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Your circadian rhythm and creativity: Editor's Notes #314 May 27, 2020 |
Hello, —Apple ad In this issue: 1. Your circadian rhythm and creativity 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 5. My Covid-19 offer to you 1.Your circadian rhythm and creativity Whether you know it or not, you have a circadian rhythm, and it has an important part to play in your creativity. From the Latin circa (about) and diem (day), your circadian rhythm makes you sleepy at times and wide awake at others. The rhythm part means this is a cyclical event, not dependent on how hard you work or how far you run. If you pay attention to your body, you will soon discover that there are times when you regularly feel focused and able to pay attention to detail and other times when you are more easily distracted. That focused time is the peak of your circadian rhythm. Morning people have a different peak time than evening people. Each individual is unique, but morning people will always have their peak times earlier than evening people. Organizing your writing day to optimize your circadian rhythm makes a difference in how well you do different tasks. At your peak, you can block out distractions. That’s important when you have to search for spelling mistakes, for example. In off-peak times, distractions gain in power. That’s not necessarily bad. Distractions often lead to aha moments. You get outside the box, and your mind wanders into places it would never go when you are concentrating. That’s a good time to let your mind figure out what to do about a pesky plot point or a troublesome character. In general, reserve jobs that rely on your ability to block out the world and work to a formula for your peak times, and capitalize on your off-peak mind when you have to break free and find a creative solution to a problem. Only you can say for sure when your circadian rhythm is at its peak and when your defences against distractions are at their lowest. Playing to the strengths of each time makes writing more efficient and more rewarding. =========== 2.Tickled my funny bone Ever stop to think and then forget to start again? Some have! =========== 3. Interesting Web site A circadian rhythm relies on sunlight. Here is one take on using light to increase creativity. https://medium.com/s/how-to-design-creative-workspaces/how-to-use-the-psychology-of-light-and-lighting-to-boost-your-creativity-b61a574b5751/ (If this link does not work for you, do a search for how-to-use-the-psychology-of-light-and-lighting-to-boost-your-creativity. The first offering should give you the article I meant you to read.) =========== 4. Writing prompt Today I offer three words that have no particular association to me, and possibly not to you, either. In an off-peak time, sit with them for a bit to see what you can write that includes the words tripped, accordion, and orange. I’d love to see what you can do. =========== 5. My Covid-19 offer to you My hope for you is that you are getting enough rest. That will also allow you to be more creative. When you are ready to have the input of a professional, take advantage of the offer below. What follows is a copy and paste from issue number 309. It’s still in force for you and anyone you choose to tell about it. Along with the health threat hanging over the world, we are facing a huge financial hit. I’ve decided one thing I can do is to make quality editing less expensive during this trying time. For subscribers to Editor’s Notes and their friends, I am suspending the fee for the sample edit to anyone using the code EN19 until I cancel this offer. I intend to keep this offer open as long as the world is in crisis with Covid-19 and its aftermath, so watch this space. I will give a warning here before I pull this offer. You can submit your writing sample at https://www.writershelper.com/sample-edit.html Be sure to click the link below the heading "Promotion Code" to get to the special form for a free sample edit. If you find yourself at a form before clicking the special link, scroll slowly back up the page, and you should see the link for the code (EN19). But it gets better… When I return an edited writing sample, I include quotes for the full range of my editing services. Until further notice, I will give a true quote, but I will not charge writers the full amount. I am discounting my services 50% for subscribers to Editor’s Notes and their friends. I will give a warning here before I pull this offer. Feel free to pass this offer along to any writing friends you think may be interested. As long as anyone uses the code, I’ll honour the offer. This is what I can offer you in this time of crisis. I hope it encourages you as you face possible illness and financial uncertainty. =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html |
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