression?

The answer, it seems to me, has to be both. I believe that everyone is born with the capacity for artistic expression. We can't help but notice how free a child with a box of crayons is, how unique and expressive the work he produces in his play. As we grow, we find different tools to express our inner creativity--a pencil, a paintbrush, a keyboard, a rolling pin, a garden hoe, a sewing machine, a hammer and saw.

Three Writers on Creativity & Spirituality

from the bookshelves of guest columnist
Barbara Jean Hicks,
children's book author and educator

 A friend sent me a link last week to an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert, the award-winning writer whose memoir Eat, Pray, Love tells the story of a woman losing and then finding herself during a journey that was both physical and spiritual. Her words reminded me of Julia Cameron's book on creative recovery, The Artist's Way, which led me to an article on beliefnet.com by Tibetan Buddhist Chantmaster Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within. Today, for your contemplation, I offer quotes from these three writers on the interconnectedness of creativity and spirituality:

Creative Resources and Creative Journeys - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the inquiring mind of
children's book author and educator
Barbara Jean Hicks,
Guest Columnist

I'm fascinated by the process of creativity. The TV shows I most enjoy are the ones that document the creative process in action, whether in fashion design, cooking, interior design, dance or music. I believe that creativity is a spiritual endeavor, something that arises from and engages the spirit or soul, and I find the creative journeys of others inspiring to my own.

A couple of years ago, I researched master's programs that I thought might deepen my creative experience. I didn't ultimately choose to pursue a degree, but I found an almost irresistible Recommended Reading List at one institution of higher learning that offers an M.A. in Engaged Humanities with an emphasis in Depth Psychology.

I realized that even without pursuing a degree, I could still read the recommended texts on my own--but I discovered it wasn't as easily done as considered! I needed accountability. What if I read these resources NOT on my own, but with a group of like-minded writers, musicians, designers and other artists I could discuss them with?

Reflections - An Exercise for Writers - Barbara Jean Hicks

I work as a supervising teacher for an online middle school/high school. Last Friday was the end of the first term, this Monday the beginning of the second. In preparation for the new term, I wanted my students to spend some time reflecting on their performance.

I sent them a few open-ended questions and asked them to respond via email. The questions I asked elicited some interesting and heartfelt responses that got me to thinking about my own performance--as a writer.

Perspiration/Inspiration - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the files
of educator and children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

I ran across two favorite quotes this week that resonate with me as a writer:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -- Thomas Edison

 “If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.” -- Joseph Campbell

 

On Putting Yourself Out There - Barbara Jean Hicks

Between Tuesday and Thursday this week I traveled 2400 miles round trip by plane. I ended up with five plane changes, two one way and three the other. (Okay, they were small planes, but I admit, not quite as small as the one in the picture! And yes, that's me. The one on the right. As if you couldn't tell.)

We're talking five seat mates on this short business trip. Lots of opportunities to engage, make connections, be curious, find out things that might be useful to me as a writer. Right?

But that's not me. I'm reserved by nature. Shy. Self-effacing. Concerned about being a bother. So when I fly, I always have my Kindle and my iPad with me. I read. I play Scrabble. My electronic devices keep me from having to come up with something to say.

The downside is--not coming up with something to say keeps me from life. REAL life. Engaging, making connections, being curious, finding out things that might be useful to me as a writer--not to mention enrich my experience of life immensely.

Five Good Minutes - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the bookshelves of educator and children's author
Barbara Jean Hicks

Writing "Morning Pages," an activity described in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, is by far the most impactful discipline I've ever practiced. The idea is to freewrite three pages, longhand, before you do anything else in the morning. Many of you have done or are still doing Morning Pages on a regular basis. It's an excellent way to get in touch with dreams and desires, and I've often used my pages to generate story ideas or work out story problems.

But they take me about forty minutes in the morning, and I don't always have mornings so leisurely I can afford forty minutes before I have to start the business of my day. On those days, my go-to book is a little volume with a big title: Five Good Minutes: 100 Morning Practices to Help You Stay Calm & Focused All Day Long. Published in 2005 by New Harbinger Publications and authored by Jeffrey Brantley, M.D. and Wendy Millstine, this book provides short, simple exercises designed to help you "become more present, connect more fully, and enrich your life."

