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Cynthia Morris

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Tackling Your Creative Fears

These are scary times. But writers are very familiar with fear – it’s what blocks our creative aliveness. We’re constantly grappling with our fears of creating.

I may not be able to do anything about the widespread panic about the collapse of the global financial system, but I can help with writer’s block. I’m posting a series this month on busting through common writing fears. Check back every Monday for more solutions to common writing fears. Better yet, make it easy on yourself and subscribe to this blog. It’s easy – just use the subscribe button to the right.

Does the thought of writing make you quake in your slippers? You are not alone. Read on and see if you share some of the most common writing fears – and what you can do about them.

You won’t have anything to say. You do have something to say. Think about the last conversation you had. Did you put forth an opinion? Sure you did. If you are living and breathing, then you have something unique to say.

Solution:
Think about the things that make you say to yourself, “I should write about that.” Start gathering a list of these ticklers that prompt you to want to write. Use them to leap into the writing. Then, do the writing. You will soon see that you have plenty to say.

What will other people think? This is one of the biggest blocks to writing. You may want to write the stories from your past, and by doing so, you may experience catharsis and growth. But what about the other people in the story? You worry that you will hurt your friends or offend your families.

Solution:
My advice is to write the story anyway. Don’t even think about it being in print until you have a completed manuscript and are shopping for an editor or a magazine to publish it. If you don’t start, you will never know. You may decide after you have written it that you don’t want to seek publication. So take the handcuffs off and write the story first. Then worry about what others will think.

Afraid you don’t know how to write? Writing is a tricky art because we were all taught to write in school. We should know what we are doing when we try to craft a story, right? Wrong. The art of writing takes more than what we learned in seventh grade grammar.

Solution:
This is one of the easiest fears to tackle. You can take writing workshops. You can brush up on grammar and editing. You can use spell check or ask a writing buddy to read your work over for errors.

Assignment:
Take moment now to jot down some of your writing fears. Notice what happens when you write them. Do they appear to be more or less true now? What antidote pops up for you? Write your own antidote.

Have a writing fear that you want me to provide a solution for? Drop me a comment below.

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Creativity: Why Bother? 10 Benefits of Expressing Your Creativity

As a child, you may have yearned to play the piano professionally, to act on Broadway, to write a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Perhaps you mentioned your aspirations to someone and were met with laughter or the assurance that there was no money in it. You swallowed your creative dreams and satisfied yourself with listening to music on the radio, to reading books or watching movies.

How often have our creative selves been swept to the sidelines, to being the observer? We internalize the belief that we don’t have what it takes to make it big, and of course we don’t because we have hardly tried.

It’s time to go for it. There is no proof that you will get rich, famous, or even produce anything worthwhile. What you do know is that ignoring this urge to create isn’t making it go away. More and more people are heeding the call from within themselves to act upon their creative urges.

We have tons of ideas for stories, for songs, for decorating or creating in our homes, gardens, workplaces. We sense that there is something behind this creative urge, that expressing ourselves creatively may be the missing piece to a fulfilled life.

Creative expression, whether through mundane means or through art, is worth the effort. I coach writers and creative types, and have seen the difference in my clients’ lives when they are expressing themselves. I have compiled a list of benefits of expressing creativity that myself and others have experienced. Added up, they amount to a lot of benefits that might not make you a lot of money, but instead can give you a richer life.

[Read more…] about Creativity: Why Bother? 10 Benefits of Expressing Your Creativity

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Transition Rituals for Creatives

You’re in the middle of writing the most fabulous paragraph when the phone rings. It’s your child’s school and you’ve forgotten to pick her up.

You leap up, caroming from blissful creative mode to full-on panic mode. You rush out the door, the cursor on your screen blinking, your creative bliss lost. We become grumpy, resentful and our desire to write dissipates.

Sound familiar? This wrenching transition style happens all too often. It’s one of the main reasons we fear entering the creative zone. We’re afraid we won’t be able to make a graceful return to the ordinary world where our real-world obligations await us.  Going in and out of this magical place can be jarring. The demands of life — children, housework, jobs, other people — are much different that the demands of the creative life.

It doesn’t have to be wrenching. Transitions between life and writing can be easy. But it requires some effort and some training on our part to make transitioning between our roles work for us.

