As promised, I will be blogging lessons and activities from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" every week to help you (and ME!) unleash the artist trapped underneath work deadlines, household responsibilities and the new fall TV lineup. So often we allow outside stressors keep us from finishing that script or novel or blog post, even though, out of everything we do all day, it's the one thing we want to do the most. Cameron's workshop is not a cure-all, but rather a way to get in the habit of putting your creative life among the other immediate priorities on your list.
I'm not even going to discuss my lack of action on the Week 2 activities and just trust that YOU were not the same lazy procrastinator that I proved to be. Let's just jump into Week 3 and act like nothing is wrong...
This week it's all about taking back some power in your creative life. While reading the chapter to write this post I was overcome with a sense of "OH MY GOD! Cameron just described my problem to a T!" I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the majority of creatives doing this workshop will feel the same.
Cameron discusses:
>Anger as a source of fuel for creativity
>Synchronicity and the anxiety it may cause
>The function shame serves in blocking our creative selves
>Sorting useful criticism from harmful criticism
>Allowing for growth, even in spurts, in your creative life
All of these topics apply to me and my creative blockage 100%. Let me share a little story with you.
When I was a little girl, I wrote a story, "The Castle Beyond," that dealt with the supernatural and such. Remember, I was into the macabre from a very early age, borrowing as many Stephen King and Clive Barker books as I could get my hands on. Naturally, this was what I gravitated towards with my first story.
I typed it up, had my cousin illustrate it and proudly presented it to my mother. Her only comment was a harsh, "This is what you want to write about? Ghosts and monsters?" It broke my little writer's heart.
After reading this week's chapter, it occurred to me that I kept a lot of my writing to myself because I was made to feel ashamed of it and I feared criticism. And even though I didn't take Weeks 1 & 2 seriously, I definitely plan on working the hell out of Week 3 because this is the source of my blockage!
I'm actually looking forward to the tasks, which include finding the source of YOUR blockage (because I already found mine!), taking stock of our habits (good and bad) and acknowledging our inner compass. This is a good thing we're doing, fellow creatives. We're on our way to a greater version of ourselves!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Lessons From An Author
I recently had the amazing opportunity to hear Dominican author Julia Alvarez speak and read from "In the Time of the Butterflies" at the The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center in Washington Heights, and the experience left me feeling so inspired to conquer the world with my words. It also encouraged me to help others do the same with whatever talent they possess.
Last week as I scrambled to post the Week 2 write-up for The Artist's Way workshop, and questioned why I was bothering since no one was going to read it, Ms. Alvarez's motivational words stuck with me.
In particular were these quotes she shared with us of other people that inspire her:
Regarding her creative process and how she comes up with her stories...
"If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn." -Charlie Parker
For taking a grand idea and turning it into an organized work of art...
"Grant me the intelligence and the patience to find the true pattern." -Mayan Weaver's Prayer
What she believes guided her to her philanthropic work both in Vermont (where she resides) and the Dominican Republic...
"The function of freedom is to free someone else." -Toni Morrison
I say we grab on to one or more of these as our mantra while we struggle through this workshop and writer's block and insecurities with our own abilities. I suggest you do like I did and write it on a bright piece of paper and tape it up where you can see it everyday.
Happy writing!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Last week as I scrambled to post the Week 2 write-up for The Artist's Way workshop, and questioned why I was bothering since no one was going to read it, Ms. Alvarez's motivational words stuck with me.
In particular were these quotes she shared with us of other people that inspire her:
Regarding her creative process and how she comes up with her stories...
"If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn." -Charlie Parker
For taking a grand idea and turning it into an organized work of art...
"Grant me the intelligence and the patience to find the true pattern." -Mayan Weaver's Prayer
What she believes guided her to her philanthropic work both in Vermont (where she resides) and the Dominican Republic...
"The function of freedom is to free someone else." -Toni Morrison
I say we grab on to one or more of these as our mantra while we struggle through this workshop and writer's block and insecurities with our own abilities. I suggest you do like I did and write it on a bright piece of paper and tape it up where you can see it everyday.
Happy writing!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Artist's Way: Week 2
As promised, I will be blogging lessons and activities from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" every week to help you (and ME!) unleash the artist trapped underneath work deadlines, household responsibilities and the new fall TV lineup. So often we allow outside stressors keep us from finishing that script or novel or blog post, even though, out of everything we do all day, it's the one thing we want to do the most. Cameron's workshop is not a cure-all, but rather a way to get in the habit of putting your creative life among the other immediate priorities on your list.
