The Story Frame Newsletter

The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

Tags: creativity

Showing 12 results:

The naïve desire most of us harbor that we can somehow connect and understand each other through reasoning is based on the wrong assumption that our rational ideas are the only rational ideas. In gentle parenting, there is a concept called “the right to oppose.” The principle states that it is ou...

by Carlos Garbiras — Jun 19, 2025 creativity productivity storytelling writing

Saving Face Has No Place in Art Making

The dangers of cutting deals that undermine our desires I wish I could tell you I'm familiar with Brad Paisley's work, and that's how I found the below quote rather than telling you the truth. "When you save face, but your heart breaks, well, you've cut the wrong deal!" The truth is I play a lot ...

by Carlos Garbiras — Jun 12, 2025 artmaking creativity mindset storytelling

Art Appreciation Insight Straight From Jeff Koons’ Balls

In his 2015 art installation, Jeff Koons placed blue gazing balls in front of 35 repainted and enlarged classic masterpieces like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Titian’s Venus and Mars. You have to give it to the man because not many people look at a classic and say to themselves, “You know what this...

by Carlos Garbiras — Jun 05, 2025 artmaking creativity productivity writing

Creating Art When You Are Busy Living

Don't feel bad about your erratic creative journey In Barranquilla, on Good Fridays, my mom wouldn’t let us do anything at all. She would say that anything we did, we were doing it to Jesus’ body. So when my friends asked if I could join them in the field to play soccer, I would ask my mom. She r...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 29, 2025 artmaking creativity productivity storytelling

(Video Included) I Slipped on a Banana the Night Before My Biggest Performance

Life happens before, during and after art-making I was there for the Story Grand Slam. A grand slam is an annual competition where the monthly winners of a story slam get together to compete once more. I checked in with the show's producers, said hello to the other storytellers, and then went fo...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 22, 2025 creativity life parenting performance productivity

Writing Without an Audience in Mind

Publishing platforms are not created to improve your writing Photo by Rahul Mishra on Unsplash Social media and content platforms create a problem for artists they didn’t need to deal with before. The same place where artists publish their work is also where they go to check for the wor...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 15, 2025 creativity productivity storytelling structure writing

Waking Up Early to Write Might Not Be for You

Ramit Sethi, the financial guru from I Will Teach You to Be Rich, is one of those writers I have been following for a long time. I first learned about him from the chapter he wrote for Tim Ferriss' book "The 4-Hour Workweek" in 2009. I bought my first course from him in 2012 and have continued to...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 07, 2025 creativity productivity routine storytelling writing

Transform Your Writing: Six Practices to Discover Endless Stories

“Si no viene hoy las musas, tendré que ir a verlas yo.” (If the muses don't come today, then I must go see them myself.) - Estopa, Un Rincon Del Mundo You do not feel motivated or inspired to write or do anything at all, really. And you are not alone. The last few years (decades) have been exhau...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 06, 2025 creativity editing productivity storytelling writing

Does Everyone In The World Need a Writing Practice?

The answer might kill you. Okay, fine, the answer won't kill you. But I was hoping to heighten the tension by imitating how the media delivers almost every single piece of news imaginable. But the answer might surprise you. At least, I think my answer will surprise you. And the answer is no. I d...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 05, 2025 creativity editing productivity writing

You Don't Have Writer's Block. You Have the Opposite Problem.

Artificial constraints and mindset shifts to overcome story paralysis There are probably more than one million and one articles on how to overcome Writer's Block. Typically, the essays or listicles are a variation of "How can I overcome Writer's block? Oh, I know, write about Writer's Block...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 01, 2025 creativity editing productivity storytelling writing

Strewn Out Musical Instruments and a Shady Record Deal

A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (3/3) I am hyperaware of those things now with my daughters, especially with my oldest. I am complimentary of anything she does because I truly believe that kids (and adults) need less feedback and more encouragement. If you pursue any craft long enough, ...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 30, 2025 creativity education music productivity

My Family's Genetic Musical Gift Skipped Me

A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (2/3) What strikes me most about this story is how often it repeats itself and how some teachers who are supposed to encourage little ones make unsupportive comments about their students' pursuits. However, it is not only teachers who make these comments;...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 29, 2025 creativity education family relationships storytelling

1 2

The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

Tags: creativity

The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

Join Our Free Trial