Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

superfoodist · 09-28-2011, 08:42 AM

Hey everyone. I hope I posted this in the right section..

Anyways, I just wanted to inform all of you creative people out there of the best self-help book there is. It's called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I myself am a rapper (not the typical bling bling mainstream kind that have turned so many people off to the genre). Being a rapper, I experience writers block quite often, and the exercises in this book have COMPLETELY shattered writers block, and not only that, but helped me progress to higher levels of creativity all around.

This book can help writers, musicians, dancers, chefs, lawyers, and ANY other profession or hobby that involves the slightest amount of creativity.

One of the major exercises in this book is called Morning Pages, where you wake up every morning, and write 3 pages of WHATEVER comes to your mind as soon as you wake up, and it helps clear all the garbage out of your head at the beginning of every day so you can "fill the well" with more meaningful things and be more creative.. I might not be explaining it too great, but just check out the book and read about it for yourself!!

You can order it, or look at reviews, here : http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Sp.../dp/0874776945

It's relatively cheap too, with used books selling for $0.01, which means you basically only have to pay shipping.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask

Good luck!

brendannz · 09-28-2011, 08:59 AM

Yep, great book..

I don't find the exercises themselves that great, although the morning pages is a great discipline, I think, really organises your emotions and your day, Just hard to find time for

I also like "The Artist Way At Work"

superfoodist · 09-28-2011, 09:26 AM

Yeah most of the weekly exercises I didn't get too into, but the morning pages are definitely priceless!

elucidate · 09-28-2011, 09:30 AM

Yep, I've got that book...or rather, the second one she wrote after this one, which is equally as good.

I do skip the artists dates some weeks though, so I need to be more consistent with it, but the writing pages has been really helpful in clearing my head so new ideas can come through, which they do. I sometimes forget, but mostly will make time to do either last thing at night or first thing in the morning...sometimes both depending on the day.

superfoodist · 09-28-2011, 09:45 AM

Yeah I was bad with keeping up on the artist dates as well. I actually haven't been doing the morning pages lately, but I'd like to start up again very soon. My only problem is that I work nights, so It's very hard for me to get a steady schedule going to keep up on the morning pages daily.

Hopefully an opening at Whole Foods comes along and I can get a day time job there

OptimistPrime · 09-28-2011, 05:39 PM

Ah, that was one of the books that got me started down the path of personal development 10 years ago. Good times.

CoolBee · 09-28-2011, 05:48 PM

I find the morning pages the best exercise of the lot and have used it on and off over the years. However, I don't fixate on them being morning - just when I'm in the right frame - and I don't fixate on 3 pages either. I guess really using them got me into private journalling which I do regularly and find very useful.

Fred Tracy · 09-29-2011, 10:10 PM

Hmm, I may have to check this one out. I like the idea of clearing out the junk to "fill the well."

elucidate · 09-30-2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolBee

I find the morning pages the best exercise of the lot and have used it on and off over the years. However, I don't fixate on them being morning - just when I'm in the right frame - and I don't fixate on 3 pages either. I guess really using them got me into private journalling which I do regularly and find very useful.

Same, I don't like to stick to a regime of any kind, and will adapt it to the situation. Somedays I will write a page in the morning, other days I will write 4 in the evening before bed, it all depends on how much needs to come out of me at the time.

MariconesUnited · 10-04-2011, 06:04 PM

It's freaky I was just telling SBonn that I wanted to start a ''the Artist's Way'' thread. I want to do a trial and maybe inspire more people to get creative as well. I thought that maybe keeping it up-to-date on the forum would help me stay focused and motivated too.

My personal story with the book is that I bought it last year, started doing some morning pages, then quit. I want to go much deeper this time. I've heard many great things about this book so I believe it's absolutely worth it. Also really glad to see people doing less than 3 pages. That takes me too long for my liking. Maybe I'll start with just one this time. One thing that perturbs me is how much she stresses that every artist needs his or her personal space. I don't have that luxury right now and I miss it...I should get creative about that too! Anyway, thanks everyone!

CoolBee · 10-04-2011, 06:18 PM

If you start doing it, you might find at first that you chuck out tons MORE than 3 pages - when I just let myself go with the flow, some days I write about 30 pages and others I don't even open my notebook!

Mr. Punch · 10-05-2011, 08:27 AM

It's a boring book with one great idea; the morning pages. I found the rest to be quite tiring and trivial - I don't think Cameron writes very good prose and the all pervasive spiritual tone is just so unneccesary. It is a recovery book in the AA tradition and I don't appreciate that.

The great thing about the morning pages is that you gradually learn to write whether you're "inspired" or not. You skip the idea of writing and the creative proces as something "only for special occasions". You are creative every morning even though most of the time you may be scribbling rubbish.

brendannz · 10-05-2011, 10:08 AM

I think it's quite user-friendly, and you can kind of use it to fit your lifestyle..

I also quite like "THe artist way at work", seems quite practical in being creative while still having a 9-5 life

Self Exploration · 10-05-2011, 04:45 PM

Creativity is the true power that we have in society.
Most people think it is force that moves things.
But creativity is much more effective.

brendannz · 10-17-2011, 10:21 AM

Hey anyway,

Did anyone actually do the media deprivation?!!?? OMG, I think I lasted 5 days, but nowadays I work online so just can't do it at all

OptimistPrime · 10-17-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendannz

Did anyone actually do the media deprivation?!!?? OMG, I think I lasted 5 days, but nowadays I work online so just can't do it at all

Hmmm, I think I did. I remember a period when I was avoiding reading things like the newspaper, etc., so I must have.

