Image Copyright Leszek Glasner, 2013. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.

Cultivating the Creative

New Series Starts May 1

Look for a series of occasional posts called “Cultivating the Creative” beginning next week.These posts are designed to help you cultivate creative qualities, practices, and approaches to writing on which you can build your writing life. The series presents an A-to-Z guide to writing process fundamentals that your craft-of-writing teachers are not likely to cover and suggests ways that you can nurture your passion for writing.

As you learn the vocabulary of the creative, you may begin to make breakthroughs in your writing. You may approach yourself with generosity, patience, and joy. You may take new risks, discover new methods, and create new forms. These breakthroughs will happen naturally, in their own time, as you shape for yourself the supportive conditions in which you can grow as a writer.

Because creative transformations occur gradually, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic and to credit yourself for any writing that you do. If you’re just beginning your writing practice, even five or ten minutes a day of writing or half an hour once or twice a week will help you become the writer that you want to be. If you’re a more experienced writer, you may still benefit from the support this series provides.

Writing is a solitary endeavor, and loneliness is an essential part of the process. These posts will help you keep company with yourself. If you like the series, I hope you will also share your insights in the comments and encourage your friends who write to visit this site often and subscribe to my posts.

On your own, or with a friend or a group, go gently, into the heart of your writing life.