Voices of Fiction - Can Creativity Be Taught - Part Three

Welcome to Voices of Fiction.

We continue our discussion on creativity.

Please welcome our authors.

Cara Marsi, former corporate drone and cubicle dweller, and award-winning author, is published in romantic suspense, contemporary romance and paranormal romance. She also writes short romance stories for women’s magazines. Cara and her husband share their house with a fat black diva of a cat named Killer. - Website, Twitter, Facebook

Liz Crowe’s groundbreaking romance sub-genre, “Romance for Real Life,” has gained thousands of fans and followers who are interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”) Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high-powered real estate offices. Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury. - Website,  Blog, Facebook

Terry W. Ervin II is an English and Science teacher who enjoys writing. Gryphonwood Press published the first two novels in his First Civilization’s Legacy Series (FLANK HAWK and BLOOD SWORD) and he is busy writing the third novel in the fantasy series. In November 2012 Gryphonwood Press is slated to release Terry’s first short story collection, GENRE SHOTGUN. - Website, Blog

Children’s Picture Book author, Clara Bowman-Jahn, of “Annie’s Special Day” is living the life of her dreams an hour at a time. - Website, Etreasures



Welcome Authors! It's wonderful to have you back.

Can creativity be taught?

Cara Marsi: I think we're all creative in our own way and with practice and determination you can learn to release and hone your creativity.

Liz Crowe: Absolutely not. Things like discipline can however, and anyone who wants to write should at least try it. The discipline to practice, practice, practice (which for a writer translates to WRITING a lot) is probably the hardest thing to master, but it can be taught.

Terry W. Ervin II: Up to a point it can be. In the case of writing, I think a writer needs to focus on his strengths. Maybe it’s not fiction, but rather non-fiction. There is creativity in that, just a different type. It’s like asking if someone can be taught to be organized. Anyone can be, up to a point, and being better at one method over others. But how far it goes is really based on what the individual brings to the table and how persistent he is at developing and practicing to maximize those talents and abilities.

Clara Bowman-Jahn: I think imagination is fostered at an early age and that leads to creativity. Today's kids are scheduled so tightly they don't have a chance to reflect or to imagine in play and I wonder what that does to their creativity.

Thank you all for joining us today.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and photos submitted by authors.)