My experience of completing The Artist’s Way course was both rewarding and challenging and looking back, there are ways to ensure you finish the course and get the most out of it.
This course may look daunting to you or not, either way, these tips will help you see it through.
1. Make an honest commitment to yourself
Commit to completing the entire 12-week program and treat it as the highest priority. By doing this, you are honoring your creative journey. Do not underestimate this. You need to keep yourself accountable. Sign a contract, wear a ring, whatever gets the job done.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves too.”
– William Hutchison Murray
The act of committing is often the difference between sticking with a new habit or not. You might have to renew this commitment if you feel your commitment wavering. It’s normal and part of the process.
2. Establish a Routine
It’s essential to create a weekly rhythm to stay consistent. It’s important to give this some thought and come up with a plan since this is something completely new that you are trying to fit into your regular life. Where will this fit in and what will you have to sacrifice?
Luckily The Artist’s Way does not require hours of your time. You need an hour or two each week to read the Chapter, about 30 min in the morning to write your morning pages, and about two hours spread throughout the week for the tasks and your Artist’s date which can take anything from two hours or a whole day (it’s up to you).
This is what I did and it worked very well.
I started each week by reading the corresponding chapter on a Sunday. This meant I could read it at leisure and maximize my absorption. Then I would jump into the tasks on Monday. I would do the tasks sporadically throughout the week and didn’t clear my schedule for a specific time. I just fit them in here and there when I had a moment.
I tried to write my morning pages every morning even if I only managed to write a paragraph. I often continued the journalling in the evenings if I felt my emotions stirring or had a significant reaction either positive or negative.
I allocated every Saturday to be my Artist date day – just to simplify things. Then Sunday would always be my check-in day again.
It might be useful to track this in a habit-tracking app or a pen-on-paper method. You can create one on Canva using a template. I like having a physical one where I can see it.
If you want to learn more about building new habits as a creative person, read this: Habits, Systems & Routines for Improved Creativity
3. Keep a video diary
Instead of writing down how you feel at every check-in (once a week) record yourself and talk about how you feel and what you experienced that week. I felt too lazy to write down all of the subtleties but it would have been valuable looking back to have that information and to see the progression I made.
I will definitely do this when I start the course again.
4. Know what to expect
At the beginning of the book, Julia Cameron describes an exact cycle of events that most people experience. She details the emotional rollercoaster that you can expect. I don’t know why, but I must have bypassed this somehow. It was only after I re-read the book that I read what to expect and realized that I had the exact experience. It would have helped to have this information in the back of my mind for the duration of the experience.
This is the cycle in case you miss it too…
Phases of Recovery
- Giddiness or Defiance
- Explosive Anger
- Grief
- Waves of Resistance and Hope (Peaks & Valleys)
- Strong Urge to Abandon
- Re-Commitment triggers major ego surrender
- Final phase = new sense of self
5. Embrace the Process
Allow yourself to fully engage with the activities and exercises, even if they seem unconventional or uncomfortable at first. Embrace the opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth that the course offers. Trust the process and be open to what unfolds. This is vital. If you go into it with distrust, you will undermine your own chance at healing.
Keep in mind that your subconscious wants to keep you stuck because it is familiar so it will come up with plenty of logical reasons why this is a giant waste of time. Take note of those nuggets of fear, write them down under ‘Silly things my inner critic says’ and carry on.
6. Stick to Morning Pages
‘In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. I ask you to do this b an apparently pointless process I call the Morning pages.’
Julia Cameron
Morning Pages are a foundational practice in “The Artist’s Way.” Set aside time each morning to write three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts. Be consistent with this practice as it helps clear mental clutter, boost creativity, and uncover insights.
I think adding your morning pages’ writings to your digital notetaking system could be very useful for the future. Just something to think about.
My biggest hack regarding writing morning pages is to keep a highlighter alongside your pen and book. Use it to highlight insights or things you want to do or remember. You can even color-code this for ease of reference so it’s easy to spot. Pink for insights, Green for To-dos & Goals, Yellow for affirmations, Orange for inner critic, etc.
