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Creative Lift 55- Create Story Moments

Creative Lift 55- Create Story Moments

In today’s episode, Living the Artful Life: Create Story Moments we’ll pay attention to the moments that make up our lives and think about how we might intentionally create opportunities for connection and joy.

To me, living an artful life isn’t so much about what I make or do, but more about the way I pay attention. That phrase, pay attention, reminds me that in each moment I have a choice. How will I spend the precious gift of time and focus? Will I make a choice at all?

Paying attention to our stories, and being intentional about creating them, is a meaningful part of living an artful life. Need a practical strategy to get you started? Listen through the end of the episode for a simple starting point.

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 EPISODE LINKS:

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for his fantastic editing of the show.

 

Creative Lift 54- Listen Deeply

Creative Lift 54- Listen Deeply

Why is listening important in the artful Life?

In episode 54 of Creative Lift: Living the Artful Life: Listen Deeply we’ll explore how the practice of listening deeply can open unexpected doorways in your artful life.

What if, instead of filling our calendars with pre-determined goals, we took time to listen for the possibilities first? Listening opens up an invitation for surprise, and can lead to self-discovery as well as discovery about the world and others. It can be surprising what we learn when we are willing to listen deeply.

In Herself, Madeleine L’Engle writes, “I think we begin to tune into our creative subconscious by reading, and by reading attentively, by listening to what we read and listening to other people. Very often when talking to other people, we will catch ourselves thinking about what we’re going to say next instead of really listening. It’s something I don’t think any of us is immune from. But then you have to try to shut yourself out and hear what is underneath what the person is saying–which is often far more important than what is actually said. It’s something we practice in our daily living all the time. But I think, perhaps, artists of all disciplines practice it more consciously.”

What might be possible for you if you practiced intentional listening? If that sounds difficult, not to worry! In the episode, I share one practical practice I like to use to support me in deepening my listening. If you try it out, I hope you’ll share your experiences with me on Instagram or you can also reply to me by email. If you aren’t on the email list and you’d like to connect, sign up below.

LISTEN IN:

 

 EPISODE LINKS:

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for his fantastic editing of the show.

 

Creative Lift 53 – You’ve Already Started

Creative Lift 53 – You’ve Already Started

In Season Seven of Creative Lift, our theme is Living the Artful Life. Today’s episode is titled, You’ve Already Started.

It’s been a while since we last published a season of Creative Lift, partially because I’ve been living my own version of the artful life in these past few months. In January, I dove into a new challenge, stepping in as the Interim Executive Director at Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory. When the opportunity first presented itself, I was surprised by the way I immediately leaned in, feeling drawn toward a wholehearted “yes!” Given that I also wear a number of other hats professionally and creatively, it didn’t seem to make sense to add more to my plate.

But that’s the thing about an artful life—it’s surprising and unpredictable. An artful life colors outside the lines of expectations. And when you’re living the artful life, you find that the support you need shows up in serendipitous ways.

I’m sure I’ll tell you more of this unfolding story at some point, of what it has meant to play an interim role, and what I have learned from my experience. For now, I’ll share one lesson I’ve learned with regard to the artful life.

Stepping into new creative territory may require engaging with a different set of circumstances and people. For me, familiar challenges I’d faced for years at Society of Young Inklings presented themselves as infinitely more solvable when seen through the lens of a fresh organization. Questions people had asked me that had seemed beside the point came into focus as essential. I realized I needed to answer these core questions for the theatre and then turn right around and answer them for SYI. Also, the additional perspective and expertise of this new group of people helped me erase my fear and self-doubt. Issues that seemed like personal shortcomings revealed themselves to be business as usual.

There’s a myth about “real” artists, that they are lone geniuses. My experience is that the further I isolate myself, the more challenging it becomes to dream up courageous solutions and innovative work. That said, if we chose to engage in interesting, eclectic opportunities, if we don’t close ourselves away in quiet rooms to produce a steady stream of work, we may not always have the capacity to create and deliver creative work at the cadence we prefer. What’s more, we may not deliver a straight line of creative work. Our new projects may surprise us, and surprise others. And while that approach may not be the most commercially strategic way of living life as an artist, it seems particularly artful to me.

We’re playing our way to… not the page in this case, but to the body of creative work that we may not even realize is inside of us. We’re heading into the unknown. We’re daring to live the artful life.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about giving ourselves permission to let go of the “perfect” life in order to open our hearts to an artful one. We’re also noting that we’re not starting from scratch. Our lives are already polka-dotted with artful moments. If we pay attention and follow our curiosity, we can connect those dots and see what’s been there all along and what’s possible next.

LISTEN IN:

 

 EPISODE LINKS:

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for his fantastic editing of the show.

 

Creative Lift 052-Lean Into the What If

Creative Lift 052-Lean Into the What If

We’re wrapping up Season Six of Creative Lift: Ring in a New Year of Creativity.

If you’ve found this post around the time it was published, 2023 has just begun. In this season, we’ve been exploring what it might mean to frame our new year as a story rather than a slog. What if instead of deadlines and must-dos, you had an unfolding story to follow? What if instead of a list, you had a map to guide your path, giving you plenty of opportunities to chart your own way?

The thing about not controlling everything, though, is that while some surprises are exciting and enjoyable, others present themselves as challenges and unexpected obstacles. As you continue to take your next right step, and follow the creative journey where it leads, opportunities and challenges will arise.

Whether you’re facing a challenge or an opportunity, you can ask the same question: What if …?

  • What if I tried …
  • What if the opposite were true?
  • What if I asked for support with …?
  • What if the obstacle was the way forward?

