Finding a Creative Community

by Barbara Martin

in Try This

There is something magical that happens when artists get together in a friendly group and make art, but I am not exactly sure what it is. It might be synergy; it might be the proverbial mutual admiration society at work; it might be the fun of seeing what everyone is doing; it might be the relief of feeling […]

Spinal Secret

by Barbara Martin

in Try This

Twyla Tharp’s new Sinatra music show is coming to town. This reminded me about The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for Life, her richly practical and inspiring book. Among many valuable insights, she describes “the spine” and its essential role in creative projects. Can you guess what this week’s creativity tip touches on? […]

Do you allow your perceived limitations to stop you from starting? I do it, all the time. The other day I had an absolute bolt of inspiration about how to begin the first of  a series of recordings I have been wanting to create for about two years. I have had the tools to make […]

Since creativity is not easy to measure, you can’t consistently quantify your daily creative effort beyond the simple question: Did I show up today? Showing up means arriving at the studio or desk or workspace ready and willing to do the work as required. Some days, what is required may be the joyful task of […]

I’ve been thinking a lot about the subject of  “Time” lately, especially in terms of how we view it and use it and abuse it. Since watching the time and meeting deadlines and so forth seem to be fairly common concerns among  so many creative people,  I’ll be writing about time and our beliefs and […]

UPDATE As of March 2012, this book is no longer for sale. However it is on offer as a free promotional item at Bridget’s blog.Please check there for future developments. (post revised accordingly) It’s rare for me to become an affiliate mention an e-book product because so much of what is offered on the interwebs seems subpar.  When I […]

This is day seven of the week-long photography challenge.  For today’s photographic adventure,  I set out on a stroll through the neighborhood, enjoying the sunshine, snapping away at this and that without a specific goal in mind.  It felt like a good time to noodle around and try the photographical equivalent of doodling or playing to see what might […]

Day 6 of the weeklong photography challenge and I am happy to report that I seem to have hit a groove this evening. This might have happened because today was in essence an all-day Artist Date. (An Artist Date, as discussed in  creativity expert Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way,  is a weekly date with yourself […]

Special Daily Writer Note

by Barbara Martin

in How to Tips

To encourage writers participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) I started writing The Daily Writer Notes, sending out an encouraging little email each morning.  The series sure kept me writing at least a little something every single day!  I enjoyed writing these so much that I’ve decided to keep on writing them every day […]

I just read the saddest thing, a post at Men with Pens about “how to bribe yourself to do nasty things,” meaning all the things you don’t want to do as a freelancer. Things like finish an ebook, finish a press release, make cold calls, write a blog post. Apparently, we should reward ourselves with […]