WILDLY INSPIRED

Readers can access their creative side by connecting with the natural world around them, according to this self-help book.

Sensel, the author of several books for young readers, writes that nature’s creative energy has always drawn her in and inspired her own work. In this book, she encourages writers to have a playful mindset regarding the creative process, beginning with a visualization exercise involving an imaginary animal’s shopping spree (“You’re in line at Gaia’s Gear Mart to choose the clothing and equipment you want to wear and take with you”). The book focuses heavily on the four seasons, connecting a classic hero’s-journey narrative to the seasonal cycle, and providing a quiz that aims to allow readers to “Increase awareness of seasonal energies and their psychological (and a few physiological) associations.” In four major sections, Sensel walks readers through each season and presents guided creative exercises that embody each one. In the section “New Creation in Spring,” she invites readers to listen to birdsong and write notes about each bird’s distinctive voice; an exercise in “Fall Inward” challenges readers to visit a local cemetery and imagine what their own tombstone might look like. Each activity provides an explanation of how it helps the creative process and why it’s suited to its respective season. Overall, Sensel’s exercises are accessible and playful, with several references to Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings series, yet they are also thought-provoking and grounded. The author has designed it not only for writers, but also for artists and creative people in other media. Overall, Sensel effectively encourages readers to “stop worrying about whether it’s a good use of your time, or whether anyone else will like the result,” and to stay in tune with the creative power they can find all around them.

A spirited and inspiring book for anyone struggling with creative blocks.