Filling the Creative Well

On Being a Writer Chapter 3: Surround

I’m reading through On Being a Writer by Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton Craig this summer. Listen to this from chapter 3:

Writing requires a flow both inward and outward of ideas thoughts and stories.

So much in the creative life is seasonal. I just love the watery feel of the description of the tides of inspiration. If we are going to have something to give, we’ll need to be replenishing the well.

Sounds something like Artist’s Dates, right? The idea from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way to seek out creative explorations + fun each week. That timetable always sort of throws me off! Even though I can see the benefit, I just can’t manage once a week. But what if I just lowered my expectations a little bit?

This morning I emptied the dishwasher and tidied the kitchen while listening to Episode 365 of the Creativity Matters Podcast by Amy from Illustrated Life. This episode is about creating a birthday list—a way to meet the year with intention and beauty.

The podcast is 5 years old, but it is absolutely fresh and engaging. The 50 Before 50 show was the inspiration for my 50x50 poem project. Two years ago I set the goal to finish twice as many poems as I usually do: 50 poems in 2 years. This felt like such a stretch, but these poems are the backbone of the collection I am currently editing. I’ve got just a few weeks left on this project and I am looking forward to starting the next iteration—52x52.

You should listen to episode 364 as well! Both podcasts are the kind that had me pressing pause, grabbing my journal, and making a list from Amy’s evocative prompts.

Just the kind of inspiration—the inbreath and outbreath—that I need. Close at hand, simple, cheap, accessable. A pocket-sized Artist Date.