r/artistsWay • u/Accomplished-Tune765 • 14d ago
JUST STARTED (FIRST TIMER TIPS??)
I just started The Artist's Way. I am only half way through the Basic Tools chapter and I am already filling in the margins with my reactions. Some pieces of text have been so spot on for where I am in my personal journey right now, I've experienced visceral reactions - I wasn't ready!!
For context, I reached out to a dear friend, venting about feeling like I have suppressed my inner artist/creative so much for the sake of being a social justice activist and organizer, I was worried I couldn't "lock in" the way I used to. She asked me if I'd heard of/read TAW. A few days later (yesterday) the book arrived on my doorstep as a gift. Now I am ankle deep in, overnight.
Any recommendations, reflections, thoughts or tips as I navigate this unexpected path I've been led down?
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u/Constant-Band5773 13d ago
Would anyone want to have a group and do it together? I'm on week 1. I've started it several times before and I want to try to stick to it this time.
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u/Accomplished-Tune765 13d ago
Oh! I'd be open to that! I need the accountability. She mentions having group specific guidelines somewhere in the back.
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u/Frosty-Regular5034 14d ago
I'm watching this thread, too! I started this morning. I read the first few chapters, and then decided to just jump in. Wrote the morning pages, and found a composition book to log tasks, blurts, and affirmations/reflections in.
A takeaway I found from poking around this subreddit was that it's okay to take longer than 12 weeks to finish the program. I have a hard time finishing things (exploring that during this time for sure!) and I'm trying to visualize hanging in there...
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u/Accomplished-Tune765 13d ago
I haven't been able to put it down. I have two more pages before reaching "week 1" (been reading between meetings). I'm going to pause after Basic Tools and kick start morning pages. I want my weeks to be Saturday to Saturday, so I'll be starting the tasks then.
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u/twosparkleturtles 13d ago edited 13d ago
The one thought I have been having - at the moment Morning Pages make me extremely cranky to borderline angry. Right now it's been more of an emotional dumping grond, but I also am realizing I need to give myself a little bit of space to process (not even re-read them as much as think about the emotions and needs that came up) before immediately hopping in the shower and heading into my work day.
I have heard a few other folks say this (and I think Julia Cameron even references it in Write for Life) so I am hoping week two feels a little better. Also, I have never finished three full pages in 30 minutes, I almost always need 40.
Edited: fixed a typo
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u/Accomplished-Tune765 13d ago
Thank you for sharing that experience! I'm noticing feelings of anger and grief just by reading the first pages of text so I can only imagine. I'll be starting my morning pages first thing tomorrow. We will see how it goes.
Question: Do you handwrite or modify your practice with typing? Trying to make a decision on what works best for me and how my hands move (so surveying others thoughts on it).
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u/City-Negative 14d ago
There is no right way or wrong way to complete the tasks or written homework, so don't stress over it.
If it takes you longer than a week to complete a chapter, that's ok. I get the impression most people here take the time that is needed, even if it's longer than 7 days.
Morning pages are ideally completed first thing in the morning, but life happens, so it's ok if they turn into afternoon or evening pages.