Tag: creativity

Blogging, PSAs

Calling All Creativity

Go Jules Go

Go Jules Go title graphic Calling All Creativity_8JUL20

“This is one of the highlights of my week,” I grinned, staring at my laptop camera lens. Does it look creepy when I do that?

“Mine, too,” Karla replied with trademark sincerity.

We said goodnight and each retreated back to our respective lives – mine in central Oregon and Karla’s in central New Jersey.

“The tacos here are amazing,” Karla gushed.

“Oh my god, I love them, too,” I agreed. 

We both spoke loudly over the din of a sprawling Mexican restaurant known for their cheap -but strong- margaritas and piping hot, freshly fried tortilla chips. 

“I used to be a cruise ship director,” Karla began once our food had arrived. 

I nearly dropped my fork. Whenever I was forced to dine dined with my Big Pharm colleagues, stories usually began with, “I majored in biology in college” or, “I first discovered my love of Bunsen burners when…” I would smile and nod and wait for the inevitable confusion when I shared my own background: “Well… I have a degree in creative writing…”

Karla finished her story and I stared at her for a long moment.

“You HAVE to turn this into a memoir.”

“You know, I’ve always thought I might do that,” she said.

And thus, a creative seed was planted.

That was 2011, and it would take nine years, but eventually the universe brought Karla and I together with the joint purpose of nurturing that seedling.

It all happened after I began teaching a creative writing coaching class.

Seriously Funny Blog Widget

When Kris Tucker, an instructor from my Masters program and founder of Creative Writing with Kris, approached me about teaching the class, I felt utterly unqualified and certain it would lead nowhere. But before long, someone signed up. And then Karla signed up.

“Oh my god, is it memoir time?!” I wondered.

Karla cheers
You bet your sweet chipmunks it is.

Suddenly, all of the stories that had peppered our conversations for so long began taking form. Karla was turning out page after page. It was happening.

“That’s the thing about dreams,” I said one evening to Karla during a weekly video chat. “They never go away.”

Dreams will haunt us or heal us, and we have the power to decide which one it’s going to be.

Whether or not your dreams feel “artistic,” rest assured they’re steeped in creativity, and our world would be a little less colorful without them. We need them brought to life just as much as you do.

When I started this blog nine years ago -another small, seemingly insignificant act- I had no idea it would change my entire life. And you don’t have to know either. Just start somewhere. Anywhere.

GoJulesGo first blog post
My very first blog post. Don’t be afraid to leverage pets and/or children.

And speaking of helping each other realize our dreams…

If you’d like to help artists struggling during the COVID-19 crisis, here are a few handpicked places where your generosity will be put to good use:

Artists Relief fundraiser logo

Artist Relief

Endorsed by The New York Times, Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.

Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

Through their GoFundMe page, you can help the Arts Leaders of Color reach their $100,000 goal in support of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists AND administrators (consultants, facilitators, box office staff, seasonal/temporary employees, etc.) who have been financially impacted due to COVID-19.

Not too shabby. By the way, all of the posters featuring Second Husband were already sold out! You go, Darren!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund

If you’ve ever experienced the awe of watching the curtains part on a Broadway (or any live) show, you’re probably having trouble imagining a world where all of New York City’s iconic theaters have gone dark. Help shed a little light by donating here. Your support will provide urgent additional resources for the vital social service programs of The Actors Fund, including emergency financial assistance, health insurance, counseling and the operation of The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts.

For more ideas on ways to help artists, check out this wonderful blog post.

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Blogging, humor

Have You Read “The Artist’s Way”? DISCUSS.

Go Jules Go

Go-Jules-Go-Artists-Way-Coffee-TalkHave you Chipmunks heard of this book, The Artist’s Way? In Hollywood circles they treat it like the holy grail of creativity.

Or so I’m told.

And I’m not saying they shouldn’t. I love this book.

I’ve read The Artist’s Way not once, not twice, but THRICE. In fact, when I made the recent move to tiny living, it’s one of the only books I kept.

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Go Jules Go midlife crisis reloaded! Everything Must Go!

Because…well, we’ll get to that. First let me explain what it is.

Basically, The Artist’s Way is a 12-week program whose goal is to unleash your creative kraken.

Go-Jules-Go-Artists-Way-post-kracken-octopus
Aww. My kracken’s so cute! Photo credit (before annotation).

Each week, you read one of twelve chapters and follow the assignments and prompts, all the while committing to regular daily and weekly exercises. So when I say I’ve “read” it thrice, I mean I’ve DONE it thrice. (…That’s what she said.)

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See that? Yeah, that was the result of one of the trademark assignments in The Artist’s Way, from one of my weekly “artist’s dates.” On these artist’s dates, you must go do something that delights you, and you cannot -I repeat, cannot- bring anyone with you.

That particular week, back in 2000, I thought taking photos of “typical New York City life” in black and white was absolutely essential. I was 18 years old, boldly hopping the train from suburban New Jersey and traveling one whole hour into Manhattan. I wore all black, feeling above on top of the whole world…until someone my age commented, “Where ya going? A funeral?”

I brushed it off (except for the part where I vividly remember that comment nearly two decades later), got the film developed, framed that shit, and thought, Here we go, I. Am. An. Artist.

DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase the linked product, at no additional cost to you. I only ever link to products that I truly love, like these.

During my most recent attempt with The Artist’s Way, in my late 20s, I found out the book had become a trilogy.

Artists-Way-Trilogy

Yeah. So. Thirty-six weeks of waking up at 5:30am every day to squeeze in 30 minutes of stream-of-consciousness journaling before driving an hour to my day job so I could still beat traffic.

Each and every time I read did The Artist’s Way, I found some of that magical “flow.” I experienced the synchronicity that Julia Cameron, the author, loves to talk about.

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I found this in my wallet last year. You had no idea I was so deep, did you?

But I kept sweeping away what seemed like, on some level, a pesky mouse trying to cross the threshold into my just-fine-thank-you-very-much home. (And sorry to anyone with brooms, and to mice everywhere; I honor and respect you and don’t know what I’m allowed to use as metaphors anymore. But since I’m a) a woman, b) a person who has swept things, and c) vegan, I’m going to go ahead and assume I get a pass on that last one.)

Obviously, the book wasn’t the problem.

I’m 36 now. So that’s eighteen years and three attempts with The Artist’s Way, collectively adding up to, what? A little over a year of prioritizing my creativity? And I wonder why things stagnate?

Don’t listen to your [relative/friend/colleague/inner critic/cat], Chipmunks.

Being an artist is hard work.

And it’s every bit as valuable as whatever else is taking up your time.

Even if you still can’t seem to get anyone to buy your black and white photographs…

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Have you read The Artist’s Way (or anything similar)? Did it help you?

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