So how did your first week go? I'm hoping it was TONS better than mine because frankly I did not give the workshop 110% like I promised myself and it's disappointing. I missed my morning pages most days and only completed about 70& of the tasks. BLERG!!!
I could list all thereasons excuses I have for screwing up but the fact is I didn't put myself as a top priority and the result is a half-assed first week in the workshop.
That said, let's put on a happy face and give Week 2 a quick once-over, okay?
This next section is geared towards getting you to claim a strong personal identity. You will be advised to avoid what Cameron calls "poisonous playmates," the people in your life who are still creatively blocked and may not want you to get unstuck. "Do not expect your blocked friends to applaud your recovery," she warns. "That's like expecting your friends at the bar to celebrate your sobriety." OUCH!
Cameron also suggests steering clear of the "crazymakers." These folks demand so much attention that the distraction potential is too delicious for us to resist. You MUST resist them, because they are stealing the time we should be working on our recovery. According to Cameron, crazymakers:
> break deals and destroy schedules.
> expect special treatment.
> discount your reality.
> spend your time and money.
> triangulate those they deal with.
> are expert blamers.
> create dramas but seldom where they belong.
> hate schedules, except their own.
> hate order.
> deny that they are crazymakers.
And apparently we keep these crazymakers around because we, too, are crazy and rather self-destructive. Double-ouch!
Finally, Week 2 invites you to get rid of any doubt you have about yourself and your recovery AND to pay attention to the here and now. Accept that the work you are doing IS making a difference. Let go of your addiction to your fantasy life (this one hit closest to home) and embrace reality.
The section ends with another 10 tasks to complete for the week.
Seems like a lot to take in, I know, and maybe you, like me, are not ready to face so many realities at once in one week, but I have to believe this is necessary for my success as a writer, mother, human being.
Today I read that rapper and former inmate T.I. has a book out and it was the last straw. I cannot sit back and not do anything with this talent while felons get book deals. My time is now. Yours, too!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
So how did your first week go? I'm hoping it was TONS better than mine because frankly I did not give the workshop 110% like I promised myself and it's disappointing. I missed my morning pages most days and only completed about 70& of the tasks. BLERG!!!
I could list all the
That said, let's put on a happy face and give Week 2 a quick once-over, okay?
This next section is geared towards getting you to claim a strong personal identity. You will be advised to avoid what Cameron calls "poisonous playmates," the people in your life who are still creatively blocked and may not want you to get unstuck. "Do not expect your blocked friends to applaud your recovery," she warns. "That's like expecting your friends at the bar to celebrate your sobriety." OUCH!
Cameron also suggests steering clear of the "crazymakers." These folks demand so much attention that the distraction potential is too delicious for us to resist. You MUST resist them, because they are stealing the time we should be working on our recovery. According to Cameron, crazymakers:
> break deals and destroy schedules.
> expect special treatment.
> discount your reality.
> spend your time and money.
> triangulate those they deal with.
> are expert blamers.
> create dramas but seldom where they belong.
> hate schedules, except their own.
> hate order.
> deny that they are crazymakers.
And apparently we keep these crazymakers around because we, too, are crazy and rather self-destructive. Double-ouch!
Finally, Week 2 invites you to get rid of any doubt you have about yourself and your recovery AND to pay attention to the here and now. Accept that the work you are doing IS making a difference. Let go of your addiction to your fantasy life (this one hit closest to home) and embrace reality.
The section ends with another 10 tasks to complete for the week.
Seems like a lot to take in, I know, and maybe you, like me, are not ready to face so many realities at once in one week, but I have to believe this is necessary for my success as a writer, mother, human being.
Today I read that rapper and former inmate T.I. has a book out and it was the last straw. I cannot sit back and not do anything with this talent while felons get book deals. My time is now. Yours, too!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Stuck In Chaos
I promise, promise, promise to have the Week 2 write up and activities for The Artist's Way up sometime tomorrow.
The last few weeks have been hellish and life got in the way of me reading and blogging.
It won't happen again!
(actually it might, but I'll try my darnedest not to let it)
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
The last few weeks have been hellish and life got in the way of me reading and blogging.
It won't happen again!
(actually it might, but I'll try my darnedest not to let it)
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Artist's Way: Week 1
As promised, I will be blogging lessons and activities from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" every week to help you (and ME!) unleash the artist trapped underneath work deadlines, household responsibilities and the new fall TV lineup. So often we allow outside stressors keep us from finishing that script or novel or blog post, even though, out of everything we do all day, it's the one thing we want to do the most. Cameron's workshop is not a cure-all, but rather a way to get in the habit of putting your creative life among the other immediate priorities on your list.
