Creativity is a life force that runs through each of us. It’s put there to enrich our lives. We can choose to tap into it or not.

This is what I learned growing up. In my family, though, we didn’t call it creativity—we called it hard work.

Think of creativity as a process, not a weekend workshop. Workshops can be good to be sure. But it’s what you do between the workshops that matters.

Accept the gift of inspiration gratefully when it comes and don’t waste it. Work with it. You have to do the work. That’s the thing.

Related articles: “What is Creativity, Anyway?” on Telling Her Stories: The Broad View. A Project of the Story Circle Network.