collage Archives - Your Writing Mentor

Get Creative!

May 28, 2020 By Mary E. Knippel

It’s Creativity Day! (May 30)

Tap into the height of your creativity and recognize the miracles surrounding you every day…little seeds planted now will sprout into fragrant, colorful flowers or nourishing fruits and vegetables. Even if gardening isn’t your thing, nature is a source of constant creativity!

What do you do to tap into your creativity?

pick up a needle and thread/yarn
bake bread
make a collage
write in your journal
15-minutes all to yourself to watch the clouds drift by
soak in a hot tub (any chance I get I’m going to encourage you to nurture yourself body and soul in a tub of bubbles)
sip a cup of tea in the sunshine
a walk on the beach getting sand between your toes (probably not an option in January)
go to bed at 9 p.m. with a new book
eat popcorn and watch your favorite old flick…in a theatre or on your couch
spend time with your loved ones
visit a museum or art exhibit
get lost in a new venture
plan a vacation or a mini-retreat
sleep in on Saturday
light a candle against the dark
play an instrument
sing a song
get messy with paints
sit in front of a crackling fire
make s’mores around a campfire
dream out loud

How do you express your creativity?

Free Family Fun Creativity Workshop at the San Mateo County Fair

May 31, 2017 By Mary E. Knippel

It’s county fair time and an opportunity for some serious summer entertainment. When I was little, the merry-go-round was my kind of ride; one gentle speed going around in circles. My in-laws used to plan their trip around the Midway so they can ride the Ferris wheel at dusk to see the swirls of carnival lights. My daughter and my husband like roller coasters. Are you someone who goes to see the latest 4H exhibits, stop by to see the baby goats, pigs and rabbits, and the award winning animals. Or do you eat your way around the fair? Strolling from one deep fried food to the next. Tom Thumb doughnuts are my weakness. Whatever your indulgence, I’ve got a suggestion that won’t add calories to your fair experience and is guaranteed to deliver a refreshing experience.

On Wednesday, June 14, from 1-3 p.m. Coaxing Creativity and the Writer Unleashed/Creativity Muse (aka yours truly Mary E. Knippel) is facilitating a Coaxing Creativity Workshop. This is a free, a family-friendly event for ages 10 and up. (Kids, please tell you parents you want them to play with your!) This is a fun experience for the young and the young at heart. During the workshop, we’ll explore the secrets of keeping a journal and discover how combining bits of paper, glue, and magazine images create magic!

Join us Wednesday, June 14, 1-3 p.m. in the Expo Building by the Literary Arts Stage. I’ll bring the materials. You bring your imagination and a generous supply of enthusiasm.

Coaxing Creativity Workshop is part of a series of readings, presentations, workshops and special presentations during the San Mateo County Fair (www.sanmateocountyfair.com) sponsored by the California Writers Club-Peninsula/San Francisco Branch (www.cwc-peninsula.org).

[Coaxing Creativity Tip] Go Get Creative!

January 24, 2017 By Mary E. Knippel

Teresa LeYung Ryan sharing collage at Mary E. Knippel's creativity workshops — Teresa Le-Yung Ryan sharing her collage at Mary E. Knippel’s creativity workshop

It’s International Creativity Month!

What do you do to tap into your creativity?

pick up a needle and thread/yarn
bake bread
make a collage
write in your journal
15-minutes all to yourself to watch the clouds drift by
soak in a hot tub (any chance I get I’m going to encourage you to nurture yourself body and soul in a tub of bubbles)
sip a cup of tea in the sunshine
a walk on the beach getting sand between your toes (probably not an option in January)
go to bed at 9 p.m. with a new book
eat popcorn and watch your favorite old flick…in a theatre or on your couch
spend time with your loved ones
visit a museum or art exhibit
get lost in a new venture
plan a vacation or a mini-retreat
sleep in on Saturday
light a candle against the dark
play an instrument
sing a song
get messy with paints
sit in front of a crackling fire
make s’mores around a campfire
dream out loud

How do you express your creativity?

[Free Training] It’s What you know and Who you know

September 8, 2016 By Mary E. Knippel

We’ve all heard that it’s often not what you know but who you know. Of course, we know how important it is to get out there and spread the word about our message. We are among the lucky ones if we are fortunate enough to have friends who would help us prepare for an event, coach us on content and delivery, and then be our support “team” on the day of the event!

I’m sending a huge THANK YOU and lots of love to my friend, head cheerleader and my Mentor, Writing Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan.

On more than one occasion Teresa has been there when I’ve been the featured speaker or facilitated a workshop. We have co-presented numerous times at the San Francisco Writers Conference. I had the opportunity to present Create Your Success Story to a fabulous group in San Francisco. This was a speaking opportunity as well as a mini-workshop with writing, collage, and conversation resulting in lots of creativity. When folks were asked to introduce themselves, Teresa was the first one to stand up and say she was there because of today’s fabulous speaker!

Your success is determined by what you know AND who you know. My friendly advice is to be confident in not only what you know…to also recognize that you are not in this alone…to acknowledge the tremendous impact of those who support you in sharing your clear, concise and compelling message with the world.

Teresa and I have known each other for over a decade now and are members of the Women’s National Book Assn-San Francisco Chapter and California Writers Club-Peninsula Branch. She amazes me with all that she does for everyone else, encouraging, supporting, and documenting our accomplishments. I have opened myself up to new opportunities and had some incredible experiences because Teresa nudged me to consider taking on a bigger role.

Do you have someone who lifts you up?

How do you lift up others?

Tell someone that they shine today.

You’ll be glad you did.

Photo Credit: Margie Yee Webb

[Free training] Writing without writing…

March 11, 2016 By Mary E. Knippel

Here’s an idea to encourage writing without actually doing any writing…Intrigued? Sometimes you have to keep your hands busy so that your head will stop spinning those “what if” scenarios and your heart can catch up with what you are really feeling. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes you just need to have a task to do that involves a practical result, a dash of intuition and generous dose of creativity. In other words…here’s a perfect mixture of play with purpose when want a little down time (you can do this in a half hour to an hour) without guilt or drama.

I’m sharing this in honor of National Craft Month. Its a simple and useful craft – collage a cover on a small journal. No special equipment or tools necessary. You have everything you need without fussing with exotic supplies or detailed instructions:

start with a notebook (any size will do…you probably have one hiding in your desk drawer)
collect bits of interesting paper (junk mail, magazines, gift wrap, copy a favorite picture – add a bit of whimsy with a rubber stamp if you have some hanging around your desk drawer)
tear pictures from the magazines, line up the gift wrap in a design, use the junk mail to create a short poem or slogan
arrange the bits of paper to be pleasing to your eye
attach the paper to the notebook cover with a glue stick and your creation is complete
Bonus: Combine the embellished journal in a pretty gift pouch along with a small pen and you have a thoughtful token ready for any number of occasions.

Photo credit: MEKnippel (yes, that is one of my hand-embellished journals)