The Artist's Way
JoAnne Soper Cook
I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has anyone
else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
Just curious...
--
JoAnne Soper-Cook
Writer, Artist, Singer, Teacher
http://terrapin.umd.edu/~jsoperco/joanne.html
_______________________________________
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.
psc...@nr.infi.net
On 18 Feb 1998 13:59:20 GMT, mbf...@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca (JoAnne
Soper Cook) wrote:
>I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
>Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has anyone
>else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
>
>Just curious...
I just started reading it. I'm not real keen on the "new age" tone,
but that doesn't distract me from what appear to be some pretty good
creative strategies. I've been writing the morning pages and hope to
work through the book. Is this what you did? Or did you just read it
and take suggestions form it?
I don't really know what I want to get from it. I do believe that the
creative process can be managed -- insofar as inspiration plays such a
minor role and revision is the key to creative pursuits.
Have you read Brewster Ghiselin's (sp?) book The Creative Process? I
think it's still in print. An excellent look at creativity in the
hands of varied disciplines (math, science, etc).
Cheers.
pete
Pete Scisco
229 Lake Dr.
Winston-Salem NC 27107
(336) 769-9574
Kathie Meyer
In article <34ed24e3...@news.newsguy.com>,
theg...@m4.interserv.com (Jason K. Chapman) wrote:
>On 18 Feb 1998 13:59:20 GMT, mbf...@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca (JoAnne
>Soper Cook) wrote:
>
>>I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
>>Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has anyone
>>else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
>Actually, with the exception of its subtle leanings toward some kind
>of artist's spirituality, I found it quite interesting. Since I was
>already writing daily, I ignored the exercises, but I can see how they
>would help.
>
>There is value in the book's self-centered approach to nurturing ones
>creativity and in recognizing the many ways we willingly sacrifice our
>creative selves to others who do not have our best interests at heart.
>The core message is easily applicable the rest of one's life, as well.
Jason's summary is a good one. I "did" this book with a group of people
from the 'net who have since scattered to the wind. At the time, I was in
the first year or so of being sober and it really kick started me down the
path of becoming the writer I wanted to be instead of the drunk that I was.
Plus, it gave me the courage to resign from a commitment that I didn't
really want to take on in the first place so I could free my brain up for
writing thoughts.
Lots of good stuff in that book. Best done with a group. One of the
exercises, if I remember correctly, was for the group to send postcards to
each other. I still have some under glass on my coffee table. And I still
consciously think I'm on an "artist date" from time to time.
Kathie Meyer
Debbie Kesling
>I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
>Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has anyone
>else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
>
>Just curious...
My son checked it out of the library and hated returning it. For his
birthday last week, I bought him the book as well as the companion
workbook and Julia's more recent "Vein (or Veins) of Gold."
I've been considering getting it for myself, as I really need some
assistance with my creative side. I write and sell a lot of
non-fiction, but my goal is to write good fiction.
Debbie
deb...@cybearspace.com
Debbie Kesling
I forgot to mention that I *think* I found a usenet group devoted to
this book, but I have since changed ISPs and it doesn't appear to be
available via this newsfeed.
JoAnne Soper Cook
Jason K. Chapman (theg...@m4.interserv.com) wrote:
: On 18 Feb 1998 13:59:20 GMT, mbf...@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca (JoAnne
: Soper Cook) wrote:
: >I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
: >Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has anyone
: >else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
(sniplets)
: There is value in the book's self-centered approach to nurturing ones
: creativity and in recognizing the many ways we willingly sacrifice our
: creative selves to others who do not have our best interests at heart.
: The core message is easily applicable the rest of one's life, as well.
I agree with you, and I think this is a good summary of it...how often do
we forget to nurture our creativity and how often do we place our
validation in the hands of others?! I stayed with a useless agent for two
years, simply because I felt that having an agent validated my
writing---something I ought to have been doing for myself.
As scary as it is to let go of 'support systems' such as my useless
agent, it sometimes is refreshing to let go and leap into the void (bear
with me; I rock-climb as a hobby! :D)---I like the way Cameron phrases
this in the book, "Leap and the net will appear.'
Definitely lots to think about... :-)
JoAnne
Tom Bass
--
JoAnne Soper Cook wrote in message <6cv9lv$a4j$1...@coranto.ucs.mun.ca>...
>Jason K. Chapman (theg...@m4.interserv.com) wrote:
>: On 18 Feb 1998 13:59:20 GMT, mbf...@InfoNET.st-johns.nf.ca (JoAnne
>: Soper Cook) wrote:
>
>: >I'm curious---I've been reading and using Julia Cameron's book, "The
>: >Artist's Way" for about a year now, and I find it very useful. Has
anyone
>: >else here used it, and if so, what do you think?
>(sniplets)
>I like the way Cameron phrases
>this in the book, "Leap and the net will appear.'
>
>Definitely lots to think about... :-)
>
>JoAnne
I have used "The Artist's Way" for about two years now and of all the
books on writing, and I have gone through a Goat Herd of them this was the
most useful. If for no other reason it got me to commit to a long period of
sustained writing. I confess after filling three Morning Pages books the
vast majority was my own snivelling and whinning, but buried in there were
some important insights about myself, and the seeds for three articles that
found their way in the local paper.
The lesson was what someone else mentioned in a previous discussion
about melancoly, write, write and then write some more. The format of the
Morning Pages put a barely effective gag on a persona in my ruling committee
I have named the guilt guy. Cameron calls it the censor, whatever you choose
to call him or her it is that part of me that slays ideas in the womb. The
collective force of lousy advise that has kept my creative side locked away
for many years.
To sum this up, as the Guilt Guy has pointed out it's getting to long,
Cameron's work was exceptionally helpful to me in getting started. The only
problem with books about writing is they contradict in many ways. You the
user must sort through the suggestions and try them on for size. Some fit,
some don't, take what works for you and let the rest go. IMHO there is
absolutely no formula that will create a writer. It is all within the
individual. I do believe that there are a few overarching laws in this
individualistic endeavor. The first, do the work, write all the time no
matter what your Guilt Person says, in the spirit of Nike *Just do it*. The
second, know thyself. What works for one may be pure poision for someone
else. So go within and find the strategies that work for you and commit to
them with all the passion you can muster. Lastly, when you leap, if you leap
with all your heart and soul the universe will provide your net.
If not your dead anyway so why worry.
PS: Thanks so much for the warm welcomes I have been extended. A small
example of the net being provided.