Phew! I'm just back from a day of 'design your creative life' with the Swedish writing coach and publisher Ann Ljungberg. What a day! I was privileged to be speaking along side Fay Weldon - the brilliant author who regaled us with her journey to write her last novel in her basement 'with the spiders' in only 8 weeks. Particularly inspiring for me - as my deadline approaches for my own book The Big Peace - which has to be finished in 3 weeks. Can't wait to read Fay's new novel 2013.
American creativity coach Cynthia Morris and novelist and writing coach Jacqui Lofthouse were also speaking and giving us step by step, practical advice on everything from how to finish that novel to how to garner self belief.
Eric Maisel, billed as America's foremost creativity coach also had me up on stage role-playing being the editor listening to Cynthia's pitch of her new novel. Very interesting to understand what it feels like to be on the other side of the table and hear a writer - who you know to be accomplished and talented - pitch a story to you. I understood how subjective the process was and how succinct you need to be to grab an editor's attention.It's very interesting to log on to Eric's site The Atheist's Way too. If you struggle with Cameron's spiritual bent, you may find Eric's belief system inspiring and useful. His subtitle for the site and his book is Living Well without Gods.
It was an exceptional day and I learnt a lot from the other experts - inspiring, useful and just wonderful to be in a dialogue about creativity and swop techniques and tips on how to harness it.
How are you doing on The Artist's Way journey? This week we were recovering a sense of possibility. How was that for you? I had a wonderful piece of synchronicity as I procrastinated some more with my screenplay. I'm on to the fifth draft but haven't touched it for months - not sure whether to send it out or not. I needed a baby step - some last feedback - and an email popped into my inbox from a script reading service The Script Surgeons. It felt like a little 'sign', something to keep my sense of possibility bubbling.
Have struggled with the 'virtue trap' somewhat this week. I've spent a great deal of my life striving to be 'good, to be nice, to be helpful, to be unselfish' so I've been noticing particular resentments this week - not wanting to help friends, wanting to retreat, not listen, not help but to shrug and walk away.
I felt physical envy that made my top lip stick to my teeth in a rictus smile today as Fay Weldon talked about retreating from the world to just write for 8 weeks. Forget a 'room of one's own', get yourself a basement - even with the spiders.
How have you found week 5?
Week 6 - we're half way through. Are you still with us? Are you hanging in there? Embracing the process? Hanging on by a thread?
Not sure I'm particularly looking forward to week 6 - which probably speaks volumes about my attitudes towards money and abundance. But that's why I'm probably looking forward to the 'counting exercise' - making a note of every penny I spend over the next week. I want to know what the hell I do with my money. I love to fritter but Cameron is right, it is often at the 'cost' of denying myself the luxuries that I do want to buy. Another interesting week ahead.
Homework this week:
Morning pages - how many days did you do last week?
The Artist's Date - I managed a bath with a magazine last week, which a friend openly scorned. 'Not exactly an artist's date,' she scoffed. I'm doing the best I can!
Try the exercises you like the look of and the ones you resist the most. I'm going to practise saying 'yes' to the freebies.
Let me know how you get on.
Suzy x
P.S It was also fantastic to meet so many Big Leapers at the London's Writer's Club on Thursday. Great to meet you all and can't wait to discover how the group will unfold. See you there next month.
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