Today is IWSG day and our purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. We’re a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. IWSG was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Co-hosts for the Feb. 6 posting are: Raimey Gallant, Natalie Aguirre, CV Grehan, and Michelle Wallace.
The IWSG February 6th question is:
Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?
Like most creatives I have a lot of half-finished projects—and way too many interests. I’ve dabbled in everything from jewelry making to quilting, from sketching and painting to photography. What I’m really good at is collecting but I’m not certain that’s a “creative outlet.”
I collect post cards that have to do with writers and anything literary. If you live in a city where a famous writer lived, died, wrote a book, feel free to send me a post card of his/her house. If you want to add your own book cover post card to my collection, you’re welcome to do so.
Jessica Ferguson, P.O. Box 4024, Lake Charles, LA 70606
I collect depression glass too—but don’t send me any—mine takes up too much shelf space, and I don’t like dusting.
I’ve got a few really pretty rocks–here’s one a boss gave me when I worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Boss found it at Sam Rayburn Lake on one of his fishing trips. I’ve hung on to it for 45 years!
I used to collect frogs. The one on the bottom right came from Colorado. My brother said it called my name and asked to live in Louisiana. Cute, huh? It’s been living here for two years.
I have a difficult time passing up anything that looks unique, fun or interesting. I’ve been told I have eclectic taste; that’s a nice way of saying I love junk. When we had our house renovated a few years ago, the contractor even told us we have “good junk.”
Decorative boxes often catch my eye and so do art journals. Can one ever have too many journals?
Books and magazines are high on my list of collectibles. I have a really hard time passing them on. In fact, when a friend tells me she’s dropping books off at a used book sale or to Goodwill, nine times out of ten, I’ll take them off her hands.
I love genealogy and collect a lot of new relatives. Testing your DNA will certainly bring them out of the woodwork! I save interesting obituaries too. The Houston Chronicle has some good ones; they’re a study in characterization and backstory.
A not so complimentary name for me might be hoarder, but I reje
ct that term. I haven’t started collecting cardboard and plastic bags yet. Well, now that I think about it . . .
What do you collect? Are you a minimalist or does your house overflow with fascinating clutter?
My “other” creative outlet is composing and arranging for solo acoustic guitar. It complements the hours spent moving words around. I’m sure a neuroscientist could explain that it lights up a different part of the brain. From experience, I can say that fifteen minutes of guitar makes everything seem not so confusing.
IWSG forever!
Rick, I don’t know if “collecting” lights up my brain but I do have a great guitar in the closet. Maybe I need to teach myself to play it. 🤔
Love it! I don’t collect much myself, but I do have the remnants of some of my dad’s collections: books, crystal, and bar paraphenalia from Scotland. Fun stuff!
You’re lucky you don’t collect much. Sometimes it’s all consuming!
Fun collections! I collect a few things, too. Little dragons, Native figurines, Funko Pops, and I even still have my old X-files trading cards, etc.
Yay! I’m not the only one who collects! Little dragons and native figurines sound interesting! I’d love to see those.
I can send you some post cards!
I have several collections, too. Most notably my Minion collection. I could open my own Minion store.
😍 I love post cards. I hadn’t thought of hitting up a publisher! 😂
Do you have all your minions displayed? Does your cat want to play with them?
I was under the impression that hoarder refers to someone who collects “bad” junk that piles up and is then strewn all over in a messy fashion. Yours is good junk.
Collecting obituaries for a study in characterization and backstory? Sounds productive.
I don’t really collect but instead I like to try new creative pursuits. My most recent is zentangle. It’s time consuming but very therapeutic. However, I’m not good at it.
Michelle, I had to research to see what zentangle is. Interesting! And definitely time consuming!
I do what I like to call “Autumn Cleaning” once a year around April/May where I go through the house room-by-room and get rid of everything I no longer need. In December I actually did a quick clean-up of toys and children’s books to give to a friend — her baby was born in January. I like to clean… Does that count as a creative outlet?
Ronel visiting for Feb’s IWSG Day Being an Insecure Writer — And Happy About It
That sounds like a great creative outlet and probably allows you to be creative in other ways. If you like doing it—that’s what matters.