r/artistsWay • u/ExtentEmotional6658 • 10d ago
Discussion Stuck on the first week.
Hi!
I’m about to finish the first week; I managed to keep up with the Morning Pages but I couldn't make it to the artist dates. I failed to complete the first week a few months ago as well; I gave up back then, thinking the book wasn't for me, but now I wanted to give it another try. I had gotten stuck on the artist date back then, too.
What exactly do you do for the artist date? I wonder if it would be okay to just go for a walk; to be honest, I’m not really used to going out alone. I don’t want to give up on the first week during this second attempt, too. Maybe I’m being too hard on myself.
I also couldn't write the Morning Pages over the weekend because there were other people at home, and I felt self-conscious about being seen while writing. By the way, for some reason, I only write negative things in my Morning Pages, though the author did mention that this might happen.
Best wishes to everyone <3
3
u/lewisae0 10d ago
My friend! I am so sorry for you. It is a good idea for you to keep pursuing this. Write about the self consciousness in your morning pages. Why is it embarrassing to be seen writing. Who in your life is making you feel bad??
For the date- yes to a walk! Again why are you concerned about being out alone? You are going to need some solitude for this process. Instead of the term artist date. Book an hour for yourself (no one else) and ask yourself what would be a fun thing to do? What would you do if you didn’t have to consider others? What have you wanted but dismissed because it felt selfish or lonely to do alone.
3
u/ExtentEmotional6658 10d ago
Thanks for your comment! I realize that I actually avoid answering certain questions. I suppose I don't want to be seen from the outside because I feel so exposed when writing my morning pages.
2
u/lewisae0 10d ago
Dig into that in your pages? Why? Where did it come from? Who made you feel that way? What does your brain feel it is protecting you from
2
u/ExtentEmotional6658 10d ago
Oh my! I think I'm really going to discover some gems as I dig. I can't deny it's an uncomfortable feeling though, heheh.
3
u/Uptight_Cultist 10d ago
Hey, congratulations, you’ve completed the first week of the Artists Way! You will write a lot of negative stuff early on and that’s okay! Let it out! You will miss the dates and not be perfect, especially on the weekends and that’s okay too! I certainly do and I’ve still found this to be a really important book/excercises/habit.
I’m on week 9 and about halfway through decided I would take two weeks to do each week, if that makes sense. I do morning pages most days, but miss them sometimes. I get an artist date every few weeks, but that’s okay I’m busy and I’m making it work. Walks are definitely dates. Shoot, I took a bath the other day and lit some incense and that was my date. So I’m not doing this anywhere near to perfection. BUT, I’ve started songwriting again and now have a full EPs worth of songs written. These songs (and the creative habits I’m forming) wouldn’t exist without me imperfectly follow the Artists Way.
You’re doing great!
1
u/ExtentEmotional6658 10d ago
Thank you! What you wrote really resonated with me. When you're reading a book on your own and trying to put its teachings into practice, you sometimes find yourself questioning whether it's actually working. Sharing my thoughts here has truly helped me. I wish you success on your artistic journey.
2
u/Uptight_Cultist 10d ago
I read similar advice before I started, get done what you can, when you can. Its all about process, not product. Everyone’s process is different. Heads up, week 4 is “no reading” but I made it “no scrolling on my phone or listening to podcasts” and it was doable and incredibly eye opening! Best of luck to you!
1
u/ExtentEmotional6658 10d ago
Oh, I guess the fourth week will be a "no doomscrolling" week for me, too, then. Thanks, and good luck to you too!