I'm hoping you've all picked up a copy of the book, read the introductory chapters and signed your Artist Contract, because now it's time for the real work to begin. You need to start your morning pages and plan your artist dates; jump into the deep end of the pool, feet first. Got it? Good.
Now, I've already skimmed through the Week 1 section in order to give you an overview of what you can expect:
1- Cameron begins by guiding you through a way to create a safe space for your creative self to thrive during the next few weeks of the workshop. You're asked to dig deep and find the point in time when your inner artist was squashed, come face to face and then throttle it. Not really, but that's the gist of it.
2- "Remember that in order to recover as an artist, you must be willing to be a bad artist. Give yourself permission to be a beginner." You are not to judge your early works and especially not your morning pages. This is a no judgement zone!
3- Dispel all the negative beliefs you have about yourself or your art and replace them with positive affirmations. We don't have to be Hemingway to tell a good tale (although that drunk-ass mofo sure could write a good story!), we can be sober and sane and happy.
4- Don't freak out but in Week 1 Cameron assigns 10 different tasks aimed at protecting the creative self and creating a safe space for all the work ahead, but I promise you they're not excessive. Some of it may make you cry because you'll have to touch a few nerves within, but it will be very cathartic, I promise.
5- Our workshop week is from Wednesday (today) to Wednesday, so Cameron suggests checking in the day before "deadline." On Tuesday, take a minute to evaluate how you managed with the course- did you do your morning pages? Did you complete all the tasks? How was your artist date?
I must admit here that all the soul searching in this first section, especially because it is my PMS Week, is going to be very emotionally charged for me. But I understand it's a necessary evil. All of those bottled-up feelings are keeping me down. I can't move forward until I lay down those burdens and address my fears. Besides, I know y'all are right there beside me in the struggle. Right?
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
I'm hoping you've all picked up a copy of the book, read the introductory chapters and signed your Artist Contract, because now it's time for the real work to begin. You need to start your morning pages and plan your artist dates; jump into the deep end of the pool, feet first. Got it? Good.
Now, I've already skimmed through the Week 1 section in order to give you an overview of what you can expect:
1- Cameron begins by guiding you through a way to create a safe space for your creative self to thrive during the next few weeks of the workshop. You're asked to dig deep and find the point in time when your inner artist was squashed, come face to face and then throttle it. Not really, but that's the gist of it.
2- "Remember that in order to recover as an artist, you must be willing to be a bad artist. Give yourself permission to be a beginner." You are not to judge your early works and especially not your morning pages. This is a no judgement zone!
3- Dispel all the negative beliefs you have about yourself or your art and replace them with positive affirmations. We don't have to be Hemingway to tell a good tale (although that drunk-ass mofo sure could write a good story!), we can be sober and sane and happy.
4- Don't freak out but in Week 1 Cameron assigns 10 different tasks aimed at protecting the creative self and creating a safe space for all the work ahead, but I promise you they're not excessive. Some of it may make you cry because you'll have to touch a few nerves within, but it will be very cathartic, I promise.
5- Our workshop week is from Wednesday (today) to Wednesday, so Cameron suggests checking in the day before "deadline." On Tuesday, take a minute to evaluate how you managed with the course- did you do your morning pages? Did you complete all the tasks? How was your artist date?
I must admit here that all the soul searching in this first section, especially because it is my PMS Week, is going to be very emotionally charged for me. But I understand it's a necessary evil. All of those bottled-up feelings are keeping me down. I can't move forward until I lay down those burdens and address my fears. Besides, I know y'all are right there beside me in the struggle. Right?
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
October Reads
One of the perks of working at a library, especially for a writer and avid reader, is the easy access to books. Once a month I take a stroll through the stacks and see what books call out to me. Sometimes I look at the new books, other times I just pick a letter of the alphabet at random and look for books by authors whose names start with that letter. It's fun to just read the titles and look at the covers and see if the characters beckon to you from within the pages like sirens.Today these fun finds lured me in:
"When Tito Loved Clara" by Jon Michaud. The characters are Dominican and you know I can't resist a story about my people!
"What You See in the Dark" by Manuel Munoz. It's described as "part noir thriller, part love story, part exploration of the dark side of the American dream..." Who wouldn't want to read that?
