Creativity + Covid
How do you stay creative + accountable? A view from my fave writing spot at my lovely friend Sarah’s screened in porch where we write at 7am each Wednesday morning. (We call it “Write On Wednesdays”, a wonderful weekly check-in for accountability and creativity.) We started on her backyard open air wisteria wrapped pergola over the summer, then moved inside as sweater weather crept in. Sarah and her daughter Jess so inspire me in every way as humans + creative spirits. Check out their fab fashion posts #FormalFridays. (Even Jimmy Kimmel joined in the fun as a fan!) Cheers and here’s to celebrating everyday magic and memory-making in your own corner of the world, whether in your dining room, backyard or screened in porch. To donning your favorite heels and china to welcome the weekend with a wink, glass of bubbly in hand, with a style all your own – just because.
Jess is a talented singer-songwriter and voice-over talent in from LA. I recently brought my ukulele to play my fave bossa nova version of “Girl from Ipanema” as we all sang along. There’s something kinetic about connecting with other creative kindred spirits from other walks of life and worlds. I‘m a big believer in design diversity to spark creative conversations and collisions that may not otherwise be discovered. With inspiring friends and mentors in documentary filmmaking, fine arts, photography, photo styling, creative non-fiction writing, journalism, songwriting, product design, textiles and architecture, I am always delighted to see how each and every creative designs their life to work on their craft, to feed their special creative spark that brings them light and joy with every experience.
Sarah and I met at a Literary Cleveland meet and greet and began connecting over Zoom to share our writing practice and stories, then designed early rising weekly accountability partner workshops. Fortunate to be living in the same neighborhood, I would fit in my morning meditation walk to her house, and slip in the back gate to her green sanctuary and zen garden. With a sharp start time of 7:15am after a quick catch up and a coffee toast to begin, we were head down, laptops open, typing with clarity and conviction. Knowing that we made a promise to ourselves and each other to write solidly and steadily week to week, we were able to focus and get into the zone, settling quickly and deeply into writing. I am so grateful to Sarah in so many ways.
Like a work-out pal that pushes you forward, working side by side with an accountability partner helps you to formalize a habit and stick to it. It also helps to create a growth mindset to make something happen. Each week, Sarah and I discussed how much our weekly practice opened up mind space and a non-negotiable window for mono-tasking and focusing with intention. Having the support of a fellow writer brainstorming ways to approach different openings or endings of a piece was comforting and freeing, like an outdoor study hall in a college quad. I noticed that anchor day of writing mid-week set a wave of productivity in motion. Suddenly, I was typing notes in my i-phone to prepare for our meeting, then building on my weekly notes post-meeting, writing in layers of conversations for texture and new points-of-view.
What might help you stay accountable to yourself and others? How might a standing weekly formal work session day help you check off your own wish list or dream list with an accountability friend or partner? How are you staying “yourself” and connected in these unfolding days?