About us

Creative ideas can feel daunting at first — whether it’s writing, acting, singing, painting, directing, or anything else. But what if, instead of resisting or abandoning the idea, you chose to cooperate with it? What if you followed it step by step until the work was done… until the creativity unfolded?

As author Julia Cameron writes:

> "As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected."

And just to be clear — when we say “creator” or “God,” it means whatever works for you. For some, it’s a religious or spiritual God; for others, it might be their inner creativity, the Muse, or what Julia calls Good Orderly Direction. All interpretations are welcome here.

Creativity is a path for the brave — even (and especially) when resistance or fear shows up.

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### The Artist’s Way: What to Expect

The Artist’s Way is a course in discovering and recovering your creative self. The book is structured with weekly chapters and exercises. If you join after we’ve started, no worries — you’re welcome to jump in where we are and catch up at your own pace.
This is a commitment, but the heart of it is about building a supportive, accountable space to help keep your creative momentum going.

### If You’re New to The Artist’s Way:

Morning Pages:
Begin your daily practice of writing 3 pages of stream-of-consciousness journaling — just write whatever comes to mind, no filter. While Julia Cameron recommends handwriting these, you are welcome to do them in whatever way feels most comfortable for you—whether that’s a Word document, phone notes, etc.

Tip: For those with busy schedules, setting a 15-minute timer can help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed (you can always "snooze" it or keep going if you’re on a roll!). Since Morning Pages can sometimes take 45 minutes to an hour, some members find that using a timer makes the practice much more manageable.
Artist Date:
Once a week, take yourself on a solo outing that excites or inspires you (not what you think you "should" do). It can be a concert, a craft night, a dance class, anything that lights you up.

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### A Few Key Details

🔹 Breakout Rooms:
We’ll break out into small groups of four (per Julia Cameron’s recommendation) to six for deeper, more personal sharing. This time is the majority of how the meeting is spent. We share what touched or moved us about the week's assignments.
🔹 Peer-Led Discussions (per Cameron’s guidance):
This is a free, volunteer-led group — no gurus here. Just a community of creatives supporting each other. You’ll receive a discussion prompt and a light structure.
🔹 Discussion Guidelines from Julia (we read this before we go into the breakout room to help set the tone and expectations): We each get what we need by sharing our experiences and listening with care. There’s no need to “fix”, advise, or comment—we’re here to witness, not control. Everyone deserves kindness, respect, and space to speak their truth. There’s no one “right” way to do it. Be gentle with yourself and others. Love matters.
When we say “God,” it can mean whatever feels right to you— a religious God, inner creativity, the Universe, The Muse, Good Orderly Direction. All are welcome here.

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### Group Rules — Please Read & Respect:

Be Kind & Respectful – Let’s treat everyone with courtesy and create a drama-free, welcoming space.
No Spam or Self-Promotion – Please help keep the group free of ads and unsolicited messages.
Stay on Topic – Let’s focus on the purpose of the group: nurturing creativity and connection.
Sharing in Group: Please keep shares to 3 mins and refrain from unsolicited advice-giving or trying to “fix” others. Our role is to witness, not direct the other person’s process.
Bullying: Bullying will not be tolerated in this group. If you are found to be bullying, you will be banned and reported to Meetup.
Confidentiality: Please keep what is shared in these meetings confidential to protect privacy & create a safe environment.
Religious or Non-religious Beliefs: When we say “God,” it can mean whatever feels right to you— a religious God, inner creativity, the Universe, The Muse, Good Orderly Direction. All are welcome here.

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### What to Expect at a Typical Meeting:

Introductions & Icebreaker (3 min):
Tell us your name & answer the icebreaker in the chat, while folks arrive.
Overview of the Meeting (2 min):
A quick explanation of what to expect in the session.
Gentle Accountability (3 min):
In the chat, share how many days you completed Morning Pages and what you did for your Artist Date.
Example: “I did 3 days of MPs and went to the Ice Museum for my Artist Date.”
Breakout Rooms (rest of session):
Groups of 4, randomly assigned, for respectful sharing around that week’s discussion prompt. We'll come back to the main room about 5 minutes before the hour to wrap up.
Wrap-Up:
We’ll close with a reminder of the following week’s assignment.
Questions: The host will stay after the meeting to answer any questions.

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### How the Sessions Are Structured:

Each chapter is spread across two weeks to keep things manageable:

Week 1: Read the chapter (no tasks)
Week 2: Complete the tasks from that chapter

This pacing extends the course to 24 weeks instead of 12, but allows for more space and support along the way.

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⏰ Note:
Entry to the meeting will close at 4:10 pm Central to help us create a respectful space for everyone’s shares. Thanks so much for your understanding! 😊

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P.S.
Want to stay connected and encouraged throughout the week?
Join our Facebook group here:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/782964946936136