The Project Inspire Award

Hey there! How’s it going?

Guys, I’m going to be honest, I really have no ideas as to what I should post at the moment, so before I get to today’s blog post, I wanted to ask your opinion. What posts have you enjoyed reading in the past? Are there any topics you’d like me to explore? Would you like me to write more about Australian culture and history, like I did in my Anzac Day songs post, would you like more writing/book tags, like the ones I did during my character week, more info on my stories? Would you like me to join more blog tours and do more author interviews (in this vein, I’m excited to announce that I have a very awesome and special tour + interview coming up soon!), more discussion posts, or more life, ramble types?

I love writing all these things, I just need to more about what you guys like reading.

Anyhoo, I had the distinct honour of being nominated for Jenna’s Project Inspire Award last week! A month or so ago, I did Jenna’s Project Inspire tag but this is different. In her words:

I created an award! I am super excited to have the Project Inspire Award along with the tag. What’s different from the tag and the award, you say? Well, with the tag, one of the rules is to not tag anyone and leave it open for any blogger to do. With the award, of course, you will nominate three bloggers that have inspired you in any way. Sound awesome? Good.

Okay, rules!

The rules…

01. Thank the blogger that nominated you and link back to their blog.

02. Include the award graphic and button graphic (below) in your post. You can optionally use the button graphic to put on your site’s sidebar, making the image a link to your award post.

03. Answer the ten questions. If you mentioned people in your answers, be sure to link to their blogs if they have one.

04. Tag three other inspiring bloggers for the award. You won’t be giving them a new set of questions for this award, they just answer the same ones you did. 🙂 And this is not a writer specific award, so you can just tag any creative being out there!

01. How and where do you find the most inspiration to create?

Probably outside. Whenever I’m exploring a new place, or out in nature, I tend to feel inspired to create.

02. What’s your favourite inspirational Bible verse or quote?

And Whatever You Do, Whether In Word Or Deed, Do It All In The Name Of The Lord Jesus, Giving Thanks To God The Father Through Him. Colossians 3:17

03. What methods do you use to get motivated to create?

I’ve found moaning and/or wailing in a corner tends to help…

Not.

So, the best thing I’ve found to do is sit down and just do it. I usually feel miserable while doing it, but it almost always helps.

04. Who has been influential and encouraging to you on your creative journey (whether they knew it or not)?

My parents, my siblings, and that fellow who told me to “Dream big”.

05. What book or author has really inspired you?

I think it would have to be Louie Giglio. Right at the start of my creative journey, I listened to his sermon series, Passion and Purpose. One of his quotes, which I wrote down (not verbatim) really inspired me: “God is giving you permission to refine your passions”. At the beginning of my writing, I often felt ashamed of it, because there were so many better things I could be doing with my time, but after hearing his sermons, I finally felt like I was doing something that was not only useful, but glorifying to God as well. Definitely check out Louie Giglio’s sermons and books if you haven’t already!

06. What are three big things you’ve learned about the creative life over the years?

Just changing one heart is enough.

God has given you power and influence, use it wisely (as cheesy as that sounds 😛 )

Nothing will ever be wasted. God’s word never returns void, even if it seems to have.

07. What would you tell your past self, or other young creators out there?

Looking back over your old art is going to be a humiliating experience, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write it/draw it/do it.  When you look back, not only will you see all the ways you’ve failed, but you’ll see all the ways you’ve improved as well. It doesn’t matter that you start off badly. Art is a process of refinement, not instant perfection.

08. What are some little things in life that inspire you?

-My doggies

-Weird historical facts

-Pictures

-Recollections

-Random song lyrics

-Brand new notebooks

-Sunny winter days

09. What are your favorite ways to express your creativity (a.k.a. your hobbies)?

Writing has become so much more than a hobby to me now, so I’ll give you three of my actual hobbies:

-Calligraphy

-Dancing

-Cooking

10. How do you want people to be affected by what you create?

I want them to know God better. I want them to be challenged and comforted, encouraged and pushed out of their normal way of life and patterns of thought.

The one thing I never want my artwork to be is narrow minded, and I want it to expand other peoples’ views of the world as well.

I nominate:

Kassie

Christine Smith

Celeste

R.M. Archer

(and yes, I’m nominating four. I’m a bit of a rebel, you know)

What would some of your answers be? What are some little things that inspire you? And what sort of posts would you like to see from me in the future?