How can writers and artists make the transition smooth and easy? I suggest ritualized acts help to honor the creative time. Below are ten transition methods that my clients have used successfully. Experiment to see which rituals work for you.

Free-writing offers a quick way to move from one thing to the next. Limber up your brain and word flow with ten minutes of flow writing. You may write about your topic or about what you are transitioning out of, as a way to release that role and focus on the writing role.

Read a short and inspirational passage from a book about writing or another inspiring text. Better yet, read the last things you wrote and pick up from there.

Create a mantra or saying that helps you to step into creativity. “I honor my creative time” or “Welcome to the creative zone” or something that suits you. Feel free to make a sign and post it in your writing zone.

Tune in to music to train yourself to easily access the writing zone. Try playing the same music when you write or have a handful of inspiring tunes ready. Mozart’s music is known to stimulate creativity and brain power. I have also used the relaxing Hemi-Sync sounds when writing my novel to help me access the flow state.

Take a walk before or after you write. Get your body moving and let your mind wander. You may pick up some fresh ideas along the way, so bring a small notebook or have your digital device ready to capture your brilliance.

Prepare your writing space. When things are in order and ready for you, it is easier to jump into the flow. End your writing sessions a few minutes early and take that time to tidy your writing zone.

Create your insertion point. At the end of every writing session, pinpoint where you will start the next session. This will save you so much time and help you move past any emotions that may try to dissuade you from writing.

Do some stretching or other physical activity. Prepare your body to sit still for longer periods of time. This will serve you both going into and coming out of the creative zone.

Say a prayer or take time to meditate or be still. Accessing a deeper, sacred space can help you to swim in the creative pool more easily.

Honor the boundaries you have set up around your writing. If you have communicated that you are unavailable, do not be available. Turn off your phone and put it out of reach.

What helps you transition into and out of creative mode? Share your transition rituals in a comment below. 

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The Best Use of Rejection Letters

If you’re in the writing game, you’ve got them. They weigh a ton, those form letters, graciously declining your novel, screenplay, chapbook, self-help book. They’re the letters that swing through your mailbox, hitting you in the gut like a sledgehammer. No, they don’t want your precious creative offspring, no matter how much time and love you’ve poured onto its pages. But there’s a positive side to this emotional and creative devastation.

Rejection letters mean you’re trying. It means you’ve completed a work and have hoinked up a bucket of courage and are putting yourself out there. And you deserve something for that. A little perk, a way to realize that despite the pain of the rejection letters, you’re actually doing very well, thank you.

If you’re sprightly lucky, someone has written a personal note regarding your piece. Something beyond the platitudes about your possible success elsewhere. Something that you can hang on to. No, not the “pacing was slow and wandering” part. (I cling to that enough, playing with it like a Rubik’s cube in the middle of the night, trying to puzzle out what the agent was really saying.) It’s the other stuff, the good stuff.

“Your novel’s detailed, moody descriptions set the tone for the setting and time so well, and Lily is an engaging and lovable protagonist.”

The good stuff. It deserves its own line. Here’s what I suggest.

If you’re gleaning rejection letters, congratulate yourself for even trying. Then start culling out those kind gems, no matter how small they may seem. Put them all in one file. Use quotation marks and attribute the quotes to the agency or publisher who rejected you.

Voila – a lovely testimonial sheet for when you feel dejected about the future life of your baby. Post it where you can see it and remember that your work is good. Don’t give up.

Oh, and the testimonial sheet will make you feel quite smug when your work does get published. You can feel sorry for all those people who didn’t embrace your work the first time around.

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Find your Creative Ancestors

It’s always scary to leap into the new, which is why I always suggest looking for role models. Those who have gone before give us inspiration, provide a map of courage, and prove to us that it can be done. My biggest Creative Ancestor is Sylvia Beach, the subject of my novel.

Sylvia went to Paris in 1917 and opened a bookstore with a $3,000 check from her mother. She kept the bookstore alive until 1942, when the Nazi Occupation of Paris forced her to close her doors. Sylvia devoted herself to helping writers, selling their work, hosting readings at her store, and connecting people when they came to Paris to live the writer’s life. Her friend Ernest Hemingway said that she had ‘a God-given gift for friendship.”

