The Write to Return
Cultivating Creative Cohorts, Yes! And, Turning Inwards. Introducing "The Hack Shack", a Home for My Art, Haiku, Poems, and Short Stories.
Greetings Creative Convergence subscribers! Starting mid-December, I found myself laden with work requirements that held me down ~ with nose just above water! ~ until just recently. But, I was able to find time to nurture creative connections and start a short-form writing practice (all of my haiku, poems and short stories are now here!).
This post shares a few tips on cultivating creative cohorts and introduces my newest direction: writing, writing and more creative writing. Are you writing? Let me know what is inspiring you!
How do you balance your work and daily-life requirements with your creative expression?
On Cultivating Creative Cohorts
#1 Find An Artist Buddy.
I have an artist buddy. Do you? I call on mine frequently for art adventures. Our conversations meander from the scientific (he’s a physicist!) to the artistic, from the philosophical to the practical. Half of our time is spent talking with the other half in silent parallel play, sketching in our sketchbooks.
Our first adventure was to Walden Pond, which I wrote about here:
We convened again over the winter at a local coffee shop where I drew the old radio on a bookshelf while sipping a mocha. Hhe drew a fishbowl view of seated patrons.
Another weekend, we visited his favorite Ramen shop. While sampling authentic Japanese comfort food, I drew the Saki bottles behind him.
Last year, we spent half a Sunday at the local waterfall, enjoying some side-by-side plein air sketching and watercolor.
#2 Meet Up With Artists (with no pressure to create)
Most communities have a club or a group of artists. We have a small one where I live. It’s four of us, sometimes less. So long as two of us show up, it’s a meet up. At our most recent event, we chose not to create. Instead, we chatted, told stories, and enjoyed each other’s company. Here’s my artist crew (I’m in the blue coat).
#3 Get Intimate; Invite Them Over.
I invited my artist friends over for an InstaPot soup dinner. Easy, no frills, and cheap. Why hadn’t I done this before? Why don’t I do it more often? I really can’t say, but I highly encourage you to give it a try! We not only fed ourselves, but fed our souls… and built stronger relationships.
The next weekend, I invited them over for brunch. Again, another easy, no frills event, in the comfort of my own home We used to do this back in the 70’s and 80’s. It feels so right and so human!
#4 Introverted? Travel Virtually!
I don’t always want to be around people, but there are still ways to cultivate creative cohorts in other ways. On a shut-in, snowy day, I wanted to draw but couldn’t go anywhere. And, honestly didn’t want to anyway (although if it were to be anywhere it would have been the library, but it was closed). Photos online of our library did the trick. I spent a few hours inking these scenes from other people’s snapshots of the library from Google Maps. By the end of my dining room table, solitary session, I had a series and felt like I had been there! I also posted them and tagged the library which brought joy to others seeing my renditions of the stacks! Perhaps not a creative cohort practice, but I was able to connect to the outside world and share my art from the comfort of home. We don’t always have to be out in the real world to be inspired!
Return to Writing For Myself
For the last year (since the June 1st 2024 art expo I organized), I’ve been using the Creative Convergence Substack as a place to write about others or my adventures alongside others. While I’m still doing that (read here the most recent update on the Young Refugee Artists in Uganda), I found myself needing to return to myself. At first, I wondered if I had the right to. Should I be spending time on myself? And, then realized it was a ridiculous question. And, then I remembered my encouragement over the last year - say yes! Say YES to yourself, Emily! So I did.
I started keeping a journal full of writing plus PhoMemo stickers. If you haven’t heard of the photo-sticker craze, I highly recommend it. My journal is now prompted by the pictures I take IRL (or the ones I download from the internet like the cover art of my favorite The Joy Formidable album).
My recent return to writing put me back on the path to creating short form stories, poems and haiku often accompanied by watercolor art.
And, now that April is here (Poetry Month!), I’m establishing a habit of daily writing and communing with other short story, poetry, and haiku writers, especially on BlueSky (connect with me there). Are you one? I’d love to meet you!
I’ve also joined the April Commonplace Book Club (CBC) hosted by
of . It just started, so come join us! I’m logging quotes daily from sources I find that interest me (mostly on the topic of poetry and prose currently) into a special book (I chose a Red-Bubble journal with art from Esther Tharhous, one of the young refugee artists from Nakivale Young Talent Community!)
Are you keeping a commonplace book? If so, drop me a comment! I’d love to follow you!
April is Poetry Month
As an homage to April, the Poetry Month, here is my favorite poem that I’ve written so far along with watercolor; the full post is on my new personal Substack called “The Hack Shack - A Writer’s Haven”. Check it out!
So I dress
My wound with crimson blooms
Atop the cream of mother’s milk
To form a cup to hold
Lost dreams once more.
In fascimile, she appears
Releasing my desire to resurrect
The ephemeral past.
Joy from my page springs,
Palpable optimism
So close I taste it.
Thank you for reading!
I’ll see you again when the next Creative Convergence moment arises (Next up for me will be planting a garden with my artist buddy!)
In the meantime, I’d love to hear how you are writing for yourself, returning to yourself, cultivating creative cohorts, or spending Spring!
Welcome back! Good to hear you've been having fun in the world that actually counts, but it had felt a little quiet lately. Cheers!