Creativity and Critique
Two New Opportunities in 2024
A close look at the December Calendar of Events for Stop Writing Alone would give you a heads up about some NEW plans I have for our community in 2024, but I’d like to take a moment to give you a little more information about each and extend a second invitation to Monday’s live Zoom call (link at the bottom of the post) in case you have any further questions.
First, Why I Am Adding More To The Stop Writing Alone Monthly Calendar
In the past year the monthly calendar for Stop Writing Alone community has included
group accountability and check ins through our Goal Chats
productivity support in the form of Write-ins and the newly added extended Type & Talk meetings
writing muscle workouts through both Writing Practice and Writing Prompt Parties, and
learning about writing in Story Club where we have been reviewing principles of story while examining great works that demonstrate them.
These are the barest-bones descriptions of what all of these meetings offer, but they at least include the primary goals of each.
The two new additions for 2024 will add
creative self care and nurturing if you choose to participate in The Artist’s Way Study Group, and
feedback and discussion of one of your current passion projects if you choose to partake in Critique Crew
These are things that tend to be side effects of many of the interactions we already have in Stop Writing Alone, but are important enough to warrant much more focus. That need, paired with the fact that I believe there are tools I believe we can use as our guiding principles through each, I have designed these two new opportunities for the new year: The Artist’s Way Study Group and Critique Crew.
Keep reading to get a tiny taste of what each program may offer you and your writing life.
(Note: This post contains affiliate links, for more information scroll to the bottom of the post.)
What Is The Artist’s Way Study Group?
If you are unfamiliar with Julia Cameron’s book/course The Artist’s Way, here is a brief description from Bookshop.org:
Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery.
The program begins with Cameron's most vital tools for creative recovery - The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a "Creative Cluster" of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors.
A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.
In the beginning of Stop Writing Alone, there were many discussions of The Artist’s Way program on the podcast. Between my own experiences and those shared by other community members, it was a constant hot topic of conversation. It is not a new program by any stretch, but it may be new to you, and if it is I will let you know that Julia Cameron designed it to be a 12-week program that you go through using the 12 chapters in her book of the same name. Depending on the group you participate in, or how you personally approach such projects, this can be a very intense 12 weeks. I have approached the program intensely at some times, and very casually at others. It is my assertion that whatever way you engage with The Artist’s Way, there is value in the program, so I wanted to present a very user-friendly look at the program over the course of the year.
My Stretched Out Study Plan
Here’s my plan: rather than take on The Artist’s Way in 12 intense weeks, we stretch it to a slow and steady approach over 12 months. Each month of 2024 we will have an Artist’s Way Study Group chat where we can discuss the lessons and tasks of each chapter as we accomplished them (or not) throughout the month.
Will this have the same effect as a 12 week intensive? Honestly, I don’t know. Part of me wants to say no, but another part of me is saying, Hey, Nicole! Don’t assume anything! You’ve never tried it this way before! Every time I work through The Artist’s Way I am always more intrigued by the spirit of the lessons than the specificities of the tasks, so this fits in line with that.
That’s it, really. What you would need to participate fully is access to a copy of The Artist’s Way.
Questions?
If you have more questions about it, please feel free to leave a comment on this post, or to come to our meeting on Monday.
What is Critique Crew?
Critique Crew is not as new to this space as the idea of taking on The Artist’s Way in the community. Some of you may remember my call for a crew last year:
This year I am looking for cohort two of Critique Crew, and trying to find out how much of cohort one is looking for another round.
In case this is all brand spanking new to you, let me begin with what my current vision of Critique Crew is:
Critique Crew is a group of writers devoted to the development of a modern day, compassionate, inclusive, constructive critique group. We are learning from texts like Craft In The Real World by Matthew Salessess and The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez in order to find ways to dismantle and rebuild the traditional Writing Workshop in order to engage in conversations around our work that best serve the author and their intended audience.
-Quick & Dirty Critique Crew Conversations Workbook by Nicole Rivera
In short, the purpose of our work together is two-fold:
Critique each other’s writing to ensure we each write the stories we want to write for the audiences we want to read them.
To learn from our process to hone in on a critiquing process that best serves the writers we are working with as well as ourselves.
The work of cohort one was incredible in busting up many of our preconceived notions about writing workshops, giving and receiving feedback, and learning about how we speak about our own and other’s writing. I want share those findings with a new group and build upon it in the year ahead.
What’s the plan?
Unlike The Artist’s Way Study Group, this crew will not be something you can dip in and out of throughout the course of our meetings. Deciding to partake in Critique Crew is chosing to dedicate some serious time to the growth of your writing and that of your fellow community members. In January, we will begin with a reading requirement and a group discussion of the book you have read. The requirements would be as follows:
FIRST TIMERS: read Craft In The Real World by Matthew Salesses
COHORT ONE RETURN CREW: read The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
(Note about the readings: Both of these books are written for an academic setting which I recognize we are not. Part of our work — and mostly my work — in Critique Crew is to find a way to bring the ideas put forth in these texts to a wider community. Our discussions of the books will include frank and honest discussions about what parts do and do not translate to our space.)
Once the books are read and discussed, you will decide whether or not this endeavor is one you wish to partake in. When we have an idea of who our active participants are going to be, then we can create a schedule that best fits their needs as a group for the duration of the program. It is at that time that the crew will be decided on for the season and no new members will be able to enter that cohort afterward. As an example, this is the model of scheduling we worked through with cohort one:
Once the prerequisite reading and discussion is complete, the length of a Critique Crew session will equal one week per participant (ie. in a four person group, the session will last four weeks, in a six person group, the session will last six weeks). There will be no groups larger than 6 persons. In this current model each participant will have one week to be the “author of the week.” It is expected that each author is an active participant in all the weeks of Critique Crew, not only when their work is submitted, but also as a reader of their crew’s work.
-Quick & Dirty Critique Crew Conversations Workbook by Nicole Rivera
Again, this is the bare bones description of the plan ahead. It scratches the surface, but I don’t think it’s necessary to go into much more detail with a wide audience that may not be interested. So, do you have…
Questions?
If you have more questions about it, please feel free to leave a comment on this post, or to come to our meeting on Monday.
Come to Our Chat!
Monday, December 18th is our End of Year Chat Open to All Writers. I’m looking to celebrate everyone’s writing wins, take a peek at their plans for the year ahead (if they have any yet), and take time to discuss these two programs with all the attendees. So, if you have any interest and are available at 3pm Eastern, please join us even if it is just to celebrate!
Here’s the link you need to join:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85684520298?pwd=ZVhSeDdGcG1oaHUrZ214d1ltMWpUQT09
Meeting ID: 856 8452 0298
Passcode: DEC23WRITE
Note About Affiliate Links to Bookshop.org
You may notice that many of the external links to book information on Stop Writing Alone direct you to Bookshop.org. This is because I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org. This means that if you make a purchase using any of these links I may get a small commission from that purchase. This does not add to the cost of your purchase, it is paid by to me by bookshop.org. I have chosen to be an affiliate for bookshop.org because I love how their company is designed to support independent bookshops. In case you are new to this company, here’s a little about them:
Bookshop.org works to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world.
We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading, and we're committed to helping them thrive.Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Our platform gives independent bookstores tools to compete online and financial support to help them maintain their presence in local communities.