I love my work as a book writing and publishing coach. Inevitably I meet people who are up to such interesting things–so I’m always learning from them. Sometimes, what they have to teach is particularly relevant to someone writing a book, as is the case with Dylan Klempner who is an artist in residence at Shands Hospital’s Arts in Medicine Program and has just launched the program31 Days to a More Creative You.
Here I interview Dylan more about the benefits of creativity–for anyone and for writers, in particular. Dylan shares his expertise, insights and tips.
Lisa: Let’s start with health, since that’s such a big part of what you do, Dylan. What are some of the health benefits of creativity?
Dylan: Studies show that being creative helps us relax. Writing, painting, dancing and singing are excellent stress busters. But the health benefits of creativity and art making go well beyond dealing with the effects of stress. I work at a university affiliated hospital where the arts are used as a companion therapy in just about any illness you can think of.
Lisa: What are some specific benefits?
Dylan:The arts reduce pain levels. Playing and listening to music, for example, is a powerful way to control pain. Dance is used successfully in our hospital to help Parkinson’s patients maintain mobility. Writing and painting can help you make meaning out of crisis. Viewing visual art is also a powerful tool for disease prevention. It can also soothe and restore us.
Lisa: What are some of your creative practices?
Dylan:Art is a primary way I connect with other people, so I practice a variety of art forms that help me do that. I’m mainly a writer, but I also paint, take photographs, and play drums.
Lisa:How have your other creative practices affected or enhanced your writing?
Dylan: Creativity is a like a muscle that grows with exercise. I try to follow the invitation I give others, which is to make art for 15 minutes per day. If you can’t do 15 minutes, do 5. If you can’t do 5, do 1. The process of making art every day has had a powerful impact on my ability to bring creativity into other areas of my life–like writing–when I need it most.
Lisa:That’s a wonderful way to put it and I couldn’t agree more about creativity being a muscle. Can you share a creativity enhancing exercise that works especially well for writers?
Dylan: I always recommend journaling. Maintain a steady flow of words. Keep your hand moving across the page, your fingers across the keyboard. I often use journaling to warm-up or cool-down during prolonged writing sessions.
Lisa:Can you give us one more creativity tip for writers?
Dylan: When you think you’ve run out of ideas, describe images that relate to the project you’re working on. This process works whether you’re writing a how-to book, a novel or an office memo. For a piece of fiction, describe the scene or your character’s physical appearance in great detail. For nonfiction, recall what’s most important about the message you’re trying to deliver. You’ll have to edit out what’s not relevant later, of course. The goal is to become as intimate with your topics as you can. That’s how you learn how to say what you want to say.
Dylan: The e-course is designed to help you access your expressive voice and overcome creative blocks. In 31 Days to a More Creative You, you receive a month-long program of creativity-building activities. You will paint, write poetry, dance, sing, and more. I also show you how to enjoy the creative work of others. I help you find new music tailored to your individual tastes and offer tips to make your next visit to an art gallery or museum more enjoyable. The free course is a mini-version of it.
Lisa:I can see how this could help writers just tap into their creativity more and free up their writing. Why did you create the program? Was it personal?
Dylan: Two reasons: First, I wanted to give people simple art making instructions because I know how essential the arts are to our well being. I also wanted to honor the outstanding teachers I’ve had the privilege to work with over the past several years. I wanted to “pay forward” their wisdom and advice. In the process, I’m learning a tremendous amount from my students about art’s capacity to help us heal, cope with difficult circumstances, and express ourselves. So the project has had this unintended reciprocal effect.
Lisa:What benefits might writers expect to get from your course (both as writers and in general)?
Dylan: If I’ve learned anything since I began taking myself seriously as a writer about twenty years ago, it’s that there’s more to writing than writing. What I mean is, you can write all day without saying anything important to you or anyone else. But that’s unfulfilling. I’m not talking about inspiration–which I actually think is a by-product of simply showing up again and again to do the work and asking big questions. Writers need to figure out what they want to say, then find the means to say it.
Lisa: How do you feel writers can “figure out what they want to say”?
Dylan: We do that by developing skills that nourish our writing lives. We need to learn to see, to be present and in our bodies, and to use language. Making art with media besides pen, paper, and word processor, helps us exercise our creative muscles–like cross-training for an athlete.
Dylan Klempner is the author of 31 Days to a More Creative You. He believes that creative play is an essential part of our well-being. His work provides quick, simple, and fun activities that add joy and significance to your days. Dylan’s creativity advice and artist profiles have appeared in publications across the country. He is an artist-in-residence in the Arts In Medicine program at the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital, and co-edits the non-fiction literary e-zine, BraidedBrook.com. Dylan enjoys oil painting, drums, and discovering new art forms as much as he enjoys working with others to maximize their creative potential.
Please share any questions for Dylan or your own insights about creativity as a comment below!
Lisa Tener is an award-winning book writing coach who assists writers in all aspects of the writing process—from writing a book proposal and getting published to finding one’s creative voice. Her clients have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Early Show, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, Fox News, New Morning and much more. They blog on sites like The Huffington Post, Psychology Today and WebMD.
My Publisher Tamara Monosoff: From the gorgeous cover to inner design, to the original inspiration for QR codes and putting every single one of those crazy videos on my website, and guiding me patiently throughout the process, Tamara is my dream publisher. Thank you!
The most talented photographer in the world, Seth Jacobson
PR Trainers Chris Winfield, Jen Gottlieb, Brittany Sisko, and the entire community at the Be Seen Accelerator
Beta Readers: Joshua Home Edwards, Tracy Hart, Stephanie Meyers, Laurie Hunt, LiDona Wagner, Mia Potter, Gael Johnson, Amber Hanks, Melissa Sones, Gael-Sylvia Pullen, and Paula Schonewald. I hope I did not leave anyone out—if I did please let me know so I can add you here!
Title Support Howard Van Es, Tamara Monosoff, Lorraine Segal, Tama Kieves, Kristin Meekhof.
Launch Consulting Howard Van Es
My Health and Wellbeing Posse who helped me survive the stress-induced health challenges I encountered on the way
Dear Friends Johannah Cremin (and her prayer circle) and Virginia Swain; Qigong teacher, Leah Franklin, and the lineage of Mei Hua Qigong masters from whom she learned; dream shaman Kari Hohne; loving guide, Linda Yael Schiller; acupuncturists Nancy Graham and Patricia Gilmartin; Lynne Ahn, MD and John McGonigle, MD; dowser, Erina Cowan; and special friends Linda Broadhead and Seraina Wood.
Book Ambassadors: Louise Brownell
Podcasters, Show Hosts and Early Adopters: Dan Janal, Sharon Burton Ways, Josh Steimle, Leslie Draffin, Robin Kall
Bloggers and Blogs: San Francisco Writers Conference, Jane Friedman, Nina Amir, Howard Van Es
My Supportive Family: Tom, Will, and Luke Patterson, and Mimi Sammis, you are the lights in my life! Tener and Arnold families, and the Patterson-Potters and Pattersons
My many colleagues from Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing and women in healthcare leadership courses—director Julie Silver, et al.
All my students!
All my amazing writing colleagues
Intellectual property advice, Attorney Dana Newman
A special thank you to my many clients and colleagues who gave me permission to quote their wonderful words in this journal
The brave souls who appear in the accompanying videos.
I could probably go on thanking deserving people for another twenty pages, so for those not listed, please know you have my gratitude.
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