If you need more info about Morning Pages I wrote this article: Morning Pages Will Save Your Life
7. Prioritize Artist Dates
I still find this so strange, but the most fun thing you are asked to do in The Artist’s Way course is the one most of us struggle with the most. I had a hard time keeping a date with myself (what does that say about me?) and I know plenty of others who did too.
Artist dates involve setting aside time to nourish your creative spirit by engaging in activities that inspire you (and your inner child). Treat these dates as essential appointments with yourself.
If in doubt, read Artist’s Dates: Cultivating Creativity
Explore new places, visit art exhibits, listen to live music, or simply take a quiet walk in nature. Allow yourself to be open to inspiration and follow your creative instincts.
Plan for these activities in advance to give yourself less room to escape.
I have recently found that it is incredibly beneficial to get into the habit of naming things you want, whether it be a thing or an experience. When you start thinking about what you want, you start uncovering how to progress in your life and start to follow your heart.
I would strongly suggest having a list of activities ready so you can quickly refer to it since most of us are incredibly bad at coming up with these on the spot. Start a list and keep adding to it. Even better, keep the list in your Morning Pages journal so you can add to it as they occur to you.
8. Create a Supportive Environment
Surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your creative pursuits. Share your journey with friends, family, or fellow artists who understand and appreciate your aspirations. Seek out or form a small group of individuals going through “The Artist’s Way” or engage in online communities to exchange ideas and support one another.
As you go through this course, you could find yourself feeling vulnerable and in need of a supportive shoulder. You might not find that in an online forum but it could help to at least have one friend to call when the time arises.
I wrote in depth on the topic of creating an environment to support your creativity here
9. Creative Clusters
Cameron encourages readers to form or join creative clusters—small groups of like-minded individuals who gather to support each other’s artistic aspirations. These clusters provide a supportive community for sharing ideas, feedback, and encouragement. These are people who are also doing the course so you can compare notes and discuss your experiences.
She includes a chapter in the back of the book on exactly how to start a creative cluster which could be very useful for you. I might try this the second time around. I can imagine that it would add another level of depth to the experience.
10. Plan on increasing your self-care
The moment you commit to doing this course, I would advise you to just up the ante on your usual self-care or lack thereof. Buy some aromatherapy bath oils and candles if you know what I mean. You will need some extra pampering during the 12 weeks. Take better care of yourself because you are going to feel a bit more raw and fragile than usual. Nothing to be scared of, just have those extra comforts ready to soothe yourself.
This includes the basics of sleeping and eating well – don’t skip those!
11. Download my workbook to help you keep track
The moment I started the tasks I found it very annoying flipping from the book to look at the questions, to then writing my answers in a separate journal, only to look back later and not knowing what I was writing about. I decided to make myself a workbook with all the questions and tasks and enough room to write the answers and journal prompts in. I wanted to create something that would help me track my progress better and that I would be able to read in the future. I can now also re-use it again and again since it’s digital as well as printable.
Check it out here on Etsy it’s probably less than $10 and I’m sure you will get a lot more value for your money. The time it will save you alone is worth more than $10.
12. Journaling Beyond Morning Pages
While Morning Pages are a fundamental practice, some people find value in journaling beyond those three pages. Consider incorporating additional journaling sessions throughout the week to reflect on your creative journey, explore ideas, and record insights.
While you are going through this journey of self-discovery and recovery, you might as well go deep and take advantage of the process. I found that I wrote about very different things at night. Different topics came up and it was incredibly therapeutic. I’ve never been someone who enjoyed journaling but after completing the course, I’m a convert.
If you are interested in learning more about journaling here’s an article I wrote titled: Journaling for Sanity & Self-Growth
13. Find an Accountability Buddy
Partnering up with someone else who is also going through “The Artist’s Way” can provide mutual support and accountability. You can check in with each other regularly, share insights, and discuss your progress. Having someone to share the journey with can enhance motivation and foster a sense of community.
This tip is specifically for those of you who can’t start a creative cluster for whatever reason.
14. Don’t stop after the 12th week
“The Artist’s Way” is not just a 12-week program but a lifelong creative journey. Apply the principles and practices learned throughout the course beyond the 12 weeks. Integrate them into your daily life to nurture and sustain your creativity in the long run.