Aspire to write
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve felt incredibly creatively flat this year. I’ve had a desire to write and draw, but nothing is exciting enough to follow through with. I’ve wanted to write a book for a couple of years now and I knew I always needed something to hold me accountable to finally get it done, so, I bought myself The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
I’ve only had it for a couple of days and I already feel a spark igniting and a looseness around making whatever I dream of. Cameron speaks on two important prerequisites for the course, and they are the morning pages, and a weekly artist date. I’ve never really taken myself on a date, but I know that once I get myself out of the house and into the world, buy myself a hot chocolate (coffee gives me the jitters, I’d never get anything done), and sit somewhere exciting or inspiring or a quiet cafe, I’ll be able to concentrate on the important words of my future book.
The morning pages are interesting, though… You have to fill three full pages of nonsensical writing, get everything out of your brain, no matter what it is, every morning for the entirety of the course, maybe forever if you feel like it. Julia Cameron has been doing it for four decades (!!!). The first day was easy, and the first time usually does because you’re full of excitement and motivation, but the second day was slightly harder to sit and concentrate on. It’s about discipline, it’s about the practice of sitting with yourself and your thoughts and allowing the words to fall out of you. But I’m really glad I did, because it’s turned into a contract with my inner artist child and the Monster Writer (that’s the name I’ve given my alter-ego) I want to become. If you feel up to it, I’d love for you to follow along with me as we unlock our creative potential. I’ll provide updates in these blog posts, and I can give you a snippet of the course and how I’m progressing with my writing. I like the idea of that.
Summiar Eyers
All the lonely places is an in-progress poetry book written by Summiar Eyers, that she then shared with me in the early stages of issue five. I hadn’t yet decided that issue five would be split into four sections, but after receiving a document of her beautifully written poems, I knew it would sit in the progress section.
She explains in the introduction that she thought writing would come to her as easily as her cup of coffee in the morning, but was met with doubt and anger. The pressures of becoming a published writer and see quick results choked her creativity of its joy, and thus, All the lonely places came to her. She released herself from her own expectations and the words started flowing.
Her newfound poems were derived from life experiences, and decided that all art is personal, so publication is a possible end goal. She ends her introduction by saying that ‘we are not alone in our search and [her lyrical journey] provides clarity to the societal pressure of having everything figured out by a certain age.’
You can find her poem on page 38 of issue five. Purchase a copy of Dwelling Magazine, if you haven’t done so already!
Poppies in a Jar by Danielle J. France
Issue four
Check out Summiar in issue four for free! Summiar and I have been friends since high school, and she was a willing subject for a photography project I submitted to issue four of Dwelling Magazine. Follow the link above to see her on page 28-29.
Upcoming events
Don’t miss out on a free Art Poetry Writing Workshop at the Murray Art Museum Albury next Thursday, 6th March, from 11am. The workshop will commence with a brief introduction to the selected exhibition, explaining the major themes of the works, before a facilitated 30-minute writing session, leaving time to discuss your experience at the end.
Creator’s Catch Up is this Saturday, 1st March! Join us at the Albury Wodonga Farmer’s Market from 9-11am.
By the way, you get a 30% discount on everything in the Dwelling store - use FLOWER30 to get yourself a copy of issue five plus some extra goodies such as stickers and posters.
Thanks for being here 💛
Danielle J. France
artist, writer, editor