You can see why I draw inspiration from Sylvia – her courage to move to France and become a businesswoman (and that was not a common thing at that time!), her ability to form a community of people who loved literature, and her sense of service to help others.

Creative Ancestors can be dead or living. A few of my living Creative  Ancestors include: Ani DiFranco, Julia Cameron, and Natalie Goldberg. These are creative women who do their work well and inspire others.

Who are your Creative Leap Ancestors and why do they inspire you? Inspire others by sharing them in a comment below.

Psst…
Your journey takes you beyond your expectations.

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Ten Paper Tigers Scaring You Away from Your Creative Ideas

Brian Clark, of Copyblogger, issued a challenge: Write a headline that is sexy a la Cosmo magazine – something that grabs the reader by the collar and makes her stop at the checkout counter and pick up the magazine to see how she can titillate her man in bed all night long. Here’s my headline that relates to what I know about the creative process.
Images

When faced with a roaring tiger, you run, right? But these excuses don’t offer enough reason to not create. [Read more…] about Ten Paper Tigers Scaring You Away from Your Creative Ideas

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Carving Out a Home Writing Retreat

The phone rings. The laundry pleads to be stuffed, cycled, dried and folded. Chaos reigns in the kitchen, e-mails queue for attention. Our lives are at once mundane and undeniably seductive at the same time. When we sit down to write at home, suddenly everything that marks our existence as tedious becomes compelling. Writing at home can seem tantamount to training for the Olympics past age nineteen.

Yet carving out time to write at home is possible. You can even design a home writing retreat. This weekend, I have staved off all other obligations and have Friday and Saturday free. I look forward to delving into my novel revision with hours of uninterrupted time. How to make sure I don’t veer into work mode. I’ve developed a strategy for an at home writing retreat.

Tune in tomorrow for eleven  ways that you, too, can carve out space for uninterrupted writing bliss. (Psst…this works for all artists, not just writers!)

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Thirteen Words Associated with ‘Adventure’

The best way to make adventure for yourself is to make your art, write your works and build a business. We help you do that here! One:One coaching, group coaching and writing workshops in Paris all lead you to live your life as a creative adventure. I’m Cynthia Morris and I’ve been coaching creatives since 1999. I write books and make art and live life as a creative adventure; I want that for you, too!

I love the word ‘adventure’ and encourage others to embrace life as an adventure. This comes from the Helen Keller quotation, “Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing at all.” If a deaf and blind woman can consider life an adventure, then those of us with full use of our faculties can certainly embrace life as an adventure.

Researching this word in my writer’s thesaurus, I found the following words associated with adventure.

  1. thrill
  2. stimulation
  3. risk
  4. danger
  5. daredevil
  6. intrepid
  7. unshrinking
  8. unafraid
  9. dauntless
  10. exciting
  11. bold
  12. fearless
  13. brave

How many of them apply to you and your life?

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Post-Show Debrief

Have you ever done a performance, mounted an art show, given a speech, taught a class, or any other scenario where you are in front of a group, doing your thing? If so, chances are the performance gremlin has shown up right afterward, ready to tear you apart.

This mean-spirited or judgmental part of yourself may pounce on your efforts with words like:

  • You blew it!
  • They hated it.
  • Why did you say that?
  • No one bought anything – see, I told you…
  • Don’t ever do that again!

Sound familiar? This voice lures many of us to shrink down and play small in life. It’s exactly counter to that part of us that wants to soar, that wants to express our deepest self, that wants to go out there and share our work with the world.

Yet doing so can seem risky. When we put ourselves in front of others, we risk judgment. We risk flubbing up. We risk exposing the naked truth that we are not yet perfect.

But these risks are no reason to stop ourselves from launching our work into the world. Many of my clients are putting themselves out there, and I do too, with my tours to France, my workshops and my speeches. I’ve developed a simple tool that will take the sting out of that post-show gremlin that seems to want to criticize us until we huddle in a dark, safe spot in the corner.

I call this the Post-Show Debrief, and you can use it after any kind of show or public thing that you put out there. Schedule time the day after or even that same day to take yourself somewhere pleasant. You may want to go to a park, a café, your creative zone, a wine bar, whatever works for you. Bring a notebook and write your answers to these questions:

  • What worked? What went well?
  • What can you acknowledge about your efforts?
  • What would you add or change for the next time?
  • What have you learned?
  • How will you celebrate your efforts?

