The Artist’s Way and morning pages have been my writing touchstone for 30 years. The foundational, grounding practice of meeting myself on the page, in all the rawness and realness of a life. Especially during these midlife years, it’s been essential. Glad you have found it to be generative for you too, Steph!
I’m interested. Haven’t done The Artist’s Way since around when it came out, but I’ve been writing and judging everything I write immediately. What you said about consuming memoir is *so true* - it’s almost the entirety of what I read. But write such drivel? Surely I’d not produce the quality of those I read (Didion, you savage). Why are we like this.
Finishing a workshop now, and neurodivergent and and and. Need to think on this a moment. I should do this for myself.
The "judging everything you write" aspect is so true, and so hard to get away from! "Didion, you savage," made me laugh out out!! As to why we are like this? Sigh. Good question.
I would LOVE to have you join us. And sheesh, we should also do an Artist's Way for Neurodivergent Women, shouldn't we?? Talk about applying the right lens!
This is exactly, exactly, exactly what I want right now! Thank you for offering it. I tried to start it once before and, well, just didn't. Im looking forward to this group approach.
Hi Ellyn! The current plan is Wednesdays at noon EST, but I am also planning to check in with the group to see if that time is workable or if we need to make a change. Meetings are also optional; we'll use them as more of a check-in and discussion opportunity but they are usually really interesting!
Ooh, this is interesting to me! My husband bought me The Artist Way for Christmas last year (because he'd done it and really loved it) but I quit after week 2. Accountability might be good for me if I decide to go for it a second time (you know my ADHD loves accountability!)
I will say that one thing that hit different for me (in the two weeks that I did, so grain of salt) as a middle aged lady was that the section of the book about how to deal with people who aren't supportive of your work (the "crazy makers") didn't feel at all relevant any more. It for sure would have in my 20s but the gift of being 46 is that I finally have some damn boundaries and I don't stay in relationship with people who aren't on Team Wendy. It was kind of affirming to realize that as I read that chapter.
So I don't have that obstacle but I do have another one that you already identified in your question - TIME. This is such a busy season of life with work and a kid going into his senior year and my calendar feels like a trainwreck most days. Sigh.
Ohhh that is such an interesting point! I had totally not thought about the crazy-maker thing from that angle. You are totally right--I think that shift really is indicative of reaching midlife and not being as easily swayed by the naysayers. I think the larger impact is that internalized crazy-maker dynamic that we've worked hard to shed by the time we get here. I hadn't really considered that particular viewpoint, the fact that I don't really have people like that disrupting my life anymore, with good reason. Thanks for giving me something to think about! And oh, I would totally love to have you in the group.
Thank you for this! 100% to all of it!! The book changed my life in my 20s- now in my 50s I am craving that same sense of shift but life is SOOOOOO much more complicated now!
Did the artists way during a trying time as a caretaker. Lost my art motivation and was terrified of not regaining it again. The daily pages were (and are) a way to get emotions, rants and an occasional breakthrough on paper. The physical act of writing and seeing my thoughts on paper is therapeutic and sometimes a revelation. I’ve been writing for five years already and it has become a valued lifetime habit.
Yes, it is such a valuable habit. I think it's amazing you did it during a difficult caretaker stage--that's some great self-preservation energy to hold onto your motivation to be creative.
Hi Hilary! I wish we could be more accommodating with times--I teach lessons and have activities with my daughter in the evenings so I can't do that, and I try to keep weekends open for her, too. Our current plan is noon EST on Wednesdays, but I am open to a group consensus if evenings are better. So frequently we have people say they are interested in that time of day and then nobody shows up, which is frustrating. I'm also expecting we'll have folks register who can't really make the meetings, which is ok because they are optional in terms of content and sharing. But the virtual meeting is always a nice experience, I think.
Hold that thought! I've had a lot of discussion with different women in different time zones, and we are committed to offering a variety of times each week so that everyone will be able to participate in a Zoom. I think we can come up with something that will work for your availability, whether on the earlier end or later. My plan now is to crowdsource in the group to poll everyone for their availability, and have a few options each week. Hope that helps! XOXO
The Artist’s Way and morning pages have been my writing touchstone for 30 years. The foundational, grounding practice of meeting myself on the page, in all the rawness and realness of a life. Especially during these midlife years, it’s been essential. Glad you have found it to be generative for you too, Steph!
Yes! I've found I really rely on the practice--it really has changed so much for me!