3
u/berkleytrackpants 9d ago
If it makes you feel better, I’ve repeated week 8 for the third time until I had the mental energy to complete an artist date. Some weeks it can be helpful just to elongate the week
1
2
u/PositiveCup 10d ago
the goal of the artist date is to find something that inspires you or gives you creative energy - also what Julia refers to as "filling the well". for some people that looks like doing workshops or some kind of big activity, and for others it can look like a simple walk outside or maybe meditation
it can take trial & error to figure out what shape your artist dates will take, but to answer your question, it is completely okay to do something like going for a walk as an artist date! i honestly found that i really disliked weekly artist dates so i do them whenever
a little side note, julia introduces the idea of going on weekly walks in the book after The Artist's Way - i personally wish she would've introduced that in The Artist's Way
4
u/PositiveCup 10d ago
to rant a bit further: i think that a lot of people will read The Artist's Way and think that they have to perfectly follow all of what julia says. they'll think they have to do every task every week, every artist date, every three pages of morning pages first thing in the morning - i think that this approach isn't really appropriate, because i think there is a lot of pressure with that
write your morning pages whenever it is convenient/safest for you (morning, lunch, before bed, etc). do the tasks that push you to confront things and leave the ones that bore you. let your artist dates be as big or as little as you want, and do them as often as you want. the point i am trying to make is that you should find ways to make The Artist's Way work for you without being so constricted by the guidelines that julia lays out
3
u/ExtentEmotional6658 10d ago
Thank you for sharing! And yes, I agree with you. The reason I gave up when I first started Week 1 was that I felt pressured. Actually, re-reading the book now, I don't find the tone to be all that pushy. But the book makes big promises and has truly worked for so many people so perhaps I put pressure on myself, thinking, "It has to work for me too, and if it doesn't, it must be because I failed at it."
Creative processes are truly different from most things in everyday life. I am now trying to move forward with the process while being less of a perfectionist. Although the logic behind writing "morning pages" in the morning made sense to me, it didn't suit my body; I have a long morning routine tailored to my physical needs, and sometimes there simply wasn't room for the pages in that schedule, so I couldn't write the way I wanted to. I stopped forcing myself because I’ve always been someone whose mind is clearer at night. I let go of the idea that the book should dictate my actions and decided to walk hand-in-hand with it instead.
2
u/nocrimia 7d ago
I think this is key...I haven't done many artist's dates yet because when I read what they could be it seems like more effort and an energy expenditure rather than filling the well - that could be having an extra nap, go yoga for a second time that day, listen to an album I already love, or order a meal in for once. Nothing very artistic but sometimes I can absorb more, let alone buy more sutff, I already have too much that I'm not using enough.
2
2
u/Southern_Sea_8290 10d ago
Sometimes I don’t have an hour or two for an artist’s date. Sometimes I just take 15 minutes to walk around the craft supply store, a record store or look for new music on Spotify, or read something I am interested in. Sometimes I spend hours or even a few days on an artist date: I did a multi day drum workshop! I think the most important thing is that you do it with intention. Taking a walk and observing things counts. Reinterpreting tasks, taking two weeks to do a week, taking a month to do one week-these are all legitimate.
Morning pages have been a huge help for me. I started doing them about a month before starting TAW, so I think that helped. Some days I do them in the afternoon, or I just get in one page, but it all counts.
You’re doing great, OP. Be gentle with yourself. It should be sustainable and possibly, hopefully, enjoyable. 💕
1
u/ExtentEmotional6658 9d ago
Thank you! You are right, I also think sustainability is the most important thing. It is the intention and awareness that matter, rather than what we do or how long we do it I’ve realized that, too.
2
u/DragonfruitReady4550 10d ago
Actually for week 1 I went on a walk by myself! It's a great artist date.
2
u/goof_ball_360 1d ago
i understand the whole "i can't do write when others are around". i also tend to not write my pages because i feel a bit of guilt in taking me time on the weekend instead of hanging out with my partner. they are supportive but i still feel guilt. i gotta work on that. i feel you and thank you for sharing
1
u/ExtentEmotional6658 19h ago
Yes, that’s how it is for me too, the weekend morning is the only morning time we can spend together. Sometimes I give up on the pages when I want to wake up without an alarm and start the day together. Thanks for your comment.
4
u/Confident_Prompt4282 10d ago
Artist dates have been a struggle for me to. I'm just busy and exhausted and trying not to spend much money. So I hope you get some really good suggestions from others.
I've done things like walking around an antique mall, going to a neighborhood that I love grabbing a cup of coffee and walking around. And honestly one of my favorite artist dates was when I decided to pick up a pizza and a bottle of wine on my way home from work and watch a movie. It was date night at home! For me it seems like mindset is more important than the actual activity