Feel free to add your own questions and write as much as you want in your Post-Show Debrief. Notice that the only question that invites a smidgen of criticism is the one where you ask what would you change or add. Framing it this way allows for growth, but not a critical attack. The voice that wants to criticize gets to add its opinion but in a constructive way.

Use the Post-Show Debrief to continue to grow and hone your skills. Tell the bouncer at the show that your critic isn’t allowed backstage.

What methods do you use to keep your critic at bay? Share them with us here!

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13 Ways to Bust Through Writer’s Block

Yippee! It’s Thursday again. Time for another Thursday Thirteen. And it just happens to be the 13th of the month. Woo-ooo. Here’s advice on getting over yourself and getting to the page.

Want to write but feel the weight of writer’s block? Use any or all of these ways to get your fingers in gear and your words on the page.

1. Look at things in increments, or cycles. For instance, for the next three months (or the rest of this season) I will focus on one element of my writing, for instance: writing as much as I can, learning as much as I can, research etc, etc. Setting an overall intention for a few months or weeks can help to prioritize your decisions for that time period.

2. Find and commit to a writing buddy. Meet once a week at a neutral location and spend at least 3/4 of the time writing. Watch out for chatting your writing time away.

3. What’s it about? Get clear on your motivations for writing. Having a foundation can be helpful to remind you why you are writing.

4. Schedule time to get the writing done. You are creating a new habit and will need persistence and discipline to stay on track. Whether you have large blocks of time or tiny pockets in which to write, use them.

5. Put aside the books on writing and just write. Do not confuse reading about writing with writing.

6. Set attainable goals with deadlines. Do not think you need to accomplish the entire project in one goal. Chunk it down by working in stages. Be sure to celebrate or reward yourself when you achieve these small goals.

7. Enroll your community in your writing. Let your friends, family and loved ones know why this is important to you. Ask for what you need in terms of time, space, respect for your creative life. You may be surprised at what you can get when you simply ask for support.

8. Call in help from your source. Ask God, the Universe, whatever your spiritual source for support. Don’t think you are alone.

9. Make your writing life your own. Take all the suggestions and advice you have heard and tailor them to suit your own needs and style. Be persistent and don’t let one unsuccessful attempt at someone else’s method stop you from writing.

10. Read really good writing. Inspire yourself with others’ magnificent words.

11. Do whatever it takes to enjoy the process.

12. Cease believing in that voice that tells you not to write. What seems like a giant boulder in the road is really a paper curtain. Just blow past it.

13. Sign up for my Creative Leap Program, offered in the month of September (2007) only. What a deal: three coaching sessions for half my normal rate. That’ll move the block out of the way.

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Self-Censorship Hurts

If I told you to shut up, that you could speak only this way, and that you had permission to only speak in specific places or situations, how would you react? You’d tell me to take a hike, to get out of town, to get away from you and stop telling you what to do. In short, to let you live and speak as you like.
Yet there may be a part of you that does this to yourself every day. The part of you that censors what you say and how you act. You may be following a set of rules that says you must be polite, that you shouldn’t say what you think if it isn’t nice. You may allow your sense of humor free reign at home but not at work.
Many of these rules work well for you – you live in the way you want, doing what serves your values and goals, for a life of fulfillment and joy.
I suspect that many of us chafe under these self-imposed rules. When I ask clients and students why they want to write or create art, they cite self-expression as the number one reason for wanting to create. After hearing this reason so many times, I have come to believe that self-expression is vital. Yet we don’t give ourselves permission to be expressive. If you are not living the life you want, you may look at how you censor yourself.
How honest do you allow yourself to be? In what situations do you feel fully self-expressed? By self-expressed, I mean that you feel comfortable stating your opinion, even if it differs from the norm or from others’ viewpoints. You feel comfortable being humorous and in asking questions. Your version of self-expression is different from everyone else’s.
I offer some ways to assess your level of self-expression. In the tradition of my coaching, I extend a few questions for you to ponder. Feel free to write about them in your journal or engage in a discussion with a friend or your coach about them.

