OMG, that’s me with the wild and succulent woman herself, SARK!
This afternoon, I joined about 70 other creative souls in a packed room at the Hayward Library to participate in SARK’s Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper workshop. What a treat to meet SARK in-person and experience her vibrant creative energy and warm spirit. She had me in stitches as she shared one hilarious and fantastical story after another. And when I wasn’t laughing my ass off I was nearly in tears, touched by her heartwarming tales. The afternoon was filled with one delicious morsel of inspiration after another. A few of the SARK-isms I’m savoring include:
- “Delight yourself first and others will be delighted.”
- “Action comes before inspiration. Inspiration comes from the actual doing of anything.”
- Ask yourself, “How well are you loving yourself today?”
I also appreciated learning how SARK honors her introversion. As a fellow introvert, it’s comforting to know that someone who is so successful and in the spotlight has found ways to balance her energy through honing her extroverted skills (she’s a riveting presenter and her energy lights up a room) and protecting her need to be alone and to not be busy all the time. It was also good to hear directly from her how she can get distracted from her writing, but how she keeps her momentum through micromovements. Last year, I did an Art Every Day Month post with the page of reasons why I don’t feel like writing from the Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper book.
One of the activities SARK had us do was to craft our own writer’s manifesto. Here’s what I came up with:
We also filled in some micromovement wheels to help us find delightful, do-able actions that we could complete in just 5 seconds to 5 minutes. I’ve already accomplished two. The publisher catalogs from my trip to BEA are now stacked in a neat pile instead of strewn across the floor unintentionally acting as a makeshift pillow for Emmett’s head. Also, I added to my new “I am a published author” vision board on my Vision Board iPhone app. I included the photo of SARK and me and my writer’s wo-manifesto. Woohoo for accomplishing a few steps toward my creative dreams today!
And here I am with my friend the inspirational Laurel Bleadon-Maffei who was there assisting along with her wonderful husband Wes. My other creative buddies Chris Zydel and Michelle Favreault participated in the workshop, too! It made the day even juicier to be surrounded by these wonderful women.
If you haven’t checked out Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper yet, I encourage you to give it a whirl. It’s fun, inspiring and practical. Also, I signed up for the e-course Juicy Journaling with SARK: A nourishing adventure to start your day off write.
When I ask myself the juicy question, “How well have I loved myself today?” my answer is “pretty darn well.” I chose to say yes to being in creative community with likeminded spirits, I chose to honor my creative dreams by taking some micromovements, I delighted in affirming my creative gifts as writer/artist and last but not least I laughed my ass off. 🙂
What a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing what you got from the workshop – I got very excited about writing my own Writer’s Manifesto (WHY did I not think of that before?!?) but the thing that caught me between the eyes was the last question: “How well have I loved myself today?” I just needed that so much in where I am right now… wow. Thank you.
Oooo… lucky you! I’m craving an afternoon with like-minded creative people, especially someone like SARK.
I can really relate to the part about introversion. I do alot of work that requires me to put out extroverted energy, but if I don’t replenish it with some introverted time, I get totally burnt out.
Small world!! Loved the picture; very happy one!
Sounds like a wonderful time! I am planning to read SARK’s book about Creativity as part of Tranquil Space’s Book Club for August. I just love SARK and you were lucky to meet her live and in person!
great wo-manifesto! very inspiring.
what a great experience meeting SARK! she is so inspiring to creative folk everywhere…and i love the Sark-ism: “delight yourself first and others will be delighted” – those are great words to live by =-)
also love your wo-manifesto…it makes me think i should create one for myself and use it as a daily reminder! thanks so much for sharing your wonderful experience and for sharing your great creativity!
How absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing the experience and your Writer’s Manifesto. You’re doing it, Jenn!
Wonderful! My own juicy pens and thirsty paper are getting worked up just reading about your experience. Way to go! What a fabulous gift for yourself. Looks like you are loving yourself pretty darn well indeed. 😉
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us. Your joy is apparent; I feel as if I was there.
How fabulous, Jennifer!! SARK is having a 3-day workshop in Austin in September, and I’m hoping to go. 🙂
wow, how amazing it must have been to meet sark in person! love your wo-manifesto!
This is such an inspiring post, I can feel your energy and it makes me want to get going. I’ve recently reopened my creative business, and I have to admit I was beginning to get stalled trying to figure out my next steps – but the micromovements you mentioned might be just what I need.
Thank you so much for sharing your creative energy!
Well-wishes,
Me
I am a fellow SARK/Juicy fan. Totally envious that you were able to spend some face-to-face time with her. The energy you must have absorbed! Like you, I too wrote out my own Writer’s Manifesto — but I love that yours is a [Wo]-manifesto!
Wishing you much success on your creative journey 🙂
Way to go Jenn! I love your writer’s wo- manifesto.