The Writer's Toy Chest

Gina Greenlee, Author

Jan 9, 20234 min read

Writer’s Toy: Cut-Up Machine:

Take a finished and fully linear text. Cut it in pieces with a few or single words on each piece. Rearrange the resulting pieces into a...

Gina Greenlee, Author

May 23, 20213 min read

Lynda Barry Daily Image Journal

This blog post is an excerpt from my book, The Writer’s Toy Chest. In her book What It Is Lynda calls the Daily Image Journal “noticing...

Gina Greenlee, Author

May 13, 20192 min read

Jack Up Your Creativity

Years ago I attended Boston’s Open Studio Weekend. At the time, I was living in an artist colony in Hartford, Connecticut. This was a...

Gina Greenlee, Author

May 7, 20191 min read

Use the Difficulty

OMG. Now what? What we focus on expands. I know this because there was a time when I attempted to distract myself from writing anxiety...

Gina Greenlee, Author

Mar 18, 20193 min read

Embrace Novelty

After you’ve been staring at a proposal, research paper, law brief, business contract or letter writing campaign, your attention can...

Gina Greenlee, Author

Feb 6, 20192 min read

The Art of Sloth

In 2017, after deeply focusing on my 12th book, The Writer’s Toy Chest, I seriously needed a break. I spent much of the following day...

Gina Greenlee, Author

Jan 30, 20192 min read

Bore Into Boredom

If you are bored with something after two minutes, keep doing it for four minutes. If you stay bored, do it for eight, then sixteen...

Gina Greenlee, Author

Jan 16, 20193 min read

Don’t Force a Schedule, Honor a Rhythm

A big part of managing energy for peak performance is letting go of workhorse mentality: you must take breaks. Otherwise you flame out....