  • Notice what stops you from expressing yourself.
  • Where do you self-censor the most? (work/colleagues, your intimate partnership, friends, family, children, other)
  • What is at stake if you speak up?
  • What is lost or gained by self-censorship?
  • If you were to be more self-expressed, where would you start?
  • What permission do you need to remove the bonds of self-censorship?

I am not telling you to head out into the world with your voice as a wild gun, telling people off left and right. Speaking up requires thoughtfulness and courage. Go forward with an experimental mind.
Start small and be willing to make mistakes. As with any new endeavor, gauge your success on your efforts rather than results.
For instance, you may speak up at a meeting. You may not get the response you expected, or even be sure of the response. Beware of going home and saying, “No one said “anything when I spoke up so I failed. I won’t speak up again.”
If we are all able to speak up more authentically, then we are able to have real and true relationships with the people and situations in our lives. We will feel more satisfied and the world will benefit more greatly from our contribution.
Through coaching, I have worked with all of my clients to help them speak from their hearts for more peace and fulfillment. I work on this authentic self-expression every day, in my words and writing.
Have courage, speak up and let us know how it goes in a comment below.

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13 Thoughts on Creative Business Success

The Starving Artist myth proliferates because it is often
accompanied by that other myth: creative people aren’t good at
business. With these ideas circulating, it’s easy to see how artists
struggle to succeed professionally.

But I don’t buy these myths. In fact, I believe that artists and creative people make the best business people. Here’s why.

Artists are experts in seeing the big picture.
They can hold an expansive point of view. This creative perspective,
this ability to see what isn’t there and to relish possibility, is key
to business success.

Good artists are adept at pinpointing the details.
A painter knows the difference between cobalt and azure, a writer uses
specifics to describe a character, and a sculptor’s strokes will make
all the difference in the end expression on a sculpture.

Artists and business people are willing to risk. There is no
guarantee in art, business, or life, but creative people take risks
every time they go into the studio. In fact, any art worth its salt
takes the artist and the viewer outside the realm of the known and
shows them something new.

Artists are able to dwell in the unknown. Art making is the
biggest adventure there is. If you do not know what you are creating,
if it will appeal to anyone, or if you will make any money at all,
you’re in good company with both artists and business people.

Business and art are fueled by a high level of passion. Any
advice on running a business will preach that you need to be passionate
to fuel the long stretches of challenging times. Artists thrive on
passion.

All of these characteristics give artists an edge over others in the
business realm. It’s great to be fueled by the knowledge that you do
have what it takes to succeed, and you also need to operate in a
business-like way to make it happen. Here are the keys to business
success that I have used and enjoyed.

Vision You have to want your creative success from a deep,
deep place.  What is this about for you, anyway? Have a vision for
yourself and your business. Write a vision statement that springs from
your values and passion for your art.

Commitment In a business or art career, there will be plenty
of ups and downs. It’s important to have a solid commitment that you
can return to when times are tough. You will question this commitment
again and again, but if you have a clear sense of your commitment at
the beginning, the dips will be navigable. Write a mission statement
for how you will fulfill your vision.

Follow through. Most success can be attributed to those extra
actions we take – sending a thank-you note, making a call, going the
extra mile, or researching a tip. Follow through is a key factor in
being able to maximize opportunities, build connections and deliver on
your promises. It’s also a key to being perceived as professional and
on top of things.

Build authentic relationships. Do
business with people that you want to be around. You want to be able to
be yourself with your support team (accountant, banker, coach) and your
clients (gallery owners, editors, clients). Connect with people who
share similar values, interests and art forms. Some people say that
building relationships is the key to success, so become a master at
being a good human with others.

Maintain self-care practices. Making art and building a
business is a lot of work. There can be a lot of stress involved with
art and business, so having a stable personal life is key. Know your
needs and do what you can to get them met. Know what helps you release
stress. Make sure that you have play time, too, since it can be easy to
work all the time at your art business.

Perspective This is the secret weapon. Perspective is the
most powerful tool we have. How you see the world, yourself, and your
enterprise all have an enormous impact on how successful you will be.
If you can shift your perspective easily, you’ll have a much broader
range of options available to you in your art and business. Practice
noticing throughout the day what perspective you are operating from.
Does it feel good? Bad? In between? How does the perspective of any
moment contribute to your work?

