Requesting a little feedback.
I have five previous posts under my belt here. Behind the scenes, I’m exploring and learning Substack, the website platform designed especially for writers. I’ve done a little housekeeping on Creativity Nation to fix some things and take advantage of Substack features.
I’ve turned comments on just to try it out on this specific post. (Note that only subscribers can comment.) I would greatly appreciate it if you would answer a few questions by using the comment function at the bottom of my email or the web version (looks like an empty speech bubble). Feel free to submit separate comments.
What are you creating? Which medium / style or tool are you focusing on? For example: Writing/memoir; art journaling/hand-lettering; music/guitar; painting/watercolors.
What’s working for you in your process?
Where do you need help?
Anything else you’d like to bring up about Creativity Nation?
My updated About page.
I’ve revamped the content on this page. My goal was to more clearly explain what I plan to write about, who I am, and my plan for CN.
Please submit a comment here with your thoughts on whether I succeeded.
Three creativity tips.
By the way, in all my posts I use the word “art” as a stand-in term for any creative endeavor. If I’m referring more specifically to activities like painting, knitting, woodworking, I’ll use those terms.
Read Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Bk) by Austin Kleon. I probably shouldn’t even tell you about Austin’s book because almost everything you need to know about being creative is in it. It’s a short book with fun cartoons and excellent advice. Read through the whole book first. Then go through again, taking notes in your notebook about which of his ideas hit you right between the eyes now, the thing(s) you need to do to move forward creatively. If you already read it a while ago, it’s worth reading again.
If you’re stuck regarding your art, answer this question from artist Amy Maricle about your own art: “What is the simplest thing I could do artistically right now? I’ve found this is such a powerful question for my art practice. I don’t ask: What masterpiece could I make? We need to build our skills over time. You’re not going to reach those big creative goals if you don’t reach the little ones first.”
Think about buying a label printer. We’ll talk more about this when we discuss how being organized at some level can energize your creativity. I bought such a printer years ago when it was recommended in Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free productivity (Bk) by David Allen. A label printer comes in handy for putting custom labels on lots of things, especially on file folders, storage containers, desk drawers—anywhere you might keep your art supplies.
Thanks for reading!
—Mary Anne Shew (@maryanneshew)
Blocked trying to do revisions for a small book.
Hello! I am into fiber arts right now. I'm slowly working on a stash busting afghan (crochet) and I want to start some new counted cross stitch projects. I'm stuck on the cross stitches because I have to do the math to figure out how much fabric I need, and I also like to bind the edges before I start and I... just don't want to do that! Once I do it, I'll be good, and usually once I tell someone where I am stuck, I can make myself do it. So thank you for this post!!