Bex Hall

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Creative Education

Enrich what you hear with infodoodling

Visual language format valuable for understanding and recall

Author James Harris Writing Workshop
BBC Upload Festival 2021 Writing Workshop

At a workshop this morning I used Personal Infodoodling to capture content in a visual structure.

The Upload Festival 2021 has writer’s workshops and this morning featured James Harris, author of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory and winner of the Hachette Children’s Novel Award. He shared tips and advice on how to generate your best creative ideas and bring them to life on the page.

Many more writing workshops are coming up. Visit the BBC Upload Festival 2021 learn more.

And for more about Personal Infodoodling, check out the book The Doodle Revolution by Sunni Brown.

Have a great weekend!

Day 91/100

Good things happen when you show up

Creative life can be your best life

Because of the 100 day project

Today I celebrate 100 days of blogging.

I launched on January 20th, inauguration day, an easy date to remember. In the presidency, the importance of the first 100 days originated with Franklin D. Roosevelt whose swift actions in the first months of his term helped combat the great depression.

I didn’t have a “great depression” to combat when I began this blog. It was more of a not-so-great one.

In my search over the years for the answers to “What am I supposed to be doing here, with my life, for others, just in general—what?” I tried many things with less than stellar results.

What I had not tried was purposefully living a creative life. And why would I when I’ve bought in to the notion creativity is unimportant? Being creative is something reserved for a hobby. It should never be a priority.

How wrong I have been.

I decided on writing a blog. A few days in, I found The 100 Day Project and joined because I knew accountability would help. Through it, I discovered @ElleLuna and signed on for her daily half hour Zoom meetings for the duration of the 100 days. Because I knew doing a project with others would help. Community is important.

I cast a wide net when I set my goals for the project: Show up every day behind the pen, the brush, or the lens and share my work.

And so I did.

Some days were meh, but some were out of this world fantastic. Most were ordinary but extremely satisfying.

I learned when I practice creativity regularly—make it a priority, good things happen. 

Serendipity occurs often. Aha moments become more frequent. Breakthroughs. Flow. Opportunities. Harmony. Peace. Improved health. Increased confidence. More experience. Discovery. A body of work. Community. Connections.

All you have to do is show up.

Ask What if? questions for inspiration

What if?

The art piece I envisioned for the event this past Saturday began with many ‘what if?’ questions. Like what if members of the community contributed to the artwork on this banner? What if each person was given the tools and space to express themselves however they saw fit?

What if people were made to feel welcome and comfortable, would they pick up a pen or a paintbrush? What if I asked questions and collaborated with the Art Education teacher who works at the gallery about how to do all of this?

Considering and answering those questions contributed to a day filled with magical creativity, new connections, and positive energy.

And now Grayson Gallery has a banner filled with artwork created by many hands for others to enjoy.

Day 79/100

Doodling is thinking in disguise.

There is no such thing as a mindless doodle.

The Doodle Revolution by Sunni Brown

I’ve started infodoodling while listening to speakers in workshops and interviews and I may never go back to straight note taking.

Author Sunni Brown wrote “The Doodle Revolution” and in it she asks us to think of the word “doodle” as making spontaneous marks to help yourself think. 

She goes on to write doodling gives us “…the prospect of greater insight, the chance for deeper creativity, and the path to better problem solving.”

When we use both hemispheres of our minds—left and right—we are awakened. We activate the fuller potential of what’s possible, she explains.

I agree.

Viva la revolución!

Flash fiction workshop with John Gould

The black and white infodoodle is from a workshop about flash fiction with author John Gould. The more colorful one is from an interview between author Traci Skuce and Emma Dhesi about the writing journey.

Interview with Traci Skuce about the writing journey

Creativity comes in different forms

And that’s okay

Books I’m currently reading

Today’s creativity involves book recommendations, sharing some rituals, what I’m writing, and an office supply acquisition—a new paper cutter! And a bullet journal. And a Zebra M301 pencil. Ok, and some sticky notes.

Love the new paper cutter

I’m currently in love with two books by Elle Luna, “The Crossroads of Should and Must” (a MUST read) and “Your Story is Your Power.” I’m only halfway through each, but I find the exercises are thought provoking and helpful. Wise words and the graphics and artwork are rich and delightful.

The Crossroads of Should and Must
Both books by Elle Luna
Your Story is Your Power

I write in my morning pages every day and on Week 9 of the Artist’s Way. Morning pages are an excellent tool/activity for creative recovery and discovery. They are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness and might also be called brain drain. Some mornings are whiny and petty and other times brilliant ideas are born.

The Artist’s Way & Morning Pages Journal

The Memoir Project by Marion Roach Smith is a refresher from the class I took last year. I’m still writing a memoir, working title “Choose Your Scar” about cheating death, second chances, and the power of kindness.

I recently finished a course with Traci Skuce, author of “Hunger Moon” about story clarity. She runs The Writing Journey and offers a masterclass on finishing your book.

And I just picked up Anne Lamott’s book Bird By Bird after listening to an interview with her on Kate Bowler’s podcast, “Everything Happens.”

This concludes today’s check-in. Until tomorrow, take care.