I’m interested. Haven’t done The Artist’s Way since around when it came out, but I’ve been writing and judging everything I write immediately. What you said about consuming memoir is *so true* - it’s almost the entirety of what I read. But write such drivel? Surely I’d not produce the quality of those I read (Didion, you savage). Why are we like this.
Finishing a workshop now, and neurodivergent and and and. Need to think on this a moment. I should do this for myself.
The "judging everything you write" aspect is so true, and so hard to get away from! "Didion, you savage," made me laugh out out!! As to why we are like this? Sigh. Good question.
I would LOVE to have you join us. And sheesh, we should also do an Artist's Way for Neurodivergent Women, shouldn't we?? Talk about applying the right lens!
This is exactly, exactly, exactly what I want right now! Thank you for offering it. I tried to start it once before and, well, just didn't. Im looking forward to this group approach.
You’ve inspired to me to organize a group artist’s way for the women in my life! Thank you! 🙏🏻
Amazing! Do it! You'll love it!
Hi Steph. This sounds so interesting, but I need to know when the group meets for discussion. I'm on Eastern time. Thanks.
Hi Ellyn! The current plan is Wednesdays at noon EST, but I am also planning to check in with the group to see if that time is workable or if we need to make a change. Meetings are also optional; we'll use them as more of a check-in and discussion opportunity but they are usually really interesting!
Ooh, this is interesting to me! My husband bought me The Artist Way for Christmas last year (because he'd done it and really loved it) but I quit after week 2. Accountability might be good for me if I decide to go for it a second time (you know my ADHD loves accountability!)
I will say that one thing that hit different for me (in the two weeks that I did, so grain of salt) as a middle aged lady was that the section of the book about how to deal with people who aren't supportive of your work (the "crazy makers") didn't feel at all relevant any more. It for sure would have in my 20s but the gift of being 46 is that I finally have some damn boundaries and I don't stay in relationship with people who aren't on Team Wendy. It was kind of affirming to realize that as I read that chapter.
So I don't have that obstacle but I do have another one that you already identified in your question - TIME. This is such a busy season of life with work and a kid going into his senior year and my calendar feels like a trainwreck most days. Sigh.
Ohhh that is such an interesting point! I had totally not thought about the crazy-maker thing from that angle. You are totally right--I think that shift really is indicative of reaching midlife and not being as easily swayed by the naysayers. I think the larger impact is that internalized crazy-maker dynamic that we've worked hard to shed by the time we get here. I hadn't really considered that particular viewpoint, the fact that I don't really have people like that disrupting my life anymore, with good reason. Thanks for giving me something to think about! And oh, I would totally love to have you in the group.
Thank you for this! 100% to all of it!! The book changed my life in my 20s- now in my 50s I am craving that same sense of shift but life is SOOOOOO much more complicated now!
Life is MUCH more complicated now! And I think it's a really a rich experience to revisit transformative practices from a fresh perch!
Did the artists way during a trying time as a caretaker. Lost my art motivation and was terrified of not regaining it again. The daily pages were (and are) a way to get emotions, rants and an occasional breakthrough on paper. The physical act of writing and seeing my thoughts on paper is therapeutic and sometimes a revelation. I’ve been writing for five years already and it has become a valued lifetime habit.
Yes, it is such a valuable habit. I think it's amazing you did it during a difficult caretaker stage--that's some great self-preservation energy to hold onto your motivation to be creative.
I'm also a EST and am interested. Last year I magically had creative energy while teaching so, may this year too?
My best times will be 5-7pm EST Mon-Fri, and anytime Saturday or Sunday.
Hi Hilary! I wish we could be more accommodating with times--I teach lessons and have activities with my daughter in the evenings so I can't do that, and I try to keep weekends open for her, too. Our current plan is noon EST on Wednesdays, but I am open to a group consensus if evenings are better. So frequently we have people say they are interested in that time of day and then nobody shows up, which is frustrating. I'm also expecting we'll have folks register who can't really make the meetings, which is ok because they are optional in terms of content and sharing. But the virtual meeting is always a nice experience, I think.
I understand! It's a lovely sounding adventure. Maybe another time or a different opportunity will come up.
Hold that thought! I've had a lot of discussion with different women in different time zones, and we are committed to offering a variety of times each week so that everyone will be able to participate in a Zoom. I think we can come up with something that will work for your availability, whether on the earlier end or later. My plan now is to crowdsource in the group to poll everyone for their availability, and have a few options each week. Hope that helps! XOXO