"The Best American Short Stories, 2010" edited by Richard Russo. This is mostly research. If I expect my work to be here one day, I need to know what "they" consider the best.
What's on your reading shelf? I'd love some recommendations!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Artist's Way: Getting Started
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your creative life!
As promised, I will be blogging lessons and activities from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" every week to help you (and ME!) unleash the artist trapped underneath work deadlines, household responsibilities and the new fall TV lineup. So often we allow outside stressors keep us from finishing that script or novel or blog post, even though, out of everything we do all day, it's the one thing we want to do the most. Cameron's workshop is not a cure-all, but rather a way to get in the habit of putting your creative life among the other immediate priorities on your list.
So let's get started!
First thing's first- here's what you'll need (besides the book, which I asked you to get last week. You DID do your homework, right? This doesn't help if you don't actually do the homework...) before the actual activities begin.
1- You'll need to read the introduction, as well as pages 1-24 of the book. These sections will outline the Basic Principles as taught by Cameron, which includes acknowledging that our creativity is a gift from our god or creator, and that using that creativity is our gift back. [Please note that you will have to read all of the material yourself as I will only summarize the lessons each week in addition to adding my thoughts on the work I did so far. I am not Cameron and do not pretend to know how to run this workshop. I'm just here as a guide as I participate in the workshop, too.]
2- Set aside time in the early morning to write. Cameron asks us to write morning pages daily, but points out that "there is no wrong way to do morning pages. These daily morning meanderings are not meant to be art. Or even writing." Also, and this is the really hard part, you're asked to turn off your Censor. You know who that is, right? That little voice inside your head that criticizes everything you do. Tell that voice to shut the hell up and just write your pages freely.
3- Plan some artist dates for yourself. As you read on, you'll see Cameron mention taking your inner child/creativity on an excursion in order to nurture it. This artist date is NOT to be shared with anyone but your inner child/creativity.
4- You must "fill the well" to draw from it. If you're a painter, immerse yourself in other paintings or works of art. If you're a writer, READ MORE BOOKS. It's as simple as that.
5- Make a contract with yourself. Cameron includes a creativity contract in the book, wherein we prove our commitment to the workshop and to gifting ourselves a more creative life. Isn't that the point, after all?
I hope you're as excited to begin this 12-week journey as I am. There's so much I can accomplish in my writing career and I cannot wait to get it done with the help of this course. And it feels good to know we'll get there together!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
As promised, I will be blogging lessons and activities from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" every week to help you (and ME!) unleash the artist trapped underneath work deadlines, household responsibilities and the new fall TV lineup. So often we allow outside stressors keep us from finishing that script or novel or blog post, even though, out of everything we do all day, it's the one thing we want to do the most. Cameron's workshop is not a cure-all, but rather a way to get in the habit of putting your creative life among the other immediate priorities on your list.
So let's get started!
First thing's first- here's what you'll need (besides the book, which I asked you to get last week. You DID do your homework, right? This doesn't help if you don't actually do the homework...) before the actual activities begin.
1- You'll need to read the introduction, as well as pages 1-24 of the book. These sections will outline the Basic Principles as taught by Cameron, which includes acknowledging that our creativity is a gift from our god or creator, and that using that creativity is our gift back. [Please note that you will have to read all of the material yourself as I will only summarize the lessons each week in addition to adding my thoughts on the work I did so far. I am not Cameron and do not pretend to know how to run this workshop. I'm just here as a guide as I participate in the workshop, too.]
2- Set aside time in the early morning to write. Cameron asks us to write morning pages daily, but points out that "there is no wrong way to do morning pages. These daily morning meanderings are not meant to be art. Or even writing." Also, and this is the really hard part, you're asked to turn off your Censor. You know who that is, right? That little voice inside your head that criticizes everything you do. Tell that voice to shut the hell up and just write your pages freely.
3- Plan some artist dates for yourself. As you read on, you'll see Cameron mention taking your inner child/creativity on an excursion in order to nurture it. This artist date is NOT to be shared with anyone but your inner child/creativity.
4- You must "fill the well" to draw from it. If you're a painter, immerse yourself in other paintings or works of art. If you're a writer, READ MORE BOOKS. It's as simple as that.
5- Make a contract with yourself. Cameron includes a creativity contract in the book, wherein we prove our commitment to the workshop and to gifting ourselves a more creative life. Isn't that the point, after all?
I hope you're as excited to begin this 12-week journey as I am. There's so much I can accomplish in my writing career and I cannot wait to get it done with the help of this course. And it feels good to know we'll get there together!
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse
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