Keep the Creative Juices Flowing - Issue #1 What is this?
Hello {{first_name}}!
OMG! Thank you so much for subscribing to my Newsletter.
I was considering to run a newsletter since long time ago but the problem has always been this question "Does the World needs yet another something to clog the inboxes?"
"No" seems a reasonable answer
"Maybe/Yes" only if is something that do not bother, is somehow interesting, inspiring and useful. Well... I think I can do this.
And here I am! My first official Newsletter!
This issue will be a tad longer because I want to explain what you'll get.
What this NL is about
It is about Creativity! I'll suggest to do sketchnotes, to draw, to make things, but first and foremost is about Creativity.
I'll share everything I do to keep my Creativity flowing, experiences, successes and failures, tips and tricks and trains of thoughts ... everything!
I'm not going to pester you
My plan is no plan. I'll fire the newsletter if and when I feel I have something interesting to say. I think it will be once or twice a month, in any cases no more than twice a month top. It'll always come on Monday morning.
What I'm going to share
I want this to be the newsletter I want to receive. The structure will be:
simple and lightweight (no pumped up HTML fireworks)
skimmable (you'll understand what we are talking about at the first scroll)
short reads elements (I'll try to condensate everything to maximize the "time2knowledge" effect)
inspiring to do something (this is crucial: if you just read and do not have ideas or want to create something... well, that would be a failure for me)
exclusive contents (with this I mean that what I'll share here it'll be only shared here and nowhere else).
In general there will be 4 sections (with pictures and visuals and sketchnotes).
Section 1: About Creativity
"How do you come up with your ideas?"
This is the most frequent question I get. I usually answer
"I don't know, they'll just appear in my mind"
Ok, but it is not really the truth.
In every issue I'll pick and share a specific topic about Creativity, what cross my mind, the tools I use, suggestions, experiences...
This section is all done with sketchnotes (usually 2 to 4).
The first Sketchnote is about the topic of the issue. This time is my definition of Creativity.
Then there will be insights or suggestions about exercises or activities. Here is the first suggestion: Creativity is NOT something that you can turn on or off, Creativity just "exist" and is up to us to let it flows.
The easiest way to do that is to "stay in the flow" in a relaxed, playful way. You don't need to think about masterpieces or something completely new, simple is good, simple is easy to achieve, simple is rewarding. These are 3 creative games I play almost constantly!
Each one of these activities looks "innocuous", maybe boring. Don’t underestimate them, if you engage in an everyday task and you do it mindfully, not just to say "I did what Mauro suggested…" but with intention and interest, the chain of thought and actions can take you to uncharted paths.
You don’t "have to", you need to "want to", to be intrigued. This is the only secret. Just start and see where it goes and have fun.
Section 2: Food 4 Thoughts
A curated list of resources
C'mon! Everybody like this, right? I do.
This is not a breaking-news/next-big-thing/hype-powered selection.
This is a list of "kinda evergreen" and curated and commented links, yet is open for guest contributions. Do you have something interesting? Just reply to this newsletter and let we talk.
I'll try to be intriguing and serendipitous. I would like to share 3-4 links to what I read/use and help me. Here is the first batch.
Which Works Better: Habits or Projects?
Excellent post by @ScottHYoung . I'm meditating and experimenting about this since a long time and I find this post quite interesting.
Perfect Free Hand
From the creator of TLDraw , Steve Ruiz , here is another fantastic online app for freehand writing. Give it a try, it's awesome.
Sculpt the World
One of my most powerful healing/creative processes is taking long walks in mountain or in the wood behind my home. It untangles my mind and trigger new ideas. As a long time follower of the "Land Art Movement" I started mashing up walking in nature with creativity. Jon Foreman brought this to a sublime level. Enjoy, get inspired and go out to make your Land Art Masterpieces.
Section 3: the Catch-All
I'll use this section for random things and ideas. Possibly fun or unusual (yeah, expect sometimes some weird stuff). We'll see. For now, here a couple of things I’m trying (read obsessed 😂)
If you feel you don't have a "green thumb", well, that is the perfect reason to give this a try!
Start small, in the sketchnote above I suggest to grow moss in recycled tuna cans, don't use tuna cans if you don't like it, find other containers but just start, no need to be perfect.
Growing plants is incredibly inspiring and doesn't have to be a rare or delicate flower or an elaborate bonsai, you'll be surprised how rewarding can be taking care of some common grass on your desk.
You need to make the first one, observe it every day, take care of it and every day think about how you can make it nicer, better, greener, make your own pots with improbable materials (I made some with cardboard and... they work!)
Section 4: my stuff and Support
This is NOT a "pay newsletter" and you owe me nothing but, I believe is good and "healthy" suggesting ways to support this work.
So, there will be NO crappy ADS, I swear! I'll just put the links to my own projects, classes or products I'd like to promote and/or a link where you can go to support this newsletter.
I just hope it doesn’t bother you.
Something like this:
The xLontrax Theory of Sketchnote
Here I condensed everything I believe it is "sketchnote" and what makes a sketchnote a good one.
You can grab you copy now on Amazon
Or this…
That's it!
I hope I convinced you to stay with me, if not, that's ok, I understand. Just hit unsubscribe, I'll be sad for a while but, don't worry it's ok.
Just kidding, of course!
Hope to see you the next time: February, 7th 2022
Ciao
Mauro