I don't remember how long I lasted, though.

09-28-2011, 08:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
superfoodist Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 155	The Artist's Way - Creativity Hey everyone. I hope I posted this in the right section.. Anyways, I just wanted to inform all of you creative people out there of the best self-help book there is. It's called "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. I myself am a rapper (not the typical bling bling mainstream kind that have turned so many people off to the genre). Being a rapper, I experience writers block quite often, and the exercises in this book have COMPLETELY shattered writers block, and not only that, but helped me progress to higher levels of creativity all around. This book can help writers, musicians, dancers, chefs, lawyers, and ANY other profession or hobby that involves the slightest amount of creativity. One of the major exercises in this book is called Morning Pages, where you wake up every morning, and write 3 pages of WHATEVER comes to your mind as soon as you wake up, and it helps clear all the garbage out of your head at the beginning of every day so you can "fill the well" with more meaningful things and be more creative.. I might not be explaining it too great, but just check out the book and read about it for yourself!! You can order it, or look at reviews, here : http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Sp.../dp/0874776945 It's relatively cheap too, with used books selling for $0.01, which means you basically only have to pay shipping. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Good luck! Last edited by superfoodist; 09-28-2011 at 08:44 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Working through the Artist's Way	jfrancis	Character & Contribution	17	09-26-2010 04:05 AM
Berkeley Artist's Group: overcoming blocks	abundantdreams	Local Groups	0	09-26-2010 03:58 AM
Overcoming Artist's/Musician's Block	Michelle	Character & Contribution	9	09-23-2009 06:29 PM
Creativity	Tuumble	Personal Effectiveness	4	02-22-2008 08:39 PM
Creativity	sadavis00	Personal Effectiveness	7	01-02-2007 03:03 AM

09-28-2011, 08:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
brendannz Family Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,612	Yep, great book.. I don't find the exercises themselves that great, although the morning pages is a great discipline, I think, really organises your emotions and your day, Just hard to find time for I also like "The Artist Way At Work"

09-28-2011, 09:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
superfoodist Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 155	Yeah most of the weekly exercises I didn't get too into, but the morning pages are definitely priceless!

09-28-2011, 09:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
elucidate Banned Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 12,751	Yep, I've got that book...or rather, the second one she wrote after this one, which is equally as good. I do skip the artists dates some weeks though, so I need to be more consistent with it, but the writing pages has been really helpful in clearing my head so new ideas can come through, which they do. I sometimes forget, but mostly will make time to do either last thing at night or first thing in the morning...sometimes both depending on the day.

09-28-2011, 09:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
superfoodist Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 155	Yeah I was bad with keeping up on the artist dates as well. I actually haven't been doing the morning pages lately, but I'd like to start up again very soon. My only problem is that I work nights, so It's very hard for me to get a steady schedule going to keep up on the morning pages daily. Hopefully an opening at Whole Foods comes along and I can get a day time job there

09-28-2011, 05:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
OptimistPrime Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 726	Ah, that was one of the books that got me started down the path of personal development 10 years ago. Good times.

09-28-2011, 05:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
CoolBee Family Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,044	I find the morning pages the best exercise of the lot and have used it on and off over the years. However, I don't fixate on them being morning - just when I'm in the right frame - and I don't fixate on 3 pages either. I guess really using them got me into private journalling which I do regularly and find very useful.

09-29-2011, 10:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fred Tracy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 717	Hmm, I may have to check this one out. I like the idea of clearing out the junk to "fill the well."

10-04-2011, 06:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
MariconesUnited Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 735	It's freaky I was just telling SBonn that I wanted to start a ''the Artist's Way'' thread. I want to do a trial and maybe inspire more people to get creative as well. I thought that maybe keeping it up-to-date on the forum would help me stay focused and motivated too. My personal story with the book is that I bought it last year, started doing some morning pages, then quit. I want to go much deeper this time. I've heard many great things about this book so I believe it's absolutely worth it. Also really glad to see people doing less than 3 pages. That takes me too long for my liking. Maybe I'll start with just one this time. One thing that perturbs me is how much she stresses that every artist needs his or her personal space. I don't have that luxury right now and I miss it...I should get creative about that too! Anyway, thanks everyone!

10-04-2011, 06:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
CoolBee Family Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,044	If you start doing it, you might find at first that you chuck out tons MORE than 3 pages - when I just let myself go with the flow, some days I write about 30 pages and others I don't even open my notebook!

10-05-2011, 08:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mr. Punch Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	It's a boring book with one great idea; the morning pages. I found the rest to be quite tiring and trivial - I don't think Cameron writes very good prose and the all pervasive spiritual tone is just so unneccesary. It is a recovery book in the AA tradition and I don't appreciate that. The great thing about the morning pages is that you gradually learn to write whether you're "inspired" or not. You skip the idea of writing and the creative proces as something "only for special occasions". You are creative every morning even though most of the time you may be scribbling rubbish.

10-05-2011, 10:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
brendannz Family Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,612	I think it's quite user-friendly, and you can kind of use it to fit your lifestyle.. I also quite like "THe artist way at work", seems quite practical in being creative while still having a 9-5 life

10-05-2011, 04:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
Self Exploration Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 31	Creativity is the true power that we have in society. Most people think it is force that moves things. But creativity is much more effective.

10-17-2011, 10:21 AM	#15 (permalink)
brendannz Family Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,612	Hey anyway, Did anyone actually do the media deprivation?!!?? OMG, I think I lasted 5 days, but nowadays I work online so just can't do it at all

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums