Sources of Creativity: Annotations Margins as Maps: How Annotation Fuels Creative Writing

Annotations - Don’t just underline.
Ask questions. Challenge.
That’s where ideas live.

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Followed closely (for me) by ‘water parks’.

Databases refined and Fat hamster shined I made some progress getting the data management foundations into Notion for a client. They're a growing organisation, still in start-up mode, but in need of more 'governance'. So

Last week was about data management:
- Lots of Notion database work
- Refactored my content calendar
- Categorised my KB articles
Plus:
- Started poking at mempalace
- Progress on the book
- Cleaned the patio & played with new cooler. Living the dream.

Read all about it: buff.ly/wfI6CQX
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That's great to hear! Thank you!

The Difference Between Collecting and Creating How research becomes refuge and when to know the difference

Avoid mistaking research for readiness. Readiness is a decision, not a destination.

odemap.substack.com/p/the-differ...

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Being ready to catch the work On portability, preparedness, and why inspiration needs somewhere to land

A pen on your bedside table can be the difference between lost inspiration and a new creation.

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Be prepared If inspiration hits, are you ready to receive it?

Not every spark of inspiration becomes a poem, but every lost spark becomes nothing.
Be prepared!

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The Blank Page: The Quiet Between Posts On waiting for the map to redraw itself

Creativity isn’t a straight line; it folds and loops unpredictably. Sometimes we sprint, other times we tread carefully or stand still. How can acknowledging these rhythms relieve the pressure to produce constantly?

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Today’s ear worm is “Total eclipse of the heart”.

#earworm

The airport is testing its sirens again.
At least I hope it's a test.

How to Trick Your Brain into Creating Again When inspiration dries up, stop trying to go straight through the problem. Take the scenic route instead.

Using a functional form can reveal new facets of abstract ideas. E.g., write a 'recipe for forgiveness' or a 'shopping list for a better day.' Are there ordinary formats you can borrow to explore your thoughts?

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Boredom as a Creative Tool Why doing nothing might be the most productive act

We're allergic to boredom, but what if boredom is actually a skill? Instead of fearing idle moments, we should learn to embrace them as opportunities for meaningful thought.

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The Ode Map | Ady Coles | Substack Behind the poems: writing process, emotional themes, and new poetry as it takes shape. Click to read The Ode Map, by Ady Coles, a Substack publication.

When my usual prompts run dry, I turn to randomness. Unexpected sources break predictable patterns.
More tips in The Ode Map: buff.ly/vPnEilo

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Last week was not my most sparkling week.
A cold that wouldn't quit meant I was mostly clearing the low-energy end of the backlog.

But: more #automation done, new AirTable views, & new post on The Ode Map.

'New automations and Health frustration': buff.ly/0nESgxA

#weeknote #weeknotes

Why Your Brain Loves Physical Books The neuroscience behind why paper is better for your brain - and why it matters for your stress levels

The 'screen inferiority effect' shows that readers comprehend and recall more effectively with print. Why settle for less?

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Ideas Page A quick look at a page from my notes

Every notebook page is a wealth of ideas. Some fail. Some evolve. What have you rediscovered recently in your old notes?

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The Blank Page: Introduction Why it terrifies us — and how to trick it into giving way

The blank page shouts, 'Make it good,' but it doesn't say how. Instead of fearing that demand, focus on starting somewhere – anywhere. How do you silence the pressure of perfection when faced with a new project?

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Sources of Creativity: Unfamiliar Environments In a previous post - “The Creative Process” - I listed ‘Unfamiliar environments’ as a source of inspiration.

Cardiff City Hall gave me time to look, listen, and be inspired to write.

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I’m a published poet working on new book of poetry. Tried and failed (twice) to write detective fiction.

The Reading Retreat: Rewilding the Writer’s Mind On how stepping away from writing can bring us back to it

Think of reading retreats as reversing the productivity script. Instead of draining your creative energy, they replenish it. What helps you recharge?

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Sources of Creativity: Found Words Sometimes inspiration arrives in the strangest places

A note in a window is an invitation that writers accept by imagining the story behind it.

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Yeah, sorry, I've been unwell. (Still am, a bit.) I'll get back to you this week.

Paranoid: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne A poem inspired by the Black Sabbath song.

A poem can be a cover version. Not of lyrics, but of emotions.

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Very little work & psychedelic Turks Very short (and slightly late) week note this time around, because I was unwell for most of the week, and I'm still somewhat groggy. On the couple of days that I was not incapacit

Having been laid low with a cold for more days than I'd expected (I blame COVID), last week's week note is both brief and late.

Still not feeling 100%. (Still not feeling 50%, TBH.)

Here's "Very little work and psychedelic Turks":
www.adycoles.co.uk/blog/weeknot...
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One thing at a time What happens when you stop splitting yourself

Stress Awareness Month is a reminder: stress isn’t solved by adding tasks, but by focusing deeply on each task. What's your approach?

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Recognition, At Last Why Jonathan Stanley’s story is a reminder to show up for new authors.

Sometimes the biggest barrier to an author’s success isn’t their writing, but getting people to notice.
What strategies can emerging authors adopt to bridge this gap?

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Focus One of the most said things about writing seems to be that you have to commit yourself to the time and effort required to do the writing.

Set a timer. Commit to one block.
You can always quit after that.
But most times? You'll keep going.
What's stopping you from just starting?

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Sources of Creativity: Obituaries A surprising use of 'property mapping' to make you think

Real lives are stranger than fiction. Obituaries prove it. What’s the most unusual one you’ve read?

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The Things We Do on the Side On hobbies, and the quiet preservation of an open mind

Is a hobby that leads nowhere really pointless? Or is it vital to creative survival?

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Constraints as Creative Allies Why form, limits, and boundaries often make writing easier

The blank page can be a trap, not an invitation. Are you overwhelmed by endless possibilities when you write?

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