I’ve been thinking about this week’s essay, mulling over the qualities of a creative life. I wanted to share a few things that have worked for me in developing myself as an artist over the past four years, what I’ve done to make creativity a daily practice and guiding force in my life.
TIME AND SPACE - I sit and squirm at my desk from 5/5:30am - 7:30-8am every weekday morning. Sometimes, it’s morning pages. Sometimes, it’s SELF MADE. Sometimes, I read essays and catch up on being with other people’s words. Sometimes, the words flow, and it is delicious. Other times, I sit and stare and am a squirrel. But I give myself time and space.
INTERACT WITH OTHER ART - poetry! photography! gardening! music! podcasts! television! watercolors! museums! theater! “Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” - Henry Miller. I find #2 helpful always, and particularly when I am stuck with something. You can take a break and seek inspiration elsewhere. I guarantee you’ll come back refreshed.
JUST SHOW UP - you might show up as a squirrel. This is part of the process it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong with the process.
PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR - If you just try to “wing it,” with no systems in place to hold you to it, well, the chances are just way lower that you’ll actually SHOW UP.
BE IN NATURE - aka DUH. For real though, go stick your nose in some flowers or some of that fine California scrub sage that’s roaring off all around these hills, watch hawks spin lazy serpentines overhead, lay in some grass, stare at the ocean, hug a tree (how obvious is it that I’ve been in snow maybe five times in my whole life).
COLLABORATION - Do your art with other people, find people who you can talk to about it with and who will remind you to KEEP SHOWING UP, start projects with people, be in conversation about your artistry with people who get it.
What about you? What are your creative practices and routines? I always learn so much about people’s different processes - let us know in the comments 👇🏽
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A last thing: As of this morning, SELF MADE has 499 subscribers.
This early-pandemic-I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-myself project has become my greatest anchor. My readership has grown slowly and meaningfully over these past two years, and my connection to you is one of my sincerest joys—you who I have gotten to know in the comments section, at Recovery Club, at writing workshops, as coaching clients—and I much prefer the quality of our authentic relationships over big time numbers.
499 almost 500 may seem like a humble milestone, and perhaps it is in someone else’s grand scheme. For me it is a sweet thrill. I’m excited and grateful to keep writing, and to keep on deepening my connection with all of you. Thank you.
👀Watch: This is just cute and sweet and also understandably tinged with sadness.
🎧Listen: Dear Faith recommended this podcast (it’s called “Just Break Up” so you know it spoke to me) and this episode that features a question by a letter writer bemoaning a “relationship relapse” and the host’s terrific response was so helpful for me.
Thank you so much for being a part of this community. If you like this newsletter, please consider leaving a comment, sending it to a friend or becoming a paid subscriber. Or respond and say hi, I *always* love hearing from you.
Ahhh timely as always, Dani. I have random thoughts running through my head but haven’t dedicated time and space to showing up. Have you read The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp?
pretty sure you are showing up for Flaneuserie ;) but I hear you. I morning paged for many years but it was living with friends through the pandemic and realizing that the only time of day I might have the house quiet and to myself that I really committed to waking up so early to write. It finally stuck.
I read that book years ago but I don't remember much from it. Would love to revisit. In the past I would read books like that and feel frustrated because a creative life felt so far away to me.
Ahhh timely as always, Dani. I have random thoughts running through my head but haven’t dedicated time and space to showing up. Have you read The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp?
pretty sure you are showing up for Flaneuserie ;) but I hear you. I morning paged for many years but it was living with friends through the pandemic and realizing that the only time of day I might have the house quiet and to myself that I really committed to waking up so early to write. It finally stuck.
I read that book years ago but I don't remember much from it. Would love to revisit. In the past I would read books like that and feel frustrated because a creative life felt so far away to me.