This week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is an ideal time to read, watch movies (big screen or Netflix), go to museums, or listen to music. All of these are great ways to reinvigorate your creativity after a hectic holiday month.

You may already have certain artists or activities in
mind. If you don’t, here are a few of my recommendations.

Movies

Billy Elliott is an old favorite as is The Last Waltz. Bohemian Rhapsody-the story of the rock band Queen-nails the creative process and is best seen in a theater. If you have the chance to see Renaissance men, Steve Martin/Martin Short, in a live performance-do it!

Books

I challenge you to read both To Kill a Mockingbird and Go
Set a Watchman. Not to find fault or compare the two but to gain an
understanding of how Harper Lee evolved as a writer.

Best memoir ever is, hands-down, Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle.

Nonfiction inspiration would be Studs Terkel,
interviewer extraordinaire. Or anything by Malcolm Gladwell. My personal favorite
is Outliers.

Travel magazines are another wonderful way to get motivated
for future adventures, on the page of off.

Music

For imagery and a way with words, in my mind you can’t
beat Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen, or the Avett Brothers. Also, Sheryl
Crow, Lucinda Williams, or Pink.

Museums

American Writers Museum in Chicago

The Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport (NY)

The Newseum in Washington DC

The RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart (IN)

Meow Wolf in Santa Fe (NM)

Journaling
and vision boards can be helpful and encouraging too!

These are just a few ideas to get you started on
refilling your creative well for 2019. Would love to hear your suggestions as
well.

Happy New Year!