For a while now I’ve been pushing myself to be brave and to post my writing, share my photography, reveal my dreamboard collages and, just generally, to allow my creativity free and full expression. It’s not been easy by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, oftentimes I felt positively nauseous after having published a poem to the blog!
However, it’s been a truly liberating experience. One which has left me feeling vulnerable, but empowered in some quite essential way.
As I was explaining this on Twitter recently, I suddenly discovered that there were many people out there who would like to share their creative self-expression, but who either don’t have a platform to share it on & a community to share it with, or are just feeling too scared to allow themselves to become that vulnerable.
So, after giving this some thought, I’ve decided to start a creativity circle. One of the comments often left by my students on my tutorial feedback forms is that I managed to create a space where they felt they could safely contribute – a nurturing space, if you will. This has also been the feedback from the conferences that I’ve organized for phd students delivering their first academic papers.
I would like to bring this quality into the Less Ordinary Creativity Circles. Don’t get me wrong – I realize it’ll still be a scary thing to do to share your writing, your images etc. But what you’ll find here is a welcoming, supportive community who are not interested in picking apart your creativity, but who are far more interested in building it up. I do moderate comments here, and everyone who comments here for the 1st time is moderated before posting. I know I have a lovely community of commenters here, however, I want to make it clear that I will not tolerate any less than supportive comments designed to undermine fledgling creativity. Any comments of this sort will not be posted, so that everyone can share, safe in the knowledge that this is a safe place to do so.
I want this to be a space where you can strengthen your root system and begin to branch out. I want you to take a chance on yourself. To take a leap into your creativity & see what results. I want you to embrace that part of you which feels vulnerable and I want you to know that it’s ok to feel apprehensive about sharing. It’s not meant to be easy – the most rewarding things in life rarely are.
So how’s this going to work? Well, most weekends I’m going to give you a prompt – this may be visual or a quote or an idea or a theme or even a combination of any of these. It’s then up to you to respond to the prompt in whichever way feels right to you and share the results. You can have a go at collaging, painting, photography, fiction, journalling, dance, poetry, whatever you fancy – the possibilities are, quite literally, endless.
You can either post the results in the comment box, or you can share links to where you’ve shared them elsewhere online: Flickr, RedBubble, DeviantArt, YouTube, Vimeo, your own blog etc. Occasionally, however, we’ll go prompt-free and I’ll just give you free reign to share whatever you’ve been working on. I won’t be closing comments (I never do, anyway!), but if you want the full benefit of the support and encouragement that the community can offer, then it’s probably best that you post your contribution within the week.
I’m planning to put together recap posts so we can highlight and celebrate everyone’s creativity, and I’ll be doing that towards the end of the week. As this is the first time I’m doing it though, I’m going to have to play things by ear, and see how it all works out, so I may need to make adjustments to the schedule etc.
I’ll be posting the first prompt later today so we can all get going straight away. Exciting, isn’t it?
So one question still remains… Do you dare?
PS If you’re still a little nervous about accepting this invitation, watch this fabulous video on vulnerability:
Vulnerable Is Beautiful from Rachael Maddox on Vimeo.
I dare.
And oof, talk about insecurities… the thought of sharing my creative work scares the **** out of me. But… I have faith that it’ll be the best possible encouraging, nurturing environment here, and that’s really exciting.
I’m in!
Allison Day´s last blog ..An Interview with Casson Trenor
This comes at an opportune time. My creative spirit is feeling a bit shaky – and for an odd sort of reason. I’ve been shooting photography and found it was getting to be too serious, to business-y. SO I just got a really fun, new camera,but not one that fits the “I’m a serious photography” model. I want to let loose and be creative, but I’m hesitating. Arrgh! So I’m hoping your prompts with be “photographable” ones.
Bo Mackison´s last blog ..A New Addition to My (Camera) Family
Fun idea Amy
A prompt is always an interesting way to discover new directions too 
I’ll join in. A couple of years ago I was really aprehensive about showing my work, espcecially the more personal things that I had previously only ever done for my own enjoyment. I picked “reveal” as my word of the year and set off 
With each piece you show that muscle becomes stronger 
Rhiannon´s last blog ..Five on a Friday – Crafty Resources.
Amy
this is wonderful! Exciting! I dare..I hope…
Let’s dance and see where the spirit takes us!
Wendi Kelly´s last blog ..Life Choices
I used to think it was a flaw that after publishing a website a week later I could hardly bare to look at it. As a designer I have very hi standards and I could see the flaws or places I could improve and they really grated on me.
I published around 150 or so websites and I recently came across a portfolio of of the site front pages. Retrospectively what stood out was they were of their time and collectively made quite a collection which I’d be more than happy to cuddle up to and say proudly “I did these”.
What changed? I can see from here that they were commercially successful. As I gained experience I stopped being hyper critical.
This is such a refreshing and awesome idea, Amy! I love it. Count me in.
Lately I’ve been trying to get into a creative swing and failing to put in as much time and effort that I should. It’s party a fear of failure and partly a fear of commitment. Since graduating I’ve felt like every choice I make is going to follow/haunt me til the end… which is ridiculous, of course, but thank you for creating an outlet where I can try to get over that. I’m also really looking forward to seeing everyone else’s contributions.
Nicola´s last blog ..Things I Love Thursday!
I dare.
I think the more we all support each other to dare, the more flippin’ amazing we all become.
So yes, I dare.
Joanna Young´s last blog ..Some Words that Count
So many wanting to join in – how exciting!! This is so much fun
Thank you all for daring and thank you also for being the wonderful, supportive community I already knew you all were.
I think that not only can we grow by embracing our own creativity, but by supporting others to do so as well, and by providing that nurturing environment, we can really help others to embrace it too.
Thanks again!
Amy
xx
I dare. Expect whacky ideas from Wales!
Okay, I’ll dare … though I don’t know how much time I’ll have to be creative for the next few weeks, since we’re moving soon. But, still!
–Deb´s last blog ..Climate Change
I dare…it’s up today.
oops..here’s the link
http://janicecartier.com/staying-loose
I double dog dare myself to not be afraid. Thank you! I use live.com’s free blog space right now.
Tina Didreckson´s last blog ..What I learned from limits in genealogy