think like an artist
If you’re new here, Story Work is the name of my current book-in-progress. It describes a process of reflecting, reclaiming, and reimagining the stories of our lives. It involves looking at your life experiences as creative material that you have the power to shape.
The weekly story work topics cover universal life themes with references from literature, philosophy, science, and spirituality; offering perspectives that spark ideas for personal growth and creative expression.
Paid subscribers receive Story Work exercises every Sunday night at 8 pm et.
Read on for a preview of the weekly exercise.
Hi friends,
Yesterday I wrapped up the summer cohort of the Creative Courage Writing Intensive. A framework that was born in 2020 from a desire to help writers understand their creative motivation and process on a deeper level so they can clarify their ideas, move through resistance, and access fuller expression.
My goal for every group I work with is that they will continue in their creative journey with the behavior and mindset shifts that we worked on becoming part of not only their creative process, but their lifestyle. Not compartmentalizing their art, their authentic voice, to just their secret journals. Not valuing their art, their authentic voice, just based on the validation they get through likes, comments, followers, etc. But making creative expression a way of life, one that is essential to their wellness and purpose as a human.
When I talk to writers, the fear of being ignored, misunderstood, or criticized is large. The wish to go viral or be discovered is often silent but persistent. Sometimes the authentic desire to be a channel for expression becomes tainted by romanticized ideas of how we think the journey should play out, and when it doesn’t happen that way, we lose conviction, doubt overcomes devotion, and our art gets stuck in our bodies.
I used to get so discouraged when I would see writing peers that I discovered when they had small platforms zoom past me in terms of numbers and popularity. But this was just my old programming letting me know that I was still distracted and focusing on the wrong things.
I’ve been through this disillusionment many times, and I’ve learned that no matter how it is received I need to write and I need to share because my soul requires it. I’m just wired that way, so I lean into it and keep going. At my own pace. With my own measure of success. Whether I have 10 readers or 10,000.
The hope that I feel when I write cannot be quantified or replaced with anything else. The sense of purpose I feel when just one reader tells me that my words helped them cannot be diminished or invalidated by comparison.
By returning to the page again and again and trusting my experience, I’ve learned that the path of creative abundance for me is a matter of being relentlessly true to myself, essentially becoming a magnet for what is meant for me, instead of chasing attention and letting my ego shut me down when people don’t pick me.
I work with writers who find healing in offering up their life stories and who are motivated by the challenge of exploring what that looks like for them. Writers whose primary motivation is to heal, connect, explore, teach, serve, advocate; not to impress, compete or prove themselves. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the latter, it’s just not what I do or what I’m here for.
I’m here for the writers who are willing to open their hearts and minds to the fulfillment and abundance and aligned opportunities that can be achieved through radical authenticity. In the words of author Vex King:
“Instead of forcing people to like you, become a powerful force of attraction for authentic energy by simply being yourself. If they align with your energy, you win. If they don’t, you still win. Stay authentic so those seeking genuine connections can find you.”
So if you are just starting to share your creative writing, don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Stand tall right there where you are with all your uncertainties and insecurities. Don’t delay because you don’t have it figured out. Figure it out on the page as you go. What you think you need to figure out before you start is exactly what could be of most interest to your readers.
And by the way, there is nothing wrong with celebrating milestones! By all means, celebrate the likes, follows, sales, and all the growth. But first be clear on what it all means to you. Celebrate with the right perspective and consciousness, knowing that if you are dependent on them to make you feel worthy, they will only offer temporary satisfaction.
Your creative journey will be shaped by what you want to get out of it and why.
Part of the creative courage framework I teach is that writing—or whatever your craft is—is not about satisfying your ego, it is about navigating discomfort and uncertainty in service of your truths and values.
What does creative courage mean to you? Celebrating your differences? Going against the grain? Finding your own unique voice? This week’s story work exercise is about identifying the qualities that shape the mindset of an artist.