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    this creative life: a lifelong journey into the artist's way
    this creative life: a lifelong journey into the artist's way
    this creative life: a lifelong journey into the artist's way
    Ebook119 pages1 hour

    this creative life: a lifelong journey into the artist's way

    By John Oakley McElhenney

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    About this ebook

     

    Creativity drives a lot of my life. I'm awakened in the morning by ideas of songs, poems, or articles for this blog. I find creativity in everything I do. I creatively try to do better as a father, as a boyfriend, and as a co-worker. I'm always on the warm side of the spectrum and I'm always surprised when I run into, or across, neg

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPress of Light and Space
    Release dateMar 20, 2022
    ISBN9781088027943
    this creative life: a lifelong journey into the artist's way

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      Book preview

      this creative life - John Oakley McElhenney

      A Light for Us to Forge Ahead

      In 1929, Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet was published. Ten short letters of encouragement to a 19-year-old hopeful poet. And the master gave wonderful advice that still heartens creative artists around the world. Wonderful advice about craft, not showing your work too soon, keeping the fire alive inside even if you never get recognition for your poetry. It is still an amazing set of letters. As if written directly to us. The spirit and ideas he expressed have kept me hopeful and energetic about my own writing.

      My Letters to a Young Artist in the Digital Age has the same intent, to bring a new perspective to the creative process. This creative life is a path and not an end destination. Few of us will become Steven King, or George R. R. Martin, or J. K. Rowling. For those of us still on the path towards recognition or financial success, there are quite a few discouragements and barriers. It can be a struggle to keep your creative self alive and healthy.

      In these letters I am in many ways writing to myself as a young aspiring writer. But I am also aware that I am writing these letters for myself as a man in his early 50s who is still seeking expression. That alone is a success story. I am still at it. I am still writing, singing, and playing music as if I were still in the race. But of course, it’s not a race, it is life. And if you are a creative person, you have a long life ahead. And if you are lucky, and perseverant, you will continue to create well into your old age.

      And in many ways, I am writing these letters to my future self as well. Encouraging my current, early 50s self to keep writing. I have the magic perspective of time travel to bring all three of these artists together in my mind, as I write the little ideas for keeping creativity as a main goal of life. This is my goal: if there is anything I can do to help others find their path, let me share my own experience.

      So, let’s start there. This is my experience, in my years of being an artist. I have had some successes and many failures, but I’ve always gotten back up, brushed myself off, and continued with the work. Along this path I have come up with some ideas that help me maintain my hope, my energy, and my focus as an artist. I am writing these pages to you if you are on the same journey. What we need are friends along the path to cheer us on. These letters are my cheering you on. And in many ways, I am cheering myself on, as I continue to create and believe that my life’s gift is in this creating.

      I hope you find creativity in your life. And if I can be of any help to you, let me know. I am over here in my own tunnel of life, furiously creating myself, and I will share what I can of the light for us to forge ahead.

      This book is dedicated to my niece, nephew, and my two creative children.

      A Lifelong Adventure into The Artist’s Way (New Preface 2022)

      Creativity drives a lot of my life. I’m awakened in the morning by ideas of songs, poems, or articles for this blog. I find creativity in everything I do. I creatively try to do better as a father, as a boyfriend, and as a co-worker. I’m always on the warm side of the spectrum and I’m always surprised when I run into, or across, negative-focused people. Let’s make an effort here to find the joy in life, the creative in living, and the prayer of creation. That’s my goal. Will you join me on this aspirational adventure?

      The DNA of a Creative Life

      Listen

      Light Up

      Create

      Mute Your Internal Editors

      Flow

      Expand

      Reflect

      Revisit

      Sanctify Yourself

      Where Will You Find Your Voice?

      What creative activities give you joy? Crafting? Writing? Scrapping? Singing? Playing an instrument? Whatever it is, that you find enjoyable, your goal is to include more of that activity, that creative activity, into your life. Place the guitar by your bed and pick it up each morning and see what comes. Dreams can make great starter prompts for art, writing, or music. The trick is to listen, observe, record, notice, become still in your own flitting thoughts and allow life to amaze you. It’s not a zen thing, it’s an awareness of living. Yes, mindfulness practices can help you find your inner stillness which allows you to listen with a deeper intensity.

      I have had creative impulses since I was a kid. (I think school gives us all a passing glance at art as fun.) I think the most important part of my childhood was my relationship with my oldest sister. She was also a creative force. She showed me the Beatles with every single they released, that would blare from her bedroom 24/7. She appreciated my creative output from the earliest memories. She was 10-years older and treated me a bit like a living doll. I think she parented me more than either my mom or my dad. She was my gateway to this creative life I’m living. By having someone who believed in me, and celebrated my drawings, my elementary school performances, and who cuddled with me at the end of the day as we made plans for what fun art things we were going to do together tomorrow.

      Learning to Listen

      Paying attention is a lost art in this day of instant messaging and media consumption. In order for our brains to find the quiet space, we’ve got to go on a digital holiday. Even if it’s just for a few hours. Turn off the phone, the tv, the computer. Turn off everything but your own beating heart. Listen. What do you hear? Birds? The laundry flopping around in the dryer? A leaf blower going to town outside? What ideas do these sounds produce in your mind? Is there a way to capture the rhythm of the dryer’s thumping? Is there any energy in the irritation you feel about the leaf blower? Is there enegy in anything you are observing or hearing?

      From the stillness of the mind, in meditation or mindful practices, we begin to hear different sounds and different ideas. Entire architectures for a series of poems might just appear one afternoon. If you’re too busy, if you are not listening, or if you dismiss this idea as silly, then you might be missing the creative signals in your own life. Listen. When you have an idea for a movie, for example, don’t just simile at your creative idea, do something with the inspiration. Design a movie poster. Write the treatment. Start a screenplay. Learn to use Final Draft, the screenwriting software.

      Don’t let a single idea pass unnoticed. If you can capture the essence of the idea in some form, some shorthand version of your vision, then capture it. If you can stop everything else you are doing and allow the creative gift to come through you, do it. Stop. Listen. Create. Tom Petty talked about the songs that just dropped in his lap. Well, the fact is, Tom Petty was always playing his guitar, always listening for inspiration, and always giving time and attention to his creative ideas. And from time to time, a song WILL come dropping down on your head, like a

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