Nurturing the Artist in You When a Project is Done

Recently I completed my second novel, Q, and I am noticing that my inner artist is loving life, and a bit adrift at the same time--searching for a new idea to put onto paper.

My first novel took many years to write; the second took a much shorter time--so I am eager to find a new direction to go in to keep the momentum going.

At the same time, I am enjoying the feelings of accomplishment at completing such a big project. It's almost like graduating from high school or college. I remember at those times a feeling of short-lived euphoria, and then asking myself, "What next?'

It's an adventure certainly and it reminds me of what it means to be a creative person in the world--the drive to express an idea--the desire to entertain and share with others.

I know a new idea is out there waiting for me to pluck its strands and weave it into a text. My artist can't wait. In the meantime, I am nurturing her with lots of new experiences, side trips, and exposure to nature. She loves that!

I am so grateful for all I have learned through the process of finishing my novels, especially since I can be of help to others who are writing their stories. Recently I have had the privilege of reading several new works by up-and-coming authors. It is a joy and honor to be present to their process and realize how much my experience can shine light on their work.

Viva Writing!

www.marianlindner.com

If You Are a Creative Artist, You Must Read This!

Recently I have been reading Julia Cameron's The Artists Way and was struck by her point that being in a bad relationship can block an artist. It seems like a no-brainer, but when thinking about this in context of loving an emotionally unavailable partner, the consequences to a creative artist seem very serious.

Loving someone who has no time for you, is hesitant in some way, loves someone else, or shuts down on an emotional level can really be time-consuming. We spend so much time trying to figure out the one we love that we don't get around to manifesting our dreams, our creative visions.

But the secret Julia Cameron points out is that we do this (consciously or unconsciously) because we are afraid to be creative, afraid to be big, afraid  to be a success, afraid to complete a project.

In many ways, this is the same dilemma I point out in my book: The Emotionally Available Partner. We choose people who are unavailable because we are afraid to be intimate. Intimacy is too scary, so the detour to being with someone who can't show up for us protects us from getting hurt. If we know from the get-go the person we are with can't 'go there' in a relationship, then there is no danger.

But Cameron is suggesting we also may use relationships with emotionally unavailable people to push away our creative dreams, goals, and aspirations.

This is a serious challenge and, more than ever, healing our relationship issues is important and valuable. It means everything, shifting our consciousness and helping us be our true selves in the world.

Choosing someone to love who is there for us, fulfills us, and gives us what we need is a gift that helps the world--allowing us to be creative, share our dreams and visions, to be big and visible, and to enjoy ourselves.

You deserve a rewarding creative life AND a partnership with an emotionally present person! Check out my website for more information: www.marianlindner.com