Inner Voices of Creativity
"The answer in a nutshell: Absolutely Everything!" — Anne Marie Bennett, What's Intuition Got to Do with It?

ART RAT: The April Fool's Day Joke
By Chris Dunmire, Publisher

SOOO, I'm totally going to rat myself out and come clean right now: the entire ART RAT Story and Blog was a fabricated April Fool's Day hoax. Feel free to visit the links to have an after-the-fact chuckle (or fool someone else with the fun!).

And thank you, dear readers, for all the festive and empathetic messages about Chewy Lewy and Twizzles — it's true that I have a warm spot for animals and I'm not about to let go of my theory of creative creatures just yet (I'm ever inspired by a particular kitty who loves to make sandcastles in my house), and the adventures of Chewy Lewy might go on.

Plus, check out this serendipitous side-effect: the energy I put into preparing the ART RAT joke inspired more action on another dream project of mine that I've been incubating, which when finished won't be a hoax at all. Mmmm, can you feel the creative energy percolating? It's all connected, I tell you. And if you're interested in the fun back-story behind the ART RAT project, be sure to read my tell-all piece, Messes of Intentional Creativity.

Introducing Writing Coach Lisa Collazo
Lisa Collazo, LSCW, is the most recent addition to our growing Author Series feature and creativity coaching section. Through her coaching practice and Web site, Write What You Know, Lisa assists writers with the internal barriers that keep them from writing successfully and helps create and implement strategies to move them forward with their writing goals. Her clients include screenwriters, non-fiction writers, fiction writers and dissertation students.

Lisa's latest article contribution to the Creativity Portal, Writing Out the Gremlin, presents a three-step process to help writers overcome negative messages originating from their own inner critic, a common source of fear and blocks that interfere with the creative process. We're pleased to share Lisa's clinical perspective and professional expertise with our creative readers.

Chris Dunmire
Creative Director and Publisher

P.S. It's April 15... TAX DAY! See what your level of ProTAXtination is by taking my FUN (NOT TAXING) SURVEY!

Creative Solutions & Inspirations from the Modern Day Muses
Five Ways to Believe in Yourself: From the Muse, Audacity
By Jill Badonsky
Being convinced in the merit of our work is an attractive energy that sells and magnetizes attention as much for the product as for the belief itself. Spending time working on confidence, acting “as if” we are worthy, excellent, daring and courageous would be time well spent for the creative person desiring success. PLUS: Meet the Modern Day Muse Audacity

Love of the Craft
Publishers Who Will Republish Books
By Dave Duggins
Q: I am wondering if there are any publishers or agents who become involved in republishing books? I wrote a children's book 12 years ago, and I want to republish it, making changes to the cover and title, so that it is more marketable.

Adventure Series Photo Writing Prompts
Jordan: An Ancient Land as Old as Time Itself
By Kristi Kovalishyn
Browse its soul and walk among the Roman monuments and ruins, among them the Temple of Hercules. Remain in the present but enter into the past.

Multicultural Muses
An Exclusive Interview with My Inner Muse
By Molly Anderson-Childers
Today, we journey into a strange, savage land, populated by artists everywhere — the creative soul’s innermost chamber, secret sanctuary of the Inner Muse.

Scribbling Outside the Lines: 7 Reasons Why it's Good to Make a Mess
By Dan Goodwin
We’re talking here about making a mess in your creative work, discarding and flowing over the usual confines and boundaries you set for yourself.

Messes of Intentional Creativity
By Chris Dunmire
My answer to creativity coach Dan Goodwin's question: "When’s the last time you really made a mess?"

Low Tech/High Tech Creativity
By Bruce Price
What does a digital artist do when his mouse hand goes kaput?

Writing Out the Gremlin
By Lisa Collazo
For writers, gremlins can erupt anytime we sit down to write. How does the gremlin work its magic?

Creativity is BIG Business
By Brenda Johima
Creativity and Innovation, and the need to set up a workplace environment, which supports and encourages creative expression in the workplace is no longer an "option" in business.