The Artist's Way - Week 1
Jan. 10th, 2024 07:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cinefariousMy wife bought a book last year called the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron in an effort to restore her lost creativity. During the time she had begun reading it and practicing out what it taught, I did a sort of half-assed attempt alongside her in the hopes of being supportive and possibly helping myself as well.
It did help a little! At the time I did manage to write every single day for a month straight, which I'd never done before. At the same time, I definitely hadn't read the book myself or done the assignments as written, so we decided we'd both start over this year and do it properly.
The book says to write morning pages and go on artist dates each week. Morning pages are meant to be stream of consciousness, long form writing. I did pick up the long form writing, but I definitely wasn't doing stream of consciousness the first time. When I sit down to write something, my mind immediately goes to fandom so that's what I did. My book is full of three pages worth of story beginnings, and some continuations sprinkled in. It was great for that!
However, the purpose of the exercise is to essentially empty your brain each day of things that might hold you back from creativity so I'm endeavoring to focus on doing that.
The artist dates are kind of what they sound like. You go out to just be alone and spark your own inner creativity or inner child. Whatever pleases you. I imagine I'll have lots of walking through craft stores in my future so my magpie brain can stare at beads and things. That part is easier, save the doing it alone part. I almost never do things save errands alone, but it wouldn't be hard to do so.
She also has challenges to fulfill each week, so I chose my favorite one to do first.
Imaginary Lives: If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them? I would be a pilot, a cowhand, a physicist, a psychic, a monk. You might be [a bunch of other careers in a big long list]. Whatever occurs to you, jot it down. Do not overthink this exercise. The point of these lives is to have fun in them -- more fun than you might be having in this one.
1. a published author
2. a marine biologist
3. a librarian
4. a baker
5. a video game writer or asset designer
secret 6th option
stay at home mom
Being a published author is still something I'd like to do. I love creating worlds and characters, but have always suffered at the hands of creating good plots - famously things a published book should have. So it's still a back burner, but hopeful goal.
Being a marine biologist was my dream as a kid. I love aquatic animals! My very favorite are those in the Abyssal Zone and deeper. I know they tend to scare most people, but I'm absolutely fascinated by them. Every so often I'll get the itch and go track down wildlife documentaries and things to enjoy seeing some anglerfish, vampire squids, big fin squid, etc.
Librarian was actually what I almost went to college for. What can I say? I love a good book and the quiet sanctuary of a library.
A baker. I don't pretend to think I'm an amazing baker, but like a lot of people, I've always had that dream of wanting a bakery or coffee shop. I love baking cookies the most, and my wife would probably defend that they're the best XD I enjoy watching youtube videos of bakeries just doing their thing, and if I had a big enough friend group who would be interested, I'd probably try my hand more at baking cakes.
The secret 6th option is the one I dream about the most, and is the most attainable. I'm currently in the middle of my second round of IVF. It's been a very emotional and expensive endeavor, but I've wanted to be a mother for something like 10+ years now. My fingers are crossed this time is successful, and while the financial burden of staying at home is steep, we're taking active steps to make it possible. We're focusing very hard on paying off our debts this year to free up more income, and I've saved an ungodly amount of PTO at this point.
It gives me a lot of optimism that what I really want in life, is something I can achieve. <3
It did help a little! At the time I did manage to write every single day for a month straight, which I'd never done before. At the same time, I definitely hadn't read the book myself or done the assignments as written, so we decided we'd both start over this year and do it properly.
The book says to write morning pages and go on artist dates each week. Morning pages are meant to be stream of consciousness, long form writing. I did pick up the long form writing, but I definitely wasn't doing stream of consciousness the first time. When I sit down to write something, my mind immediately goes to fandom so that's what I did. My book is full of three pages worth of story beginnings, and some continuations sprinkled in. It was great for that!
However, the purpose of the exercise is to essentially empty your brain each day of things that might hold you back from creativity so I'm endeavoring to focus on doing that.
The artist dates are kind of what they sound like. You go out to just be alone and spark your own inner creativity or inner child. Whatever pleases you. I imagine I'll have lots of walking through craft stores in my future so my magpie brain can stare at beads and things. That part is easier, save the doing it alone part. I almost never do things save errands alone, but it wouldn't be hard to do so.
She also has challenges to fulfill each week, so I chose my favorite one to do first.
Imaginary Lives: If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them? I would be a pilot, a cowhand, a physicist, a psychic, a monk. You might be [a bunch of other careers in a big long list]. Whatever occurs to you, jot it down. Do not overthink this exercise. The point of these lives is to have fun in them -- more fun than you might be having in this one.
1. a published author
2. a marine biologist
3. a librarian
4. a baker
5. a video game writer or asset designer
secret 6th option
stay at home mom
Being a published author is still something I'd like to do. I love creating worlds and characters, but have always suffered at the hands of creating good plots - famously things a published book should have. So it's still a back burner, but hopeful goal.
Being a marine biologist was my dream as a kid. I love aquatic animals! My very favorite are those in the Abyssal Zone and deeper. I know they tend to scare most people, but I'm absolutely fascinated by them. Every so often I'll get the itch and go track down wildlife documentaries and things to enjoy seeing some anglerfish, vampire squids, big fin squid, etc.
Librarian was actually what I almost went to college for. What can I say? I love a good book and the quiet sanctuary of a library.
A baker. I don't pretend to think I'm an amazing baker, but like a lot of people, I've always had that dream of wanting a bakery or coffee shop. I love baking cookies the most, and my wife would probably defend that they're the best XD I enjoy watching youtube videos of bakeries just doing their thing, and if I had a big enough friend group who would be interested, I'd probably try my hand more at baking cakes.
The secret 6th option is the one I dream about the most, and is the most attainable. I'm currently in the middle of my second round of IVF. It's been a very emotional and expensive endeavor, but I've wanted to be a mother for something like 10+ years now. My fingers are crossed this time is successful, and while the financial burden of staying at home is steep, we're taking active steps to make it possible. We're focusing very hard on paying off our debts this year to free up more income, and I've saved an ungodly amount of PTO at this point.
It gives me a lot of optimism that what I really want in life, is something I can achieve. <3
