I’ve done The Artist’s Way and my favourite bit when I recommend it is telling people “I loved it but it will piss you off, and there’s a week you’re really gonna hate” and whenever they get to the no reading week I always get a text that’s something along the lines of “This is week you said I’d hate, right?”
I think I did a lot of paint by number that week. And if I remember correctly I think I may have also cleaned out my pantry and freezer…
I mean, I also very much had the release valve of a day job that requires me to read and research as part of what I do - you could count reading this as work? lol
I did TAW years ago and still think it was one the best things ever. I actually wrote about it here as a reflection after a year of having completed it.
I think just the act of completing something is what made it so impactful?? Like as a creative I have so many half started and abandoned ideas that I got a real narrative that I was a quitter. But since doing the full 12 weeks whenever that narrative bubbles up I can counter it by saying no actually I completed The Artists Way so shut up inner me.
Wow you're so busy! Like a Duracell Bunny intact. I can't not read before going to bed and find I too get irritable with no good books to enjoy. A good book is one that you find yourself thinking about the next day. See if you can try an activity that slows your brain down and relaxes you. I personally enjoy looking at the clear night sky and looking at the stars and planets. Try stargazing apps for guidance and see if you can get out the city for the best night sky experience.
Oh yeah I mean I’m on here replying to comments - fairly certain that contravenes reading deprivation but come on Julia. I am never doing it again my godddd
I lost patience and skimmed through The Artist’s Way, which is not at all in the spirit of the book or the method. I applaud you for sticking with it. Cornichons should absolutely be tiny alcoves.
Took drama at uni and was forced to read The Artist's Way. Hated my drama teacher. Will never, NEVER go an entire day without reading. It's in my living will. The day I can no longer hold a book my daughter has instructions to bump me off. Sympathies.
I loved this piece so much - I look forward to your thoughts on death and your dog’s novel after your writing retreat!
I’m doing TAW at the moment for the first time (how have I never heard of it before?!) - only on week one so far - and this glimpse into my future is hilarious and terrifying.
The 3am black pit of despair - oh yes. Where, I can lie awake fretting I don’t remember the last 8 traitor’s names, everyone I love dying and is Britney really free??? Tried TAW twice but never got to week 5. Ps zorbing is shit
Cushions are excellent however haggling errors give me the heebee jeebies. I am not an artist so I shall not be The Way-ing. I write bad self indulgent memories down and knit to patterns.
I was going to buy the book but now, I’m in the middle of throwing myself into everything, it’s totally put me off and I don’t want to follow another set of rules to paralyse me. However I totally get the create before you consume theory.
The “3am too much thought” time is also well spent on Balance App and also Paul McKenna counting backwards method, if you want to try that??!? It kind of beats the try not to think about the 10 worst things that you have done and can only think about 3am horror hour.
I’ve done The Artist’s Way and my favourite bit when I recommend it is telling people “I loved it but it will piss you off, and there’s a week you’re really gonna hate” and whenever they get to the no reading week I always get a text that’s something along the lines of “This is week you said I’d hate, right?”
I think I did a lot of paint by number that week. And if I remember correctly I think I may have also cleaned out my pantry and freezer…
just nearly sacked it off. After writing a whole substack post about it. i mean, reading your comment probably isn't a good idea is it? aghhh
I mean, I also very much had the release valve of a day job that requires me to read and research as part of what I do - you could count reading this as work? lol
That a recipe needs four pans and a colander but is ready in 15 minutes and eaten in 5 feels like the balance is off somewhere
Wait... there are like 2 early paragraphs in the email version of this that are not here! Wankers and cajones fell prey to a late edit.
I suppose that's the artist's way.
Cajones still there! Got rid of wankers. Email purists can still see the wankers though
I'm so glad I'm an email reader!
the email readers always get fun extra typos and paragraphs that I lose confidence in :0)
Obsessed with this.
I did TAW years ago and still think it was one the best things ever. I actually wrote about it here as a reflection after a year of having completed it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/baibin/p/the-artists-way-1-year-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4b7z7
I think just the act of completing something is what made it so impactful?? Like as a creative I have so many half started and abandoned ideas that I got a real narrative that I was a quitter. But since doing the full 12 weeks whenever that narrative bubbles up I can counter it by saying no actually I completed The Artists Way so shut up inner me.
Wow you're so busy! Like a Duracell Bunny intact. I can't not read before going to bed and find I too get irritable with no good books to enjoy. A good book is one that you find yourself thinking about the next day. See if you can try an activity that slows your brain down and relaxes you. I personally enjoy looking at the clear night sky and looking at the stars and planets. Try stargazing apps for guidance and see if you can get out the city for the best night sky experience.
slowing my brain down. YES. that's what reading does!!! maybe i'll do some meditation.
Crying with laughter…
That week is brutal. I love how she tried to say you can do your job for a week without reading. Ha. Not.
But I otherwise obeyed it. And took up visible mending. Fixed all my pants. Couldn’t believe the stuff I did in a week.
Decided I should do it every few months. Totally haven’t.
Oh yeah I mean I’m on here replying to comments - fairly certain that contravenes reading deprivation but come on Julia. I am never doing it again my godddd
I lost patience and skimmed through The Artist’s Way, which is not at all in the spirit of the book or the method. I applaud you for sticking with it. Cornichons should absolutely be tiny alcoves.
Maybe I’ll make my tiny alcove look like a Cornichon! And fair enough re skimming. I’ve skimmed it so many times. I wish I’d skimmed it now
Took drama at uni and was forced to read The Artist's Way. Hated my drama teacher. Will never, NEVER go an entire day without reading. It's in my living will. The day I can no longer hold a book my daughter has instructions to bump me off. Sympathies.
JO ITS A WHOLE WEEK
That comment about a new kidney is wild. Dang.
I loved this piece so much - I look forward to your thoughts on death and your dog’s novel after your writing retreat!
I’m doing TAW at the moment for the first time (how have I never heard of it before?!) - only on week one so far - and this glimpse into my future is hilarious and terrifying.
Wait until week 7: no self-doubt or self-sabotage week - brutal
The 3am black pit of despair - oh yes. Where, I can lie awake fretting I don’t remember the last 8 traitor’s names, everyone I love dying and is Britney really free??? Tried TAW twice but never got to week 5. Ps zorbing is shit
Cushions are excellent however haggling errors give me the heebee jeebies. I am not an artist so I shall not be The Way-ing. I write bad self indulgent memories down and knit to patterns.
I was going to buy the book but now, I’m in the middle of throwing myself into everything, it’s totally put me off and I don’t want to follow another set of rules to paralyse me. However I totally get the create before you consume theory.
The “3am too much thought” time is also well spent on Balance App and also Paul McKenna counting backwards method, if you want to try that??!? It kind of beats the try not to think about the 10 worst things that you have done and can only think about 3am horror hour.
it’s honestly a relief to know someone else’s default statement of defeat is also “maybe it’s time to try meth”. birds of a feather.
The conclusion works for every problem I guess