Happy Monday, Creative Dynamos!
Let’s start the week off right, shall we? With a bit of support for our creative challenges, because we’re in this together!
Share in a comment below ONE thing you will do this week in your creative realm. Something that you need a nudge for. Something a bit daunting.
Whether you’re a photographer, painter, sculptor, writer…any kind of artist. I’ll help hold you accountable this week to doing something you really want to do.
For my part, I am committed to return to making regular videos. I want to do this, yet it keeps getting pushed to the back burner. I commit to making and posting a video by this Friday. There. I said it, publicly. GULP!
What one thing will you do? And when you do it, will you return here to add another comment and perhaps a link?
Creativity
A colorful new writing ally
I’ve got something exciting to share with you, but first, I’ll tell the story.
As a writer’s coach, I’m always looking for ways to make writing easier. When we get into the ‘zone’, writing can feel magical. We finally lose our critical self-consciousness. We slip away from time. Our words guide us to new territory, and we welcome the surprises and the wisdom our pens offer up. We discover our wisdom and our voice. We discover Writual.
How we access Writual
Since 1994, I’ve been leading writing workshops that teach writers how to cultivate this magical space, where writer’s block is a distant memory. Where the inner critic is outside shoveling snow. I call this space Writual.
Writual is accessed through the intentional surrender we can find with the free-writing method. Our pens or fingers on the keyboard provide access to our authenticity. Writual cuts through the noise to get to the heart of our truth.
Practicing Writual feels very different from the writing sessions that come from disciplining or hounding ourselves to write from guilt. When you have adopted your Writual practice, you’re much less likely to avoid your writing.
In my Free-Write Fling class, students find their groove using the free-writing method and my Writual Blessings. The transformations they experience are profound: more confidence, more joy and more sense of their authenticity.
Writual Blessings are your powerful writing ally
Writual [rich-oo-uh l] The sacred act of writing with intention and surrender. Origin: writing + ritual = Writual
Blessing [bles-ing] praise, devotion, especially grace before a meal
Writual Blessings help us enter this sacred writing zone. When writers use them as a prompt, they tap their own deep well of wisdom. It’s been great to see how Writual Blessings have served as my allies in helping writers find joy and confidence.
Writual Blessings serve as permission slips to the coveted space of writing freedom. It’s amazing how much the Flingers love them and how much they’ve made a difference in their writing. They have found focus and solace from the Writual Blessings.
I want more people to enjoy the pleasure that these affirmations bring. So from the hundreds of Blessings I’ve written, I made a deck of Writual Blessings cards. I chose 36 of my favorites. I hand-lettered them and added watercolor illustrations. I made a deck of portable cards for writers who would love to have support to access their authentic expression.
There are lots of ways to use these cards, including:
- writing prompt
- visual reminder of your intention
- permission slip from your writing coach
- page marker for your journal or favorite book
- and more….
I’ve ordered a limited number of these unique writers’ card decks for sale. If this kind of colorful encouragement is something you could use for your writing, you’ll want to order your deck now.
To make it easier for you, I’m paying for shipping through March 31st. Get your deck here and let your writing become joyful and easier.
Get your deck here, and if you’ve got writing buddies, pick up a couple of decks for them. You’ll love the bulk discount I am offering. Remember, shipping is on me through March 31st.
Creative Fun: Sharing a Visual Journal
Want to feel more creative and connected? Try this!
Forget goals; invest in practices for creative satisfaction
How do you get everything done? Writing, art making, coaching, teaching – just a few of the roles I juggle. I’m sure you’ve got as many or more roles you play. We’re all trying to squeeze more into every day. How do I get things done?
It’s a constant adjustment process of my work flow. In fact, it’s the problem we seek to solve at Original Impulse: how do we get our best creative work done despite everything that conspires against us?
I’m always looking for the right combination to fend off distraction, OPA and decision swirl. I want to focus on things that matter to me, that challenge me, and that serve to inspire others’ creative dynamism.
So, rather than set big goals for 2015, I’m trying a new schedule. My hope is that new structure makes it easier to do what I love. Here’s what I’m experimenting with: [Read more…] about Forget goals; invest in practices for creative satisfaction
Writing accountability: What is your creative edge for 2015?
I’m sure you’ve got your word of the year. Goody. It’s nice to have a guiding principle.
Now, what are you going to make happen in 2015?
I’ve seen that we glean the most satisfaction and actualization when we specify a creative edge for the year. When we dedicate ourselves to a very specific phase of the creative process and dig down deep.
Look at the following four creative edges in the writing process below. If you were to focus on one, which would give you the most satisfaction this year? [Read more…] about Writing accountability: What is your creative edge for 2015?