Journey Juju

Curious Amsterdam: Tap Your Creative Juju

Curious Excursions from Original Impulse

Amsterdam June 13th - 19th, 2010

You see inspiration for art in the world all around you, but you haven’t picked up a paintbrush or even a piece of sketching charcoal in months. You know that you want to be a writer – but you have pages of notebooks left unfilled. You’re starting to question your creative capabilities. Maybe you don’t really have the magic to create art inside you.

Don’t despair. If you’ve lost your creative juju, we know the perfect way to gather more.

Curious Excursions is a creativity workshop hosted in beautiful, mad, eclectic, unflappable Amsterdam, a city full of feasts for your senses. You’ll join an adventurous tribe of artists just like yourself – people who badly want to give in to the impulse to create, but lack the inspiration, the fire, the hidden magic.

#best09 - Project I'm Proud Of

I'm proud of completing my novel in February, but I'm most proud of conceiving and completing and launching my e-book, The Graceful Return: Relish Your Journey After You've Come Home.

After I came back from my year-long trip, I found it hard to get a grip on my new reality. I sensed that others might go through the same thing.

People returning from the Peace Corps or other service abroad, those being returned home after a stint in the company's international office, students coming home from a year abroad...we all face that challenge of integrating what we just experienced with our new lives back home.

I'm also proud of the cover that I designed. It's been my challenge to bring a more visual element into my work, and this wasn't easy. I observed the creative process full-on:

• getting the idea that I could do the cover myself
• my insistence that it had to be artistic, in order to reflect the premise that art-making approaches can help process the journey
• realizing I had no clue how to do that
• trying a few things
• getting feedback that indicated I was striking out
• brainstorming with Elizabeth to get a better sense of what I wanted
• trusting it would work out
• bringing it all together
• executing it, photographing it
• getting positive feedback on the cover
• finally, celebrating.

I believe that living the creative process through making things is such a valuable experience. I want others to have the gift of their creativity as a path to self-understanding.

That's why I wrote this book.

#best09 - Best New Person

I like my friends smart, but Joseph Coplans of Ink Stain Inc. leads the pack in nimble and deep thinking.

Joseph isn't new to my life - I've known him for a couple of years now. But this year our friendship moved to new heights, and I consider Joseph to be one of my most valued personal and professional advisors.

Some days I think Joseph has saved me from going down a soulless path with my work.

Joseph is a whip-sharp writer. His true gift is helping entrepreneurs tap the deeper meaning of what they do. A conversation with Joseph helps you understand what you do, what you really do, and the true impact you have on the world. Armed with that understanding, you can more easily communicate your value to potential clients.

I love the work Joseph is doing - marrying mythology and business in a new way that helps what he calls 'emotive entrepreneurs' understand and describe their work more easily.

Joseph is a stellar example of the best kind of man - tons of heart + incredible smarts + real world savvy.

And he's a lot of fun to hang out with.

#best09 - Best Car Ride

Paris: February, with Heather of Secrets of Paris.

Hands down the best car ride of the year. I’m in the front seat of a Porsche down the Champs-Elysées after drinking champagne to toast the completion of my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach.

The city is glittering, I've completed the last draft of my novel, and I'm feeling free, alive and slightly fancy.

#best09 - Best Packaging

I love Retro 1951 pen packaging. Here's a photo of the tube and box the pen comes in.

Read more about these amazing pens and my pen juju.

#best09 - Best Moment of Peace

The fireplace, with Coco. Is she crossing her paws for good luck for me?

February, a small village in the south of France. I was standing in front of the fireplace at the bed and breakfast I was housesitting. I wasn’t experiencing peace per se but rather a sense of deep satisfaction. And it wasn’t from the cozy fire I was tending.

I had just finished my 14th (and final!) draft of my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. The peace came not from finishing it, but from feeling really good about it. Finally, after writing this book for ten years, I knew that it was good. It’s a good novel.

If you write or create, you know what a rare and beautiful thing it is to feel absolutely good about what you have produced.

