“The artist's way” by Julia Cameron

The author 🖋

Julia Cameron is an American bestselling author, teacher, artist and filmmaker.

She’s been involved in creative arts for over three decades, written over 40 books, sold millions of copies worldwide and was named "The Queen of Change” by the NYT (probably because her own journey has been marked by struggles with addiction and creative blocks, which she’s openly chronicled).

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Morning pages

Write three pages on whatever comes to mind first thing in the morning.

This daily brain dump helps clear mental clutter, process emotions and tap into our creativity.

Stream-of-consciousness writing without censorship or judgment also allows us to bypass our inner critic and access our deepest thoughts.

2. Artist dates

Weekly solo excursions that Cameron likes to call “artist dates” are powerful tools for self-discovery and creative rejuvenation.

It can be absolutely anything we like, but has to be solo.

Time alone once a week doing something exciting feeds our imagination, keeps our creative spirit alive and helps combat burnout.

3. Creative blocks

It’s important to recognize the limiting beliefs that hinder our creativity.

Cameron shows how we can reframe these beliefs and develop a more supportive inner dialogue.

This process of self-discovery, based on her, is crucial for sustained creative growth.

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book is a guide for unlocking and nurturing our innate creativity.

So many readers report the application of Cameron’s methods being life-changing that it’s impossible to ignore - I’ve decided to implement these routines starting next week myself to see how it feels…