Finding Your Words: Journaling Our Thoughts
Finding Your Words: Journaling Our Thoughts
Written by Patricia Tiffany Morris
As writers and creatives, it’s not easy to sit down at our desk and write something meaningful. Never mind the many projects waiting for our attention in various states of completion, with no idea where the next words will send our characters or the elusive perfect plot. The palms sweat, and beads of perspiration ripple down cheeks like tears as a looming deadline blasts and interrupts our mental exercises.
“Where was that character sketch? I must have finished the 5th draft last week at the critique group.”
Frustration mounts.
Papers fly and resemble a kind of shuffling dance from high school gym class.
The once silent fan now roars.
Writing proves tough enough without wrestling with organizational weakness.
“Maybe I’ll grab a traditional journal and simply scribble some notes. Surely I’ll find my draft tomorrow.”
And, so we jump from nondescript spiral notebook, to the newest popular note taking app, to sticky notes, computer writing software, and in a pinch, the backs of envelopes. We cobble the filing of our creative thoughts and brilliant snippets of our imagination into random pieces of memory—memory which is often elusive if we have not yet discovered our organizing systems.
“But what if we could learn how to organize our writing, our sermon notes, or our everyday tasks and calendar lists? What if we could embrace the way we manage our time in a way that decreases stress and increases productivity?”
No one system or tool does everything. I know that intellectually, but my heart craves the order that I believe God desires for each one of us. Each person needs a variety of tools to form the perfect system for themselves.
That’s where My Digital Artsy Sandbox can help.
I’ve imagined a virtual sandbox of sorts which will allow us to play with and explore the various tools, software, and ideas to create steps for managing our artsy lives as writers and artists. Because we all need to feel a little orderliness and calm in this anxious ridden world.
I’ll provide basic step-by-step instructions for some of the most helpful tips I’ve learned through the years, and perhaps some tools we can discover together, and I’ll share them in a dedicated space where we can
COLLABORATE
BRAINSTORM
SHARE IDEAS
EXPERIMENT
and
PLAY with TECHNOLOGY
Perhaps some of you will join me this year.
I have a list of several topics and apps I will demonstrate as well as starting with time blocking for procrastinators and distracted writers. If you haven’t wrangled the new year’s calendar, it’s never, ever too late to start.
Here are a few items we’ll cover in the Sandbox:
Scripture and Sermon Note Taking Ideas & Lettering Tutorials.
Creating Your Own Digital Planner and Adding Stickers With Your Favorite Color Palette.
Learning to Create Gifs and Add Motion to Your Photos.
Creating Artsy Books, Bookmarks, and Brochures with Affinity Publisher and Canva.
Brainstorming and Mind Mapping Apps and Ideas.
Designing & Creating Custom App Icons and Widgets for your Phone and Tablet.
Learning More about Time Blocking for a Colorful, Manageable, Mindful Productivity.
Wrangling your Email Box and Adding Color, Stars, and Filters to Manage your Inbox.
While I create the structure, the teaching platform, and the lessons, think about ways you learn best and keep a list of ideas. I’ll email more specific topics later as the Lord leads. For now, please pray and consider joining My Artsy Digital Sandbox to discover creative ways to organize your digital space.
I look forward to seeing you soon!
~Patricia
Let’s explore the possibilities in our digital sandbox.
Written by Patricia Tiffany Morris
Drop your comments below and share what organizational tools you’d like to learn more about.
MY PLATFORM:
I have a small website, and have been studying SEO, social media, brands, and niche creation for just the past three years. Some days I can hardly wrap my mind around the internet SEO concept myself. Let alone implement all the strategies, and find time to write and create art, but my hope and prayer is that you would be blessed by learning a few tips to make your online journey a little easier. But I will pray and ask the Lord to guide and direct you. Let’s find joy and adventure in this journey together.