The Artist’s Way - Our Creative Cohort

In the past year, the library has put on two rounds of what we call ‘Creative Cohorts,’ during which we gather as a group and read through, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. The book is a 12-week course, each week dedicated to a different kind of creative block. Despite its name, the book is written for all sorts of creatives; writers, painters, filmmakers, anything and everything that could fall under the umbrella of creativity.

You are asked by Cameron to engage in two tasks, one every day and the other once a week. The first are called, ‘Morning Pages.’ Your Morning Pages can and should be written however you want, so long as you fill three pages. The second, the weekly task, is called an Artist’s Date. During this, you are meant to take yourself and only yourself on a date which nurtures your creativity. You also do a weekly reading which always includes a few extra ‘assignments,’ though I hesitate to use that dirty word. They are often creative and fun little exercises, though sometimes very vulnerable. It’s a good thing nobody can read my notebook.

So far we’ve run this cohort twice! Two of our staff members have been involved in both. Through doing so we’ve learned a few surprising things; 1) it truly matters whether or not you do these Morning Pages and Artist Dates; 2) people are remarkably willing to form connections with each other and open up about their vulnerabilities; and 3) the same blocks tend to come back around, requiring you to be on the lookout for what you know are your problem areas.

Photo by Samantha Hurley from Burst

Cameron does a great job at ensuring you do not feel out of your depth in overcoming blocks. She lays out the problem, invites you to process your thoughts, memories, and feelings about your own creativity, and then patiently but firmly presses you to do that thing which is most difficult but will most definitely get you through the block. For me, it was finally admitting to myself that I’m not lazy with my work, I’m fearful of having my creativity rejected. This was a kind revelation, but also a difficult one to acknowledge. In doing the reading, I found that her antidote to this fear of rejection is not so much facing it as it is increasing the love I give to myself and my own work.

If you read this book, you’ll find all sorts of little things like this. Happy but uncomfortable truths, as I put it. We completed our final week of the second cohort just this week, and we are hoping to do more (probably in the evening this time.) While we don’t agree on every point “The Artist’s Way” makes, we do agree on most of it…or, at least we find it thought provoking enough that through discussion we find out how we really feel, which is most often just as valuable.

We’re incredibly grateful to those who put themselves out there and joined these cohorts. You’ve all made friendships and progress on your paths to living to the fullest, and embracing your inner artists. Our hope is to run another round soon. If you’re interested in doing the Artist’s Way with us, stay tuned to our weekly and monthly newsletters, which you can find by visiting https://www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org/newsletter. Though I will warn you, be ready for your creative blocks - yes, even your favorite ones - to be blown away.