Pivots, New Challenges, Surprising Revelations & Joy

Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife by Sharon J. Burton

non-fiction, SJB Ventures, LLC, May 14, 2024

There's a shift happening. From #grayhairdontcare to Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn and other bestselling fiction titles featuring women (and all kinds of people) who're over 50, a popular home shopping network’s Over 50 & Fabulous programming, and advertising campaigns that present “seasoned" people as vibrant, engaging, and interested in pursuing assorted new challenges, attitudes toward midlife are moving from doom and gloom to excitement about what comes next. Creative Sparks… supports that endeavor in pursuit of the arts. As stated in the introduction, “In this book you'll not only learn how to use affirmations to gain more confidence with your creative life, but you'll discover how to use affirmations to overcome creative blocks and create your own that are tailored to your specific needs and goals.”

The introduction defines the intention and the scope of the entire text, leading into the affirmations. Each one provides an opening context for specific goals, then practical strategies for achieving those stated goals, followed by personal revelations about a named individual’s creative pursuits. Journal reflection points as prompts to inspire relevant journaling close out each chapter.

The “Moving Forward on Your Creative Journey” section offers concluding reflections and suggestions for next steps. The itemized list of contributors embodies a broad range and depth of all things creative. A detailed bibliography provides additional resources for further study. Acknowledgements and the author's bio encourage and inspire readers to explore their creative potential.

http://amzn.to/3UENMyj

[Note: Sharon J. Burton and I connected years ago through my work as outreach director for The Write Women Book Fest, which is hosted by The Write Women Network. She was kind enough to give me an ARC without any strings or expectations attached.]

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