A Thousand Ways to Get The Ball Rolling

No matter who we are and no matter what it is we do, from time to time we all need to clear our heads, shake out the dust and gain a new perspective. Sometimes its writer’s block or creative block that’s got a hold on us. Maybe moving from one project to another has left us cloudy and unfocused on the new task at hand. Whatever the issue, sometimes all we need is a little jolt to get things moving in the right direction.

Well… enter two tried and true tools to help clean your spark plugs and get you running on all cylinders.  The first, The Observation Deck, A Tool Kit for Writers, by Naomi Epel, is a fantastic book and deck of cards- a fascinating collection of insights from hundreds of notable authors who Ms. Epel interviewed during her many hours spent with them as a literary chauffeur.

The the deck of cards is the foundation of the Tool Kit, 50 cards in all, that you can keep on your desk to draw from when you’re feeling in need of a little hit. The accompanying book takes all the card’s concepts and fleshes them out with the full story and adds tidbits from the various authors who shared the insight.  All in all, so many of the concepts are common sense, but may not occur to one without them being presented in such a nicely organized and accessible package.

Secondly, is the iPhone and iPad app called the Creative Whack Pack, created by Roger von Oech, the public speaker and thinking guru. I’ve mentioned the app before, but I’ve found myself looking through it over the last month or so just for entertainment. It’s full of thought-provoking ideas and stories, as well as daily new “Whacks”.