Being an artist provides us with an embarrassment of riches. We can create from nothing! We can build worlds and moods, characters and situations. But our artmaking is often fraught with resistance and dissatisfaction. We don’t like our work, we don’t think we’re “real” artists, the work should be better, the work should be easier, you should be developing more work, you should be developing work more quickly. As I discuss in this post, we can find a million ways to invalidate our efforts. This month, I challenge you to greet your creative efforts with gratitude. Whether your produce or a lot, great your creativity with gratitude. If you only have an idea, but you produce nothing, practice gratitude for that idea. Artmaking is a sacred act. Along with love, it is one of the core elements to our humanity. Blessed are we who have found a lane of creativity, blessed are we who make creative work. Outside of artmaking lies art distribution, art commerce, art appreciation and art criticism. Let all that live OUTSIDE the circle of artmaking. There will be judgment, there will be rejection, there will be stumbles, but INSIDE of your practice, let there be gratitude!

Goal Check-In:

• My huge success of April is that I finished revisions on my YA draft. I planned to get 20 chapters of the novel edited. By the end of the week, I’ll only have 8 chapters edited. When I was close to completing the revisions, I realized I needed more time. I requested an extension from the editors (and gave up a week of my time for draft 3). Editing has begun!
• The nonfiction book pitches is evolving. I am submitting to the process and standing in evolution. My goal is to have the pitch done by the end of May, but if it isn’t done, I will roll with the pace of group work.
• My kids site is still not on the chart, but it is a huge goal. The site was intended to be something quick (one of the ways I get myself to make big commitments is to tell myself I can do the least. Rarely does it turn out that way—often I end up doing the most!). Anyway, the web developer says a May launch is going to happen. Fingers crossed, I’ll have this goal met by next month.

It is a holy and magical give so let’s commit to enjoying it, appreciating it, and valuing it. The magic of creation is  worthy of celebration!

Onward!