This is brilliant Jess - I think we are sometimes so desperate to be told what and how to do stuff, that we think the glossy, testimonialed up gurus will have the answers to success, but I have honestly found that the answers are often already on our insides. I roll my eyes at the testimonials and lists of awards and accolades these days, when in times passed I would have been swayed by them. Now, I’m happy with my lifelong creative adventure. Great article!
Thank you so, so much, Emily!! Yes I know exactly what you mean - especially when we're feeling a bit insecure, it's much easier to trust the people who project confidence and boast those fancy credentials than to trust in ourselves. I'm glad you've gotten over that hump - it's far more freeing on the other side, isn't it!
I loved this Jess! Exploring is so underrated. I love the way you presented this idea, curiosity is much more fun than striving for any expertise (especially while feeling ‘not enough’ in the process) 💜
SO much more fun, right? I'm all for approaches that help lessen the self-imposed pressure & negative self-talk so we can simply START! Thanks for giving this a read 💓
Unlike Janet Arnold, most of today's gurus are self-proclaimed. Not only is their expertise questionable, but they routinely comment beyond that expertise to garner more attention. I would rather trust a self-proclaimed explorer.
I've been resisting the urge to go to grad school to get an MFA. I've had it in my head that I can't write a book without it, but that's not necessarily true. I just need to keep putting words onto paper and I'll have a book eventually!
P.S. not to add *another* creative pursuit to your plate, but if you ever held a class on digital collage making, I would be first on the sign-up list! (But again, maybe this is me thinking I need to have all the information before just trying something 😅)
Ooooh that would be so fun! It's mostly just messing around in Canva - which I know you are already so good at! Background remover, drop shadow, and duotone are my go-tos, plus their library of images/elements for stuff like textures, paper bits, etc. But one day I would love to hand-cut and digitize elements that I could then collage with.
And yess you got this! Book accountability buddy sending out "YOU GOT THIS" support vibes!!
Semi related, I'm halfway through reading "Bird by Bird" (thanks to you! Idk why I never picked it up before) and my favorite bit so far is how she describes the process of getting started - sitting down to write but first looking around, grimacing, and wiggling or swaying in your seat like a total weirdo before actually getting down to business. Haha it's too relatable! Something they don't teach in the MFA programs, I'd guess 😂😂
Canva does have great images and textures to work with! I'll have to spend more time with them. Digitized elements would be so cool, too!
Thank you 🙏 We'll get there someday! I'm actually going on a writing retreat in a couple weeks, I'm hoping that will help get the creativity flowing.
I'm so glad you're liking it! I love that book. Anne's description is SO spot on haha I think I do that every single time I sit down to write. And I think you're right that it's not what they'd tell you in an MFA program 😂
Oooh a writing retreat sounds so wonderful, I hope it ends up being super inspiring/luxurious/productive for you! (And I hope you write a post about it afterward so I can live vicariously haha!)
Great post! I'm so happy Dan has inspired you. He is such a great encourager for writers. I simply can't say enough great things!
I have been learning about human design. I am a Projector whose strategy is to wait for the invitation. I have never waited. I have always inserted myself. Now, I am learning about a superpower which may totally change the way I operate. It's exciting and scary!
Oh wow, that's fascinating! It's crazy-cool when we can unlock those little nuggets of self-awareness that totally transform how we approach things for the better. Excited for your season of transformation! Make those superpowers work for you!! 🦸♀️
This is brilliant Jess - I think we are sometimes so desperate to be told what and how to do stuff, that we think the glossy, testimonialed up gurus will have the answers to success, but I have honestly found that the answers are often already on our insides. I roll my eyes at the testimonials and lists of awards and accolades these days, when in times passed I would have been swayed by them. Now, I’m happy with my lifelong creative adventure. Great article!
Thank you so, so much, Emily!! Yes I know exactly what you mean - especially when we're feeling a bit insecure, it's much easier to trust the people who project confidence and boast those fancy credentials than to trust in ourselves. I'm glad you've gotten over that hump - it's far more freeing on the other side, isn't it!
I loved this Jess! Exploring is so underrated. I love the way you presented this idea, curiosity is much more fun than striving for any expertise (especially while feeling ‘not enough’ in the process) 💜
SO much more fun, right? I'm all for approaches that help lessen the self-imposed pressure & negative self-talk so we can simply START! Thanks for giving this a read 💓
Unlike Janet Arnold, most of today's gurus are self-proclaimed. Not only is their expertise questionable, but they routinely comment beyond that expertise to garner more attention. I would rather trust a self-proclaimed explorer.
Yes! That's a great approach for vetting all the "experts" out there - I think I'll be borrowing that from now on :)
Wow, in great company here! Thanks for the shout out!
Thank YOU! 🙏
I've been resisting the urge to go to grad school to get an MFA. I've had it in my head that I can't write a book without it, but that's not necessarily true. I just need to keep putting words onto paper and I'll have a book eventually!
P.S. not to add *another* creative pursuit to your plate, but if you ever held a class on digital collage making, I would be first on the sign-up list! (But again, maybe this is me thinking I need to have all the information before just trying something 😅)
Ooooh that would be so fun! It's mostly just messing around in Canva - which I know you are already so good at! Background remover, drop shadow, and duotone are my go-tos, plus their library of images/elements for stuff like textures, paper bits, etc. But one day I would love to hand-cut and digitize elements that I could then collage with.
And yess you got this! Book accountability buddy sending out "YOU GOT THIS" support vibes!!
Semi related, I'm halfway through reading "Bird by Bird" (thanks to you! Idk why I never picked it up before) and my favorite bit so far is how she describes the process of getting started - sitting down to write but first looking around, grimacing, and wiggling or swaying in your seat like a total weirdo before actually getting down to business. Haha it's too relatable! Something they don't teach in the MFA programs, I'd guess 😂😂
Canva does have great images and textures to work with! I'll have to spend more time with them. Digitized elements would be so cool, too!
Thank you 🙏 We'll get there someday! I'm actually going on a writing retreat in a couple weeks, I'm hoping that will help get the creativity flowing.
I'm so glad you're liking it! I love that book. Anne's description is SO spot on haha I think I do that every single time I sit down to write. And I think you're right that it's not what they'd tell you in an MFA program 😂
Oooh a writing retreat sounds so wonderful, I hope it ends up being super inspiring/luxurious/productive for you! (And I hope you write a post about it afterward so I can live vicariously haha!)
Thank you, I hope it is too! And I will definitely write about it 🤗
Great post! I'm so happy Dan has inspired you. He is such a great encourager for writers. I simply can't say enough great things!
I have been learning about human design. I am a Projector whose strategy is to wait for the invitation. I have never waited. I have always inserted myself. Now, I am learning about a superpower which may totally change the way I operate. It's exciting and scary!
Oh wow, that's fascinating! It's crazy-cool when we can unlock those little nuggets of self-awareness that totally transform how we approach things for the better. Excited for your season of transformation! Make those superpowers work for you!! 🦸♀️
Thanks Jess!
I'm grateful for the inspo, Dan! :)