Furthermore, I experienced a new commitment to see my book published. I decided then and there that it wasn’t an if, but a when. This is a novel about an amazing woman, Sylvia Beach, and I want more people to know and be inspired by her story.

Sylvia Beach

My agent is shopping the novel around now. A bottle of prosecco is chilling in the refrigerator awaiting the big, good news that a publisher is making an offer. If that offer doesn’t come, I’ll take other avenues to publish Chasing Sylvia Beach.

Now, It’s cold in my Victorian attic in Denver. I don’t have a fireplace to tend but an electric heater buzzing. I’ll use the deep, satisfying heat generated from my years of writing Chasing Sylvia Beach to warm me while I wait for news. Any advice on how I can keep the publication fires burning even while waiting? I welcome your comments.

#best09 - Best Book

In 2009, I haven't read nearly as much as I usually do, but I plan to reverse that trend in 2010. Reading and sharing books is one of my greatest pleasures. As a former bookseller, I love connecting people and books.

This summer, I read Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett. In it, Ann recounts the story of her friendship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy. The (academic, literary) writer's life: vying for grants, submitting work, gathering rejections.

Beautifully written, this book is a testament to what it takes to build a successful writing life, as well as a moving story of a complex friendship. 

Book recommendations for 2010 are welcome, particularly good fiction. 

#best09: Best Article

I drew a blank when thinking abut the articles I had read this year. I can barely keep track of the books I read.

Oh, wait, I totally keep track of the books I read and you should too. Here's how. 

The article that finally surfaced to be claimed 'best' is actually from late 2008. It's still fresh and relevant, and one I want to share with others.

The Top Ten Social Networks for Creative People by Mark McGuinness of Lateral Action. The title says it all. 

Photo by luc legay

Blog Update & What's Where

Shooting in Amsterdam

I’ve enjoyed plenty of travel this year (two five-week trips in Europe, phew!). I’m happy to store my suitcase and buckle down on my winter projects. I have a backlog (would that be a back-blog?) of posts about my recent trip that I’ll be posting soon.

Stay tuned for reports on shopping in Europe, the variety of European markets, best places to eat in Venice and the best overall food award…it’s probably not what you think!

And watch for news of my 2010 European creativity excursions. I'm developing the curriculum now!

My posts about how to make writing and creating easier are on the Original Impulse blog. Travel-related posts will be on the Journey Juju blog.

Be sure to subscribe to both blogs for tips and inspiration on how to be most creative at work, home, in the studio and on the road.

My Graceful Return

Words spilling out after my return

On the night I returned from my five-week trip to Europe, the family I live with was hosting a pumpkin carving party. By the time I arrived from Paris, they were done carving and were enjoying dinner. I sat down, gave headlines from the trip and ate a bowl of curried squash soup. It was a beautiful and autumnal return from a long and challenging trip. 

This may have been the most difficult trip I have ever taken. Honestly I am surprised I made it the entire five weeks. But that’s another story; it would be great if I could turn it into a screenplay. I see it as a movie starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Tom Cruise. :) It was also a trip full of unexpected delights, abundant insights and deep learning.

For me, travel almost always presents opportunities to learn and grow beyond my perceived capacity. Think personal growth boot camp, made palatable by tons of beauty and many joyous moments and lots of good food and drink.

So, upon my return, what to do with the complex mix of impressions, thoughts and emotions from one crazy and intense journey?

I’m using the tools from my e-book The Graceful Return to process the insights and learning from my trip. While on the road, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my work and what I want to share with my clients and readers in coming years. Mr. B, a successful businessman, gave me a lot of feedback (some painful - think dry shave and you get it). I’m busy sorting through it all to develop my work. 

Recovering from a Mobile Lifestyle

From Part One of The Graceful Return, I’m using several of the self-care practices I recommend. I’m talking about my experiences with good friends, who are helping me unpack and understand what I experienced. I’m making sure to exercise and eat nourishing foods. Most importantly, I spend time each day reflecting on the lessons from my trip. My notebook is packed with wildly enthusiastic notes and sketches. I also know that this process takes time and I may still be gathering insights months and even years later.

 

The Original Impulse home office