“For most artists, discouragement is the private hell we do not talk about,” says Julia Cameron.
Her antidote for discouragement is finding artist friends who can be “believing mirrors” when we need them to help us move ahead instead of falling into the pit of despair about how the world receives, or refuses to receive, our work.
Looking back over my writing life, I’m humbled and grateful to realize I’ve had such believers from almost the beginning. Mrs. Grow, my junior high journalism teacher, was the first. Then there was the anonymous mirror who quoted Carol King in my poetry notebook, writing next to a poem “You’ve got a friend.” I never knew who that person was, because back then, in the 1970s, I didn’t talk to anybody about my writing.
That changed in the 80s when I found the courage to take a creative writing class, which led to a regular workshop of writing friends, in particular my dear poet friend Pat Kearney, who has since transitioned into poet’s heaven. Pat died in 1999 and it was only in her death that I found my next writing clan, headed by a mutual friend, Kris D’Arcy. Kris still is first reader for much of my work, and she’s always an encouraging mirror.
Attending the Antioch Writer’s Workshop in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 2001 brought me two fast friends and steady mirrors, my critique partners, Beth and Trisha. We have helped each other through heartbreaks and blocks and celebrated successes, too. I’m “doing” the Julia Cameron journey, Finding Water, with them for the next 12 weeks. A lot has changed since I learned The Artist’s Way solo in 1995.
Since September 2002, this blog has boosted my believing mirrors to a level of richness and clarity I am grateful for every day. Thanks for reading!
The net is the perfect hangout for writers; it’s where we go to type out long emails and blogs full of our writerly yearnings and aspirations. I’ve taken online classes with Sara and Barbara and Jenny and the great thing is after the class is over, the believing mirrors continue. All three of these writers maintain loops specifically designed to be believing mirrors. And you don’t have to take a class to join a loop–they’re everywhere in cyberspace.
So that’s my advice for discouragement. Get thee to a believing mirror.
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