Your Creative Imagination
By Patrick Sturm, Coastal Dunes Branch
The writer’s greatest tool is their imagination. Looking back on my life there have been instances in which my imagination was thwarted and other times when it was set free to explore. For instance, my only memory from kindergarten was when the teacher sternly told me, “When you draw a line it looks like a wave.” As a result, I initially had little interest in art because I supposedly couldn’t draw a straight line.
You probably had a similar negative experience which thwarted your imagination’s creative growth. Psychology has taught me to question my presuppositions and beliefs. My kindergarten teacher made a categorical statement which asserted that I could not draw a straight line. Time has revealed that most categorical statements cannot be substantiated and therefore are irrational, thus I challenge you to review how past memories are limiting your imagination and growth as a writer.
On the positive side what can a writer do to stoke their imagination? Sacred scripture encourages us to rediscover the mindset of a child and their preoccupation with wonder and curiosity. Set out on a journey to a place you have never been before or listen to a music genre that you have dismissed in the past. For me, I had an aversion to jazz music, but discovery showed that there are certain types of jazz that I like (although I still can’t get into opera). Listening to jazz has set my writing skills in a new direction filled with serendipity.
Read a book or study a subject that you previously felt was too difficult or boring, and it will expand the borders of your imagination. There is nothing keeping you from setting your imagination free, so continue to seek after challenging opportunities toward its continued enrichment. Finally, as you explore new directions in which your imagination can grow, be patient and don’t expect immediate results. Slowly open the door and allow the light to gradually come in and when you are ready, step into the new light and be sure to bring your readers with you.
Patrick Sturm wrote this for his President’s Message in the
June 2023 Imprints, newsletter of the Coastal Dunes Branch.