How to Make Nuclear Coffee

I don’t know if you’ll find this particular post blog-worthy or not, but what the heck.

This morning as I poured myself a cup of coffee, the sun from the kitchen window shone through the glass pot causing a brilliant light show on my counter. I took a picture of it for you (with no adjustments in Photoshop). See?

This sort of event can throw me off my work schedule for hours. I hovered over the counter for quite some time, swirling the pot, making the light dance.

The way I see it, anytime you get an opportunity to collaborate with the sun on a creative project you should take it.

Here’s hoping you discover something magical in the ordinary moments of your day today!

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Sometimes we get lost along our creative journey. We get distracted by life and lose touch with our creative spirit.

Here’s a short animated video (below) from the early psychedelic years of Sesame Street that might help you find your way home (or at least inspire you in the same way a good acid-trip would). This thing haunted me as a kid and and probably influenced me in a million ways. (My favorite part is when the yo-yo man pops out and the kids says “WOW!”) Enjoy!

What do you think? When you get lost creatively, how do you find your way home? Leave a comment!

Do you recognize creative opportunities when they happen to you?

Do you seize them?

A few nights ago I had the rare chance to sit in the stands of Fenway Park late at night after everyone had gone home.

Just me. Alone. In the empty seats of one of the greatest, most legendary ballparks on Earth. (Where Babe Ruth played, and Ted Williams, etc.)

How did it happen? I had just finished drawing at a private function for Fenway employees in one of the VIP clubs inside. After the party ended, instead of going home I snuck out into the park, and to my surprise there wasn’t a soul out there.

It was amazing. How many people get to experience Fenway Park like this? I wondered. I sat for a long time in the upper decks above home plate, savoring the view and the warm night air, feeling awed by the history of the place.

After basking for a while it hit me - hey, wait a second - you have free reign here. I looked around. The place was empty. Not a security guard, nobody. No one telling me to leave.

Do something! I thought…Take advantage of this…creatively…somehow (without getting arrested)!

So I spent the next hour walking through the park shooting these photos with my iPhone.

I climbed over countless rows of darkened seats, walked along the left field line near the Green Monster and all the way around to Pesky’s Pole in right field. (Sorry, I didn’t step on the grass…out of respect…and fear of getting caught!)

My hope was to capture the spooky, ghostly feeling I had being in the park at a forbidden hour.

It was such a cool feeling, wandering around empty Fenway when I shouldn’t be. Like I was getting away with something sneaky.

It felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity, taking photos like this…even if they’re kind of grainy.

Below…The Monster looms in the dark…

Just hours before, the seats were filled with 40,000 cheering fans.

It’s an experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

I could have done what I usually do after a gig - go home. I’m so glad I didn’t. How could I?

Would you have?

On my way out, the souvenir stands were closed, but what souvenir could be better than the memory of wandering through Fenway Park alone, after-hours, totally free to be creative, shooting pictures?

And look, ladies - No lines, no waiting!

When was the last time you took creative advantage of an unusual opportunity? Leave your comments…

What tools do you need for your creativity?

Do you already have them? If not, how come?

If you do have them, are they quality tools? Professional? Do they function properly?

I thought I’d post about this, because it’s a factor for a lot of creative people, including myself.

Sometimes I’m guilty of not owning the best tools. Tools that will make my creative journey easier, maybe even earn me more money.

Ironically, money is often the reason - or the excuse - why we don’t buy the best tools.

I have a talented musician friend who sometimes asks to borrow my microphone whenever he performs live. This guy writes songs as good as Kurt Cobain for godsake. He needs to buy his own damn mic! He’s worth it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe that’s another reason we don’t get proper tools. We don’t take our creativity, our talent, our passion, our calling, seriously enough.

Whenever I deliberate about buying a new computer, my buddy John says, “It’s an investment, man…an investment in your art and your business!”

He’s right. We owe it to ourselves to paint with the best brushes we can afford.

I’m so glad my novelist buddy has a new computer, because for months he wrote his stories on a laptop that took 15 minutes just to boot up. When it finally did, typing on it was like…oh I don’t know…using spraypaint to do calligraphy. It was torture. There’s no excuse for suffering like this when you’re a creative genius!

Let’s think about it:

~ Did Babe Ruth step up to the plate with a broken bat?

~ Does The Iron Chef buy woks at Walmart?

Nope!

Don’t misunderstand. Maybe you only need Photoshop 3 to achieve your goals like illustrator Bob Staake. Or maybe, like Willie Nelson, you play an acoustic guitar with a dozen holes in it but it still sounds fantastic.

The question is, do you have tools that enable you to do your creative magic and perform at your best, smoothly and easily?

Maybe you can make a list right now. Call it Dream Tools for My Creativity.

Make the list…then save up and get what you need.

‘Cause you’re talented.

And you’re worth it.

What quality tools do you use for your trade? Care to share? Leave a comment!

[I’d like to thank Lucie’s Weddings & Events for sending me a donation. I appreciate it!]

At most cafes, there’s a bulletin board full of business cards and hand-written advertisements and stuff. I figure why not try it here at Creative Journey Cafe in the comment section!

So now’s your chance to introduce yourself to our little community, spread word about your business or service, request a service you need, etc.

[I’d like to quickly thank a new cafe subscriber - Michelle Rago - who saw my donation button over there in the upper right hand corner and sent me my very first ‘tip’! Thanks Michelle! I appreciate it very much!]

Please leave one link to promote your business, art, or blog, or simply introduce yourself to us! (And be sure to read each other’s ‘card’.)

(See that little ‘Add a comment’ line under this post? Yeah, there. Go for it!)

Want the inside scoop on what it’s like to work with some of the greatest novelists of our generation?

Need writing advice? Or a great editor for your novel?

Then you’ve got to check out Alan Rinzler’s website / blog, which he calls The Book Deal.

I just discovered it. It’s kind of amazing.

Rinzler is a veteran editor, having worked with writers like Tom Robbins, Toni Morrison, Hunter S. Thompson, Clive Cussler, and Robert Ludlum just to name a few.

I discovered him after finding his recent post about my favorite author, Tom Robbins, whose book Jitterbug Perfume (my favorite) he edited back in the early 80’s. (According to Rinzler, Robbins’ contract stipulates that his editor must accompany him on three vacations during the process of writing a novel. Classic!)

They recently reunited at a writer’s conference in Mexico. Rinzler shares some of Robbins’ writing advice here.

When you arrive on the main homepage, be sure to click on the book covers to read Rinzler’s behind-the-scenes tales about working with each author. And his blog is filled with advice and insights about the world of writing and publishing.

It’s a great find! Pass it along to your writer friends. Enjoy!