It was so interesting to read, Stephanie! Thank you for this post! Fortunately and unfortunately, I can share this feeling. I experienced a “flow” when I was painting, and I also experienced a loss of my flow. For me, the reason I lost it was because I started turning my art hobby into an art business, and that brought pressure. There are so many things unrelated to art that I have to do if I want to build my art business. And many of them are huge and scary. So now I'm trying to find a balance in this journey. Because I want to share my art, which brings me so much joy, with the world and I want to find a way to build a sustainable business. And I also noticed that I am very comforted by the fact that I don't have to share all my illustrations or stories, I can keep something for myself. And if at some point I want to share it, that would be great. But even if I'm the only person who sees and reads it, the most important thing is that the creation process itself has brought me pleasure and joy. 😌☀️❤️
This is also an aspect I didn’t include in the post. How I don’t write to make money, or need to write to make a living. I can imagine it’s hard to discern your motives when your livelihood is tied to your art. I’m glad your process brings you joy and I think the way you’ve done it — keeping some of your work to yourself — is a good balance.
Wow, thank you so much for saying this! I’m really grateful you thought to comment these words. I have had a confusing few days but reading your compliment has given me a little boost. Thanks for your support.
Hi Mary! It was a new word for me too. It was also a term that made me reflect a lot about myself and my motives. Like I said in the post, it got me thinking about my relationship to writing. All of this work by learning a new word!
Thank you for honesty, Stephanie. I always know you’ll tell the truth. I loved these lines in particular “I write because I can’t scream the rude, stupid, too vulnerable and inappropriate thoughts that refuse to leave my mind. I write to stream words of love and longing, hope, fears, and dreams.” I also write for the same reasons.
It was so interesting to read, Stephanie! Thank you for this post! Fortunately and unfortunately, I can share this feeling. I experienced a “flow” when I was painting, and I also experienced a loss of my flow. For me, the reason I lost it was because I started turning my art hobby into an art business, and that brought pressure. There are so many things unrelated to art that I have to do if I want to build my art business. And many of them are huge and scary. So now I'm trying to find a balance in this journey. Because I want to share my art, which brings me so much joy, with the world and I want to find a way to build a sustainable business. And I also noticed that I am very comforted by the fact that I don't have to share all my illustrations or stories, I can keep something for myself. And if at some point I want to share it, that would be great. But even if I'm the only person who sees and reads it, the most important thing is that the creation process itself has brought me pleasure and joy. 😌☀️❤️
This is also an aspect I didn’t include in the post. How I don’t write to make money, or need to write to make a living. I can imagine it’s hard to discern your motives when your livelihood is tied to your art. I’m glad your process brings you joy and I think the way you’ve done it — keeping some of your work to yourself — is a good balance.
There are very few Substacks that I make sure to take the time to read when they pop into my inbox - yours is one of them! 🫵💖
Wow, thank you so much for saying this! I’m really grateful you thought to comment these words. I have had a confusing few days but reading your compliment has given me a little boost. Thanks for your support.
Autotelic: a new word for me. Thanks for this gift.
Hi Mary! It was a new word for me too. It was also a term that made me reflect a lot about myself and my motives. Like I said in the post, it got me thinking about my relationship to writing. All of this work by learning a new word!
Thank you for honesty, Stephanie. I always know you’ll tell the truth. I loved these lines in particular “I write because I can’t scream the rude, stupid, too vulnerable and inappropriate thoughts that refuse to leave my mind. I write to stream words of love and longing, hope, fears, and dreams.” I also write for the same reasons.