Thank you to all of the talented picture book imaginators for sharing their whimsical creations with us!
Congratulatory hi-fives to the following book for earning, in my humble writer/reader’s opinion, the honor of being a Five Star Book!
Thank you to all of the talented picture book imaginators for sharing their whimsical creations with us!
Congratulatory hi-fives to the following book for earning, in my humble writer/reader’s opinion, the honor of being a Five Star Book!
Thank you to all of the talented picture book imaginators for sharing their whimsical creations with us!
Congratulatory hi-fives to the following book for earning, in my humble writer/reader’s opinion, the honor of being a Five Star Book!
What motivates you? We all have our muses, our creative Jiminy Cricket so to speak. It just so happens mine is a DJ. Music manifests whatever mood I’m in the… mood for. I’d like to offer one of the many tunes that have helped me, as the Japanese say, GANBATTE! (fight/press on).
The Caesars – Spirit from the Paper Tigers album provides that little push you need when the fear of failure trips you up. This song depressingly tells the truth f how life is hard and that you aren’t going to get much help. What I love most is how it doesn’t explain why you should press on. Instead it simply asks you not to quit. That’s enough for me, and hopefully you too.
The Caesars – Paper Tigers – Spirit
I, I need some young blood
Come Friday night
Bring on the big flood
Like September’s coming on
Summer won’t be back for long
Hey, let’s start a big fire
Let’s shake it up
Let’s try to open brighter
There’s no one here to catch our fall
No one here to hear us call
Tonight, this dirty September night
We’re stuck out here
You’re caught in the starlight
Running through these empty streets
You see this filthy you and me
Running through these empty streets
You see this filthy you and me
I, I know that the road’s long
It lingers on
And Lord knows it’s uphill
Seems like you’re not getting anywhere
You give up just before you’re there
Seems like you’re not getting anywhere
You give up just before you’re there
Hey, don’t lose your spirit
Seen all along
But its there if you need
Seems like you’re not getting anywhere
But don’t give up you’re almost there
Seems like you’re not getting anywhere
But don’t give up you’re almost there
If you’re ready to relax, and I hope you are, please take these words into your heart while you listen to the Doctor prescribed melody below.
“Movies teach us that AMAZING just happens and when returning to reality we drown in “it takes hard work, sacrifice, trial and tribulation.” But we’re wrong. AMAZING is not something we find. It’s not something we discover, earn, or even buy. It’s something within us. We each desire to smile at the end of our own movies as the orchestra segues the credits. End your movie today, I’m sure they’ll be enough in the ‘budget’ for a sequel tomorrow. Feel good now and forever, because AMAZING just became a habit.”– Crave Cravak
1.) How many days this week did you do your morning pages?
Morning Pages: 6/7
I had my eyes set on a clean sweep for the final week, but somehow along the line I ended up skipping on Friday. I must say, I’m no closer. If I was a pitcher in baseball, I would be pulled from the mound probably in the 6th inning. I need to work on my finishing techniques.
Night Pages 3/7
A rather weak effort considering this was the final weak. I found that it was easier to wake up determined, but given my emotional state after the death of my uncle, I typically fell apart into the evening hours.
2.) Did you do your artist date this week?
Sadly, I did not complete the artist date. With the funeral/wake, and a trip to Toronto for my second cousin’s 1st birthday party, there were certainly ample time for reflection. However, the artist date is rightfully strict in that it be time spent alone with your inner artist. I had planned to go on one for Sunday, but I’m learning, it’s best not to save stuff until the last possible moment. Get it done early!
3.) Did you experience any synchronicity this week?
My mind and soul were with my family this week. I basically shut down to all creative influences. I’m sure there were several knocking on my door, I just wasn’t open for business. I’ve realized, that especially during a dark time, I should turn to my imagination even more. Creativity can help guide us through difficult moments, and even lead to greater productivity.
4.) Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery?
I was able to pull off 2 of the tasks, but I had already let the idea of completing all of them sink into my mind. Hello disappointment!
I didn’t bring the 12-week program to close like I had wanted too. I also didn’t allow myself to celebrate. I had convinced myself that I should have FINALLY sent one of my 60+ manuscripts on to an agent or publisher. Having not done that, I allowed my evil inner critic to look at the whole Artist’s Way as a failure. I can not do that. If anything, I should be proud. I stuck with something for 12 straight weeks, regardless if I was 2 weeks late in posting the results here! Accomplishment leads to success! Disappointment in small doses may be effective, but in this particular case it was just an excuse to not continue my craft.
So…..
1.) How many days this week did you do your morning pages?
