The Artist’s Way – Week One
2011
Let’s Get This Party Started
Let me just be honest for a moment. I find it very hard to commit to things, so this is a HUGE thing for me to take this on. My hope is that by being “responsible”, if you will, for keeping this going all the way through the 12 weeks that I will commit to the process myself. Knowing that others are joining me will be a big part of that.
Since you’re not all going to get your book, The Artist’s Way
Here we go.
Basic Tools
There are two basic tools that we will be maintaining throughout the 12 weeks.
- Morning Pages – The instructions are to set your alarm one half-hour early and first thing upon waking write three pages long-hand in a journal as a free write. There is no particular goal generally (though as we progress there will be “assignments”) nor should you write them as a “writer”. If these pages are full of complaints or boring things, so be it. It is meant to purge you of whatever is on your mind and get it out of the way. These pages are not to be shared, nor should you read back through them.
- The Artist Date – This is hard to make clear without copying the 2-3 pages on the subject in their entirety, but I’ll try. The Artist Date is a date you make with yourself to set aside 1-2 hours each week to do something with your inner child artist. It should be something that feels fun, but there’s no need to force it to seem “artistic”. It could be going to listen to music, taking a walk, watching a sunrise or sunset, or even going bowling. But it is for you alone, and must not be broken. Don’t stand yourself up!
Week One Tasks/Exercises
There’s a lot in each chapter, but I’m going to start with only a few of the tasks/exercises since you already have morning pages and an artist date to set.
- Identifying core negative beliefs and transforming them. To identify your core negative beliefs, start with positive affirmations. Choose an affirmation such as “I (your name), am a brilliant and prolific writer [painter, potter, poet, or whatever you are]“, and write that 10 times in a row. As you do this, listen for the negative “blurts” of your unconscious. Whatever comes up, write it down. Did you hear something like, “you’re just kidding yourself!”, or “you’re not good enough”? Write them all down. Look at the list and find out where your blurts come from. Who in your past said these things to you? Once you’ve done this, use your Morning Pages to turn the negative blurts to positive affirmations. For example, “You’re just kidding yourself” can be turned to “I believe in my talents and my right to share them.”
- Time Travel: “List three old enemies of your creative self-worth”. This may be parents, peers, partners, lovers, siblings, other family members, or teachers. Thing back to people who made you feel ashamed or worthless or otherwise negative about your creativity. The author calls these people “your historic monsters”. Keep a running list throughout this 12 week process, but for now, identify at least three.
- Time Travel: “Select and write out one horror story from your monster hall of fame”. However long or short it needs to be, write down what happened and details about where you were, who it was, how you felt, etc. “Include whatever rankles you about the incident: ‘and then I remember she gave me this real fakey smile and patted my head…’” You can include a sketch of your old “monster” and then “draw a nice red X through it”.
Check-In
Each Sunday I’ll post a “check-in” from the book (you’ll see when you get it) and that’s what we’ll share with each other. You’re welcome to share whatever other thoughts and experiences are coming out of the process, but I don’t want to put anyone on the spot as they move through what may very well be a tender and emotional process. The check-ins seem safe and a good way to keep up with each other. I’ll use the same linky tool as I do for the 100 words so that we can easily see who’s participating too.
13 comments
Trackback e pingback
No trackback or pingback available for this article
How did I miss that you’re doing this???? I have the book and have attempted to commit to doing it for years now. I wanna be in on the action, too…
Ms. Marsha recently posted..How We Roll
I mentioned it in the prompt post for this week. I guess this just proves that people don’t actually read those posts, lol.
Anyway, JUST starting so you haven’t missed a thing.
awesome!!!!
thank you for doing this – you have been a big inspiration for me. You and lessa have helped my writing juices begin again to flow and I appreciate it.
Barbara recently posted..Annie Smiles
You all are an inspiration to me too of course.
This could be just the jumpstart I need. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Tara R. recently posted..Never assume
Oh honey, you’ve got a jumpstart, but from the looks of the book I think everyone, whatever place they’re in, could benefit from the 12 weeks.
got my schtuff!!!! Whoot! I know, so excitable – but there you have it. Have been typing the morning pages while waiting for my books . . . and will begin longhand tomorrow morning. btw – it was a really good deal from amazon – all three books plus postage and only cost $41 and change.
Barbara recently posted..Not a robin
Yay! I missed a day of morning pages (I am so NOT a morning person) but I’ve been trucking along. Can’t wait for the check-in and to hear what’s coming up for people.
Velvet Verbosity recently posted..The Artist’s Way – Week One
I don’t have the book, but my blogger friend, Judy aka @jclementwall told me about this a day before you posted this. Marsha/Tinfoil Magnolia knows judy. You should follow her on the twitter and read her blog, http://www.zebrasounds.net it’s amazingly positive and very inspirational.
I have done the pages and the date. I’ll also done the core beliefs and the enemies. I haven’t written the horror story but I can just spin off from the book I’m writing…anxiety, bad exes, etc.
thanks velvet. I think it’s time we had velvet fan club meetings.
Lance recently posted..Shut Your Eyes
Have the book… I think I’m gonna get in on this!
Lazidaisical recently posted..Writing Outside
A friend recommended this book and I bought it about a year ago, started in on it, and then had to abandon it for a while. If I wasn’t knee-deep in a Successful Self-Publishing workshop, I’d join you. I guess I’ll just have to watch for now. Good idea.
I have this book, and have tried to follow it many times. I’ve been thinking lately that I need something to commit to about my art, to get myself going again.
I know I’m too late to get started with you, but you have inspired me to start again!
(I saw you on NaBloPoMo)
You have a beautiful blog!
wendy
Wendy, I too have started and stopped with this book on more than one occasion, but each starting teaches me something new. Good luck with it! (It can bring up a lot)
Wow, you found me on NaBloPoMo, awesome. Another thing I’ve started and stopped more than once, lol. I write constantly but can’t seem to commit to a novel — or rather life has a way of kicking me in the teeth whenever I get the notion.
Thanks for the compliment on the blog. I’m never quite satisfied with design and probably drive my readers crazy with changing it, so it’s nice to hear that someone likes it even if I am its worst critic.