Systems For business success, you’ll want systems for
operating your enterprise, for marketing your work, and for handling
all the money that comes your way. Contact systems, marketing systems,
bookkeeping systems, and ways to catalogue your art and record your
sales are all essential for a thriving business.

Support Without peer, professional or mentor support, running a business is very difficult. You need people to bounce ideas off, professional guidance to steer you on the right path (accountants, bookkeepers, legal counsel, etc) and peers who can help you stay connected to what’s happening in your industry.

If some of these essentials make the artist in you cringe, take that
as an opportunity to see where you could grow. I can’t think of any
other work that challenges us to grow more than art and business. If
you want to stay safe and unchanged, you’ll want to choose another
path. But why would you? Art and business are grand adventures!

I’ve been in business for over eight years. I didn’t start out to be
a businesswoman, but to survive, I became one, and I like it. Running a
business is one of the most satisfying and empowering ways to express
your creativity in the world. I love helping other creative people be
successful businesspeople. If you want to start a business or bring
your current business to the next level, contact me for coaching or
consulting. 

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Celebrating Your Creative Success

When you’ve hauled yourself over the line of your deadline, when you’ve gotten the news that your story has been accepted, when a gallery finally sees your brilliance and puts your work on the walls, it is time to celebrate.
Here is a list of creative, inexpensive and fun ways to celebrate your successes. (The full article about celebrating is in this week’s The Muse. What? Not a subscriber! Go to my home page and join the party!)

Write a love note to yourself outlining all your brilliant characteristics.

Treat yourself to a new notebook or pack of pens.

Visit the art supply store and buy a new brush, tube of paint, sheet of beautiful paper, or other creative treat.

Take a pause. Go to the park or other natural environment and allow the sights and sounds to rejuvenate your spirit.

Give yourself an afternoon in the library, museum or bookstore. Pick up ideas and inspiration for the next creative phase.

Call up a creative buddy and schedule a walk or coffee date. Trade acknowledgements of each other’s progress.

Make a list of all the things you have done for your creativity in the last six months. Give yourself gold stars for everything.

Reread a journal or free write notebook. Take stock of how far you have come and prepare for more.

Compile your victories in a portfolio or notebook. Use a three-ring binder with plastic sheets to protect your clips, reviews, articles about you or other kudos you get.

Ask your significant other or a friend to help you celebrate. Let them in on the fun.

Get tickets for a concert, reading or gallery or museum show opening. Connecting to others’ creative expression will feed your own.

Make notes about what you brought to bear on your creative life. Your persistence, your sense of humor, your willingness to listen to your instincts, all will help you in the next phase of the journey.

Plan a retreat – an afternoon, a day, a weekend, a week – in a nearby locale to fuel yourself.

Make a list of your own celebrations and rewards. When you hit a milestone, small or large, you’ll be ready to party on! How do you celebrate? Share your ideas here.

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Ten Rejection Rituals

Rejection hurts – there’s no doubt abut it. But there are ways to deal with it so you don’t feel like a victim.  Shifting your perspective about rejection can be a huge help. Actually doing something about rejection can make it even easier to bear the pain of having your writing rejected. Here are a few rituals, or acts, that you can do to move forward from the big bad No!.

1. Write an encouraging letter to yourself. Remind yourself why you write and that it is worth any suffering.

2. Write another letter that expresses your emotions to the rejecting editor (then throw it away).

3. Revisit a former writing success such as a contest won or a prior publication. Gloat over your previous victories and know that they are just the beginning of your success.

4. Spend some time free writing on your experience with rejection. Start with the prompt, when I was rejected….

5. Throw a tantrum. Grab a big pillow and pummel it with all the force of your disappointment and anger behind it. Rant and rave about the unfairness of it all.

6. Exercise. Go for a walk or a run or a bike ride, or whatever you do to get into your body. Offer up your sweat to the rejection.

7. Some people save their rejection letters. You may want to add it to a file or…

8. Burn the rejection letter, and with it, all the disappointment.

9. Call a writer friend and tell them about the rejection. You may ask them to recount your strengths as a writer and a person. Make sure this friend is able to offer unconditional reassurance as part of your rejection ritual.

10. Do any of the above rituals and then get back to whatever you were writing. You must keep going!

What are your methods for handling rejection? Add your comments here.