Morning Pages: 6/7
Despite all of the distractions, it felt good to pull through and complete at least 6 out of the 7. I should be feeling disappointed that I skipped Sunday’s morning pages. but at this point, I need more encouragement than negativity.
Night Pages 5/7
I started the week slowly by skipping Monday and Tuesday, though finished strongly. Looking back, I
2.) Did you do your artist date this week?
I’m so proud to answer… YES! I rocked the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College. I was only there for 90 minutes, so I felt rushed. But I loved the current exhibit, “Artists Among Us II.” It’s filled with a range of members’ work. While I was unable to discover the artistic merit in some of the pieces, I enjoyed the showing as a whole. Specifically, 2 pieces deeply inspired 2 separate picture book ideas. One dealt with a dirty unicorn, and the other revolved around a girl who swims everywhere. Since I went later in the day, I was all alone in the gallery. Well, I shouldn’t say I was alone. I was surrounded by creativity. I LOVED IT! I need to start booking solo sessions at art museums.
3.) Did you experience any synchronicity this week?
Most of the week was spent visiting my Uncle at Hospice. While I planned to turn my emotions into creative substance, I found that myself blocked. Instead, it was a chance to let inspiration. I was too focused on Tom to isolate myself into a productive state.
At HOSPICE, on the final day that my beloved Uncle Tom was semi-coherent, he made a request. “Jokes!” It took us a few minutes to realize what he was saying, but basically I got the message. He knew his time was up, and all he wanted to do was laugh. Even if his facial muscles were too weak to express it, we made sure to make him laugh inside. It made me understand that people expect me to be imaginative, goofy, and funny. By not supplying laughs, I’m letting people down. I can’t parade around like I do, and not tell a few jokes, even when death is knocking. I respect my Uncle so much, and him calling on me for entertainment is empowering.
4.) Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery?
1.) How many days this week did you do your morning pages?
Morning Pages: 6/7 Compared to last week I was able to rebound. There were several mornings I just didn’t feel like it, but I pressed forward. I won’t be upset if my drive is lessoning, but I will rather be proud of myself if I press forward.
Night Pages: 5/7 For a few of the nights I was exhausted and almost skipped the night pages together, but I fought through the night to complete them. I need to start these much earlier. Perhaps around 10pm, this way I can create a more styled review of the day. I don’t want to look back at just a sloppy mess of paragraphs.
2.) Did you do your artist date this week?
Yes Sir/Ma’am! My dearest uncle has been fighting the end stages of cancer, and also my beloved lady of more than two years decided it was best to part ways for the moment. Consequently, it’s been an emotional time for my family and I. In order to escape and gather my thoughts, I found a window of time and drove across the border to Niagara Falls, Canada. I may claim to be “Crave the Coasterer,” but it doesn’t mean I’ve conquered every roller coaster. There is a small marine theme park just a 30 minute drive from my home town, that I’ve surprisingly never been to. I decided to finally head over there. Sadly, there wasn’t much creativity to take in. The heat and long walks took their toll. But I was able to confront my thoughts and emotional pain from the past week.
3.) Did you experience any synchronicity this week?
Just like last week, if there was any synchronicity, I was blind to it. I must open my eyes to possibilities and start to believe in myself again. I’ve lost my way, my artist’s way.
4.) Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery?
Sadly, none of the tasks were completed. I didn’t even read the chapter to Thursday. I need to make it a priority to read it immediately on Monday. My family needs me right now, and it’s more important to spend time with them. However, if they are able to still head to work in the morning, I can still enter my creative workspace.
1.) How many days this week did you do your morning pages?
Morning Pages: 3/7 I allowed the stress surrounding the GRE and a family trip to Atlanta to overcome my devotion to the morning pages. I’d like to think it’s just the circumstance, but I’m afraid my mind/body/soul was ready to surrender and just used these events as an excuse.
Night Pages: 3/7 They were sloppy this week and void of drawings or creative spins.
2.) Did you do your artist date this week?
I’d like to be able to count taking the GRE as well as my trip to Atlanta as an artist date, but it simply wasn’t. Sadly, I have no artist’s date to report. I can see why Julia Cameron urges us to do the Artist’s Date alone. When you’re with others, you naturally suppress the creative intake process. You’re too busy reacting to them that you forget to pay attention to the minute details around you.
3.) Did you experience any synchronicity this week?
Sadly no. If there was synchronicity, I closed my eyes to it. I’m very disappointed with myself this week.
4.) Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery?
There was only significance to my de-covery. I was able to complete one of the tasks, but I’m just so upset with myself for taking the obvious excuses to skip feeding my creative self. I’m hungry and need to produce! This was by far my worst outing to date.
Crave Writing 