This week let's practice being creative on the spot. I was motivated by going to see a favorite Improv group in Atlanta, LAUGHING MATTERS. I had my daughter and son-in-law meet me there. Neither of them had ever seen live Improve, though I have been performing in an Improve group off-and-on for a few years (hmm shoemaker's kids with no shoes or something).

When I was asked why I like and enjoy Improv so much I responded simply, "it is pure creativity, unrehearsed, instantaneous creativity.

So this week let's be instantaneously creative.

First go find a series of nursery rhymes or short children stories that you have or you can find in your local library or one of your neighbors might have or simply you remember from your childhood.

Second take one story, nursery rhyme or book and rewrite it. One per day. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes and set a timer if you must. The goal is to be purely creative and not necessarily write finished perfect saleable stories or poems. Don't worry about rhyming even.

Simply take the original and substitute different nouns, verbs for the key ones in the story, book or rhyme. Here is an example using Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Freddie had a little frog
its hide was as tough as a Firestone tire

Wherever Freddie went
his frog did hop, hop, hop

One day the frog,
named Ferdinand
followed Freddie to the ball park

All the fans found it funny
and at it through money

With the money
the frog bought pop corn
and sat down to watch some...

Have fun being creative!

© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 Robert Alan Black, Ph.D. CSP