There is something sacred about being present in the moment--letting go of all regrets of the past and fears of the future, and simply being. It's not an easy thing. This little book helps me get there.

Writer to Writer: Wallow Awhile, then Have Some Fun! - Barbara Jean Hicks

I woke up in a funk this morning. I had such plans for the summer! And here the summer is almost gone...

I was going to be in my new house by September, with two housemates to help me pay the mortgage. (It was going to be DARLING, of course.)

I was going to revive at least two of my out-of-print novels as e-books by the end of August. (They were going to be Kindle and Nook best sellers...)

I was going to spend a lot of time hiking and biking and exploring the Pacific Northwest. (Wow, would I be in great physical shape!)

I was going to work out my brain every day, too, maybe learn another language, or do those online puzzles that are supposed to keep your mind sharp, or at least re-read a couple of the classics.

Keeping Promises - Barbara Jean Hicks

I thought about skipping my regular Friday blog post for today. I have company from out of town. School starts soon and I have much to do to get ready for it. My new house, in the middle of remodeling, requires an overload of physical and mental energy. My mom's health is failing and I try hard to spend time with her every day. I provide transportation for her and my sister and housemate as well and I have to juggle my schedule every day to make sure I get them all where they need to be.

In fact, I’m under such pressure trying to balance all the different parts of my life that I’ve canceled the September Highlights workshop I’ve been looking forward to teaching for over a year. That hurt--but I couldn't see another way.

But writing for the blog is fun. And I promised Tina I’d have a post for her every Friday. I’m the kind of person who keeps my promises, right?

A Nugget from One Writer’s Beginnings - Barbara Jean Hicks

from the bookshelf of
Barbara Jean Hicks

The marvelous writing memoir of southern novelist and short story author Eudora Welty (1909-2001), published in 1984 by Harvard University Press, is a treasure trove for a working writer.

One Writer’s Beginnings is based on a set of lectures Welty delivered at Harvard in 1983, ten years after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Optimist’s Daughter. Here’s one passage I especially resonated with:

Peter Tanous - Money Tip of the Day

Sometimes creative people and money don't mix. I asked my buddy, financial expert and author, Peter Tanous to give us a Money Tip of the Day. Not surprisingly, it is about gold.

To be properly diversified, portfolios should have some allocation to Gold since the metal acts differently compared to other market influences. Gold is at an all time high so best to average in. That is, decide how much you want (5% to10% of the portfolio may be appropriate) and buy over a period of several months just in case there is a pullback in the short term.

An investment in gold will protect against political uncertainties, inflation, and higher demand form India and China.  There are two ways to buy gold cheaply: one is through the ETF symbol GLD which is a pure investment in Gold, and also in another ETF symbol GDX which is an investment in a basket of gold mining stocks.  Buy both.

Dr. Elisa Lotter - Memory Loss

If you are like me, sometimes you can't remember what you did yesterday let alone last week. I keep a pad next to my bed to write down all the good writing ideas that blaze through my brain before I forget. Nutritionist, Dr. Elisa Lottor, specializes in memory loss and is starting clinical trials.  I thought I would ask Dr. Lottor a few questions for the blog.

Why do some people have problems with memory?

So many people have problems with memory because we not only multi-task, and have too much to do and on our minds, but also because our nutrition is not what it should be.

Peter Tanous - Money tips for Writers.

These are scary times with the economy. Since artist and money usually don't mix, I asked my buddy, financial expert, Peter Tanous to give us some more tips.  In last year's interview for the blog, Peter recommended  buying oil stocks when oil was seventy one dollars a barrel. So if you listened to him then, you made a pile of dough.  I am so pleased that Peter Tanous agreed to answer a few questions.

With these tough economic times costing us more and more just to live, what financial tips can you give to the average Joes to invest the little money that they have?

Don't try to  guess when the market will bottom.  You'll only know looking back at  it.  Make sure your asset allocation is right for you and for the  times.  You shouldn't be 100% in stocks--that's too risky. 

William Hanna: Money tips

I have known William Hanna and his wonderful wife, Barbara for many years.  Smart, charming and a banker extrodinaire, William has been a money guy for almost 30 years.  He is President of the Los Angeles Region of Pacific Western Bank and I thought I'd tap his wonderful brain and get a few money tips for us writers.

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is electronic  banking?

Electronic banking is safe. There are very few
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