If the obstacle is the way forward, work can become play. And while that’s fun, it’s also more effective. We tend to do everything better when we can access playful, joy-filled energy. In today’s episode, Lean Into the What If, we’ll explore how to use “What if…?” as a doorway into flow.

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 051- A Fresh Page

Creative Lift 051- A Fresh Page

Happy New Year!

If you’re finding this post around the time it was published, you’ve just crossed into 2023, a fresh year. As Anne Shirley might say, “It’s a fresh year with no mistakes in it!”

On this season of Creative Lift, we’ve been Ringing in the New Year and considering how this moment can mark the start of a new story for you. We’ve discussed how you can listen for a call to adventure this year, how you can equip yourself for creative flow, and practice the mindset of making work into play.

Now, as we move into the new year, it’s time to take those first meaningful steps. When you cross a threshold in a story, everything is surprising and new, like freshly fallen snow. There’s no predetermined path, so you can follow your curiosity where it leads.

In today’s episode, A Fresh Page, we’ll explore pathways for making the most of those first steps.

 

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 050- Make it a Game

Creative Lift 050- Make it a Game

I often encourage people to play their way to the page, which may sound whimsical, but I mean these words in all seriousness. Words matter, and when we say, “I have to write today,” or “Once I write 1000 words, I can get on with my day,” or even, “My most important task today is to sit down and write,” these words reinforce the idea that writing is work.

It’s true: writing requires a lot of heart and concentration and even determination. But, think back to when you were a kid telling stories with friends. Or even playing make-believe. Those games required the same of us — heart, concentration, and determination— and yet, if you’re anything like me, you couldn’t wait to get to those parts of our day when what you had to do was completed, and you could follow your imagination where it led.

You still can follow your imagination. You still can play your way to the page, though the pathway is a bit harder to find as an adult.

In today’s episode, Make it a Game, let’s talk about how to make your creative time into a game by shifting our mindset.

 

 

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 049- Equip Yourself for Creative Momentum

Creative Lift 049- Equip Yourself for Creative Momentum

What if you could show up at your creative desk with no ideas at all, or with a million ideas, and either way, feel sure you had a process to move you reliably into flow? What would it mean to be able to count on creative momentum?

We all face blocks now and then, sometimes major ones, and that reality makes it hard to believe in a world where we could count on creative momentum.

On the other hand, most of us would count on making some kind of progress if we signed up for a facilitated workshop. We’d expect the workshop leader to guide us into flow.

So, what if we could offer ourselves that kind of facilitated, reliable space? What if we were as confident in our own ability to move ourselves into flow as we were in the skills of an expert guide?

It may sound impossible, and sure, sometimes we do need the caring support of someone who is not inside our own heads. That said, if we can shift our mindset a bit, we can find ways to create space for ourselves that uses similar tools to what a facilitator might provide. We can prepare activities, recipes, games, fun supplies, tools, and other enticing resources ahead of time so that when we sit down to create, we’re in a safe, possibility-filled space.

In today’s episode, Equip Yourself for Creative Momentum, we’ll talk about how you can build customized tools that fit your specific needs, tools that make slipping into flow much more possible and predictable.

 

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 048- Listen for the Call to Adventure

Creative Lift 048- Listen for the Call to Adventure

We’re continuing Season Six of Creative Lift, Ring in a New Year of Creativity!

When I started stepping into each new year as a new story, a new hero’s journey, I discovered something exciting: No more new year’s resolutions! No more rules, expectations, no more painful slog through lists of to-do’s toward my idealized self. A call to adventure does present us with challenges, but it also engages our creativity. When a story shows up, we generally know what we’ll be working toward. However, there’s all kinds of possibility about the how.

How will we travel this intriguing, mysterious path?

We can see a new project, goal, or possibility as a story to step into. Or, we can see it as yet another deadline with milestones and action items. Our viewpoint makes a huge difference. The shift starts with the position you take as you begin the story. Are you controlling everything, or waiting for the surprising invitation?

Shifting our mindset can be powerful, but finding the practical steps to make that mindset change happen can be mysterious. In today’s episode, Listen for the Call to Adventure, we’ll talk practically about how that call to adventure might show up and how you might approach it as a new story to step into.

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 047- Celebrating Your Year

Creative Lift 047- Celebrating Your Year

It’s time for Season Six of Creative Lift! We’re approaching the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, and our theme for this season is Ring in a New Year of Creativity!

I wonder: if you were to give a gift to that imaginative part of yourself that loves to play and explore and wonder … what would you give them?

In this season of Creative Lift, I’m encouraging you to not only give yourself one gift, but a series of them. We’ll talk about the first in today’s episode, Celebrating Your Year, as we discuss how you can celebrate your year’s wins. Remember, even if those wins seem small, celebrating them tells your creative self that their efforts matter. And that boosts your energy and makes it possible for you to continue putting in that effort, no matter what form or size it takes.

Let’s talk about how you might turn your celebration of this year’s wins into a meaningful gift for your creative self.

LISTEN IN:

 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.

 

Creative Lift 046- NaNoWriMo Solutions: How to Bring the Plot to a Close

Creative Lift 046- NaNoWriMo Solutions: How to Bring the Plot to a Close

We’re at the very end of NaNoWriMo, and it’s time to wrap up the season and our drafting process. Today’s mini-episode of Creative Lift focuses on how to bring your plot to a close.

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Finish strong, friends!

EPISODE LINKS:

Design Thinking for Writers: Create a Compelling Character

Find me on Instagram: @naomikinsman

Find Alex on Instagram: @ag.doherty

 

You can also help others find the show by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show. Your words make such a difference for them—and for me, as I continue to create this show. Many, many thanks in advance. And of course, a big thank you to Alex for joining me in this conversation, and for editing the show.