In the fall of 2011 I invited some folks to get together for the purpose of nourishing creativity. Honestly I didn’t know what would come of it. I was so nervous I literally trembled in our first meetings.
I desperately wanted us to gel and support each other, but it was risky. Some of us had never met. We had different backgrounds and aspirations. Would it work?
Now we are a little more than a year into this, and so far I think it’s safe to say it has worked. Let me list just a few of our accomplishments:
- I started this blog.
- Lisa wrote 30,000 words of a memoir that a publisher told her was brilliant.
- Nate has written multiple songs.
- Peter entered a field he’s wanted to pursue for a long time.
- Joe is wowing clients and developing apps.
- Ruth wrote an award-winning essay and purchased a url for her forthcoming blog.
- Dudley is working on multiple books and a screenplay.
More important than our accomplishments is how life-giving the group is to all of us. We enjoy being with one another, and we are more creative for the advice and encouragement the group provides.
The fact is we need each other. We artists try, don’t we, to do this thing on our own, and there’s a part that only we as individuals can do. But sometimes we mistake the part for the whole, and we end up exhausted and disappointed and defeated.
Wendell Berry said we become drug addicts because we’ve lost each other.
To do our best work, to change the world, to stay hopeful and daring, to inspire ourselves let alone others, we need a group that nourishes our creativity.
But where do we find that?
One way to find it is to start it. In my next post I’ll provide some practical steps for starting a “creative circle,” to use Todd Henry’s term.
By the way, Todd’s book The Accidental Creative is what got this whole thing started. If you haven’t read it, I promise you it’s worthwhile.
To find out how to start a group that nourishes your creativity, click here.
How important is a supportive community to you and your creativity? How have you found or fostered it?
Thanks again Chad for the inspiration and stimulation. You just gave me direction for a group that I’m involved in…..
Awesome, Dave. You might find my next post helpful too. In it, I’ll talk about the practical steps we took to get our creative circle going.
Great encouragement, thank you. I can do better in this area. I also need to go search through my husband’s seminary shelf, I think that book is there. I’ll be moving it to the top of my list.
Todd Henry’s book changed my life. That simple.
I have to admit that I don’t see myself as a creative person. I see myself as a highly analytical person who is now funneling that skill into (non-fiction) writing. 🙂
I would be more likely to join an online group, if that existed, simply due to the constraints of having 3 young kids. Has anyone had experience with that (as opposed to in person groups)? How would it compare?
Thanks for the book recommendation, I’ll check it out!
I just joined an online group that originated on twitter with a tweet by someone wanting to know if anyone was interested in a ‘Writer’s Bra’ group. We’ve been ‘supporting’ each other for two weeks now–mostly getting to know each other via our blogs and emails. Now that we’re comfortable, we’ll start asking for critique support as well. I just moved to the middle of nowhere, so a ‘real time’ writer’s group is out of the question. I’ve gone to a few over the years, but always found that meeting at a set time was too much when I had small children in the house, then an ill husband, and a crazy busy life. I like the virtual community :).
I do not have experience with virtual groups, but I’ll bet they can be awesome!
Anita, Thanks! That sounds great – I think I’ll look into some virtual communities. 🙂
I think that finding a good combination of people is essential for fostering a creative group. One thing I really appreciate about my group is that we have grown into a community that gels. And we show up to support one another. Without my group, I would not be the writing I am. And that is exciting to me!
It’s amazing how precious these groups can become to everyone involved.
I can’t imagine a writer (or anyone) today not having some sort of creative group, be it a critique/writing circle, a book club, or another supportive outlet. Writing is a solitary world, and without encouragement from others, I wouldn’t be as productive.
*Solitary world* So true, Cynthia. The year I started writing I was a mess because I had little support. If you don’t write, you don’t understand the voices that swirl around in writer’s brains. (I mean…I have voices that yammer in my brain, guess I can’t speak for anyone else.) Maybe I shouldn’t admit this? ha.
Basically, I agree. 🙂
Oh, I think you’re in very good company, Dabney.
Oh my WORD!! I would have gone insane, INSANE, people, without my crit/writing peeps. As a newb, I knew nothing. But over the last year, I’ve gotten to know some writers for whom I would give a kidney or a lung should they need it.
To have someone who stands alongside me and gets it? Oh my.
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Ha! I can relate, Jennifer.
There would be no book without the support of a my critique/writing partners. Feedback played an important part in keeping me going when I doubted myself. And, because I was involved in three groups, this forced me to produce three chapters a month for our meetings. However, I really like this idea of a “creative” group for all the artsy types. 🙂 Hmmm…now my wheels are spinning.
Thanks.
Dabney
Stay tuned, Dabney! It’s been a lot of fun.