Monday Post ~ July 2, 2012
“Don’t think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It’s self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can’t try to do things. You simply must do things.” — Ray Bradbury
This is the moment to deepen, or commit to, your regular creativity practice. Regularity — a daily practice, if at all possible — is one of the best ways to stay in touch with how you make meaning.
What are your plans for creative practice this week? Given the specifics of your schedule, decide on a realistic intention or practice plan — and ink that time in your calendar. The scheduling part is important, because as you know, if you try to “fit it in” around the edges, it generally won’t happen. An intention as simple as “I will write for 20 minutes every morning after breakfast” or “I will sketch a new still life on Wednesday evening” is what it’s all about.
Share your intentions or goals as a comment to this post, and let us know how things went with your creative plans for last week, if you posted to last week’s Monday Post. We use a broad brush in defining creativity, so don’t be shy. We also often include well-being practices that support creativity, such as exercise and journaling.
Putting your intentions on “paper” helps you get clear on what you want to do — and sharing those intentions with this community is a great way to leverage the motivation of an accountability group. Join us!
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Studio Mothers: Life & Art 
happy july! i have 3 weeks without boys, ‘scheduled’ 3 days per week for toots to go with grandma while i go to the library and writing group. I dug back into manuscript a bit last week, but head wasn’t in it, at least it got it fresher in my mind and i can feel the volcano bottom of creativity beginning to bubble in writing again. i got a few photo blogs in last week, too.
this week: tomorrow writing group, and two more days, likely wed and thurs, to the library i go for about 4 hours per.
Finally got back into the earlier wake-up routine, so that I can have a complete (and relaxed) morning centering routine, rather than trying to fit it into the later morning in bits and pieces.
Last week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/journaling [yes]
* Writing practice: Complete installment of nonfiction project for “5PM Friday” accountability group [yes]
* Complete cover and interior design for e-book [yes]
* Writing practice: One blog post [yes]
* Yoga/walk/run x3 [yes]
* Reading [yes]
This week’s creative/well-being intentions:
* Daily morning centering practice w/journaling
* Writing practice: Complete installment of nonfiction project for “5PM Friday” accountability group [W/F]
* Complete remaining tasks for e-book launch [M/T/W/Th]
* Prepare for new session of Writers’ Group & read students’ work [T/W]
* Yoga/walk/run x3
* Reading
My greatest creative moments occur, believe it or not, in front of a sink, meaning my vanity and kitchen. Hence, the iPad and notebook are always nearby. I also have a one-hour commute to and from my day job two-three times a week, of which I spend usually in solitude—no radio or music. Just silence.
These are the spaces and times in which are planned, intentioned thoughts. But, just in case I get an idea in the shower, I have an item called “Aqua Notes”, a waterproof notepad!
My creative times are squeezed in ANYTIME no one else is around, which is rare and why I make good use of sink and commute time.
You have inspired me to look ahead at my week and get it scheduled!
Thank you for that.
Peace,
Alexandria
I love this, Alexandria! I’m going to check out this Aqua Notes thingy right now!
Have an awesomely creative week 😀
I posted in my blog everyday like I said I’d do last week. This week I’ll also write something else for half an hour everyday and take half an hour to color with pencils in an intricate coloring book.
This is mostly to get in the habit of taking time to be creative because I want to draw again. This seems to be a necessary step because just simply starting to draw is too scary for me.
Terrific strategy, riverpearl! Good for you.
How’s it going, riverpearl? Give us an update when you can….
I’ve posted in my blog every day for 91 days, which wasn’t too hard. I believe if I miss one day it will be easier to miss more.
The writing and coloring hasn’t happened and I’ve let it go for now so I won’t feel bad about it.
My blog is a lot about responding to what I encounter in a simulated world and I usually have a photo from that world that I can write a little about if I’m scattered. This is manageable for me, not consistently working out something from my imagination alone. I’m just not there yet.
So when I feel frustrated and dissatisfied with the level of creativity in that simulated world, I find it to be a good sign. In the past, I’ve found that can naturally lead to moving into a new project and learning new skills.
It’s a tricky thing for me, the balance between naturally moving forward and giving myself the structure and practice that’s involved with writing and drawing. Keeping up with my blog is simply what I can manage now.
I nominated you for an award check it out at http://tryingtobike.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/nominated/
Reblogged this on Radical Self-Acceptance and commented:
This is an excellent post and reminder to do less thinking. I am accused of “thinking too much” by many people. I am going to get this quote framed and hang it in my new office. Enjoy this and the rest of Studio Mothers. I find it to be an inspirational and fun blog to follow!