Sometimes, I do buy a small item, but more often I leave with my head full of ideas rather than my hands full of objects. Many times the ideas I leave with solve problems unrelated to the initial question I followed into the store in the first place.

It struck me that these quests are like the scavenger hunts of my childhood–when I’m on the hunt, I feel like I’ve stepped into Nancy Drew’s shoes, or become an expert puzzle and problem-solver like Sherlock Holmes.

I’ve been re-reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron this summer, and thinking a lot about what play might look like for me. Julia Cameron calls them “artist dates,” and encourages us to not be stingy about the games we allow our artist to play. We don’t have to be productive with every single creative moment we have to spend. In fact, when we let ourselves explore, experiment, wander … good things happen.

In that spirit, I thought it would be fun to invite you into a summertime scavenger hunt over the next month. I’m proposing that you look for five specific items, and my hope is that while you’re on the hunt, you’ll also stumble across the very thing you need next, even though you and I may not currently know exactly what that is just yet. I hope this challenge is a lot of fun for you and also leads you to interesting places. 

Each Writerly Play Kit is designed to fuel creative momentum. In this issue, we’re leaning into summertime energy and inviting our inner artist out to play. Don’t forget: Beyond this WP Kit, you can tap into weekly Writerly Play with the Creative Lift Podcast.

YOUR SUMMERTIME SCAVENGER HUNT

Instructions: Seek out each of these items wherever you choose. Remember, the hunt is an opportunity to stumble across the unexpected, so take your time, and widen your circle past the spaces you usually explore. Consider hunting among your own shelves, at local small businesses, at the library, or even at the homes of your family or friends (with their permission of course)! Once you find your item, snap a few photos to document the find or even to post in your space. Absolutely love what you find? If you choose, bring the item itself into your space as inspiration!

Remember, the goal in this scavenger hunt goes beyond finding this set of items. The items themselves will likely unlock curiosity and potential. However, I’m also hoping that your hunt will cause you to stumble across what Julia Cameron calls serendipity. What might you be looking for right now that you don’t even know you need to find? I can’t wait to see where your hunt leads you.

Don’t forget: I love to hear your stories. You can reply to me at any time to share what you discovered, which is such a treat for me. I love to celebrate you and your successes. You inspire me and lead me into serendipitous discoveries of my own, too!

JOIN ME FOR CREATIVE LIFT!

Each day as you show up at the page, you face those same obstacles and you experiment with ways to overcome them. You learn and grow, and you feel that growth happening as your word count rises.

Creative Lift is for writers, but it’s also for any creative thinker who wants to see beyond external goals to the deeper story. How might you tap into play in your life in a way that opens new possibilities for collaboration, innovative problem-solving, and courage?

I’ve been having a blast designing and sharing the podcast, and THANK YOU for sharing your discoveries and successes–such as giving yourselves permission to approach problems using your personal creative style, or finding a way to open a window for breathing room in your creative life. If you haven’t listened in yet, join us! You can find and follow the show at the links below. If you’re enjoying the show, I’d be so grateful if you’d take the time to share with a creative friend or two, and/or leave a review to help other listeners find Creative Lift. Thanks so much in advance!

Since then, I’ve continued to find myself crashing through uncleared trails, stumbling into mud pits, and every now and then finding my way to a vista where I can see the vast beauty of the creative landscape we’re all traveling. Being intentional about stepping into my story doesn’t give me the power to control the external plot. However, seeing the storyline, and being able to name the plot twists and turns, gives meaning to the ups and downs. My viewpoint also allows me to weigh my decisions with more perspective. I’m not only a main character lost in the depths of my story. I’m also an author, experimenting with choices, considering the bigger picture, before I write the next scene.

Each Writerly Play Kit is designed to fuel creative momentum. In this issue, we’ll look specifically at how Writerly Play works, and how viewing your creative development as a story offers meaning, perspective, and more intentionality to your day-to-day choices.

follow your curiosity