Ever since I started working as a full-time creative, I have had to change habits until I start making more steady income, so I’m depending on my last couple teaching paychecks and my savings. More details will be included in my next blog on living as an artist. For the next couple minutes, I’d like to share with you some of the new habits I’ve developed while dedicating more time to writing (and the art that accompanies it).
Sitting outside
Most mornings I like to sit on my apartment patio and write my morning pages or read a little bit. It is a chance for me to breathe the morning air and to gather my thoughts. This gives me an opportunity to evaluate the day and to see what I want to add or change in my daily schedule. It also allows me to process anything that has been bothering me.
Setting a Schedule
This is probably the most important, but at the same time, the most difficult for me. It keeps me focused on what I need to do each day and how much I have accomplished in a given week. Additionally, each day I create a list of five or six things that need to happen each day, such as writing group, webinars, painting projects, finances, and emails. If it doesn’t happen or isn’t mandatory for that day, I move it to the next day. I enjoy the flexibility of switching my writing and art days because I feel like I have some time to process what I work on and it makes the second half of the week just as productive as the first half.
Scheduling in regular breaks
This is best for me to maintain focus. I attempt to work an hour at a time with a fifteen minute break, during which I read, walk around the block, or as I’ve done this week, make something out of my sourdough starter! This week was my first attempt at biscuits, which was fun, but definitely leaves room for improvement. I also took a picture of my cleanup because I will discuss the art process in my next blog. Sometimes these undocumented moments are as important as when I am actually putting words on a page or promoting my book.
Giving myself a lunch hour
This was something that I very often overlooked while I was teaching. It was easier to take fifteen minutes to chug down lunch or even work at my desk while eating. I know many teachers do this, but I wanted to schedule in an actual lunch hour, which I read or listen to an audiobook, sometimes watch part of a movie, or even cook my own pizza! This is a chance to see if I am accomplishing what I set out with my schedule and how I’d like to prepare for the weekend writing.
Exercise in evening
I’m not as consistent about this as I’d like, but I guess something is better than nothing. About four to five times a week I exercise, usually in the evening, since I have gone back to writing in my journal in the morning. I am at the moment working up to running several miles at once, so I run a little bit with my audiobook or favorite music playlist and then get on the elliptical. This is fun because I can read my Kindle book at the same time! It allows me to relax, sweat, and not really think about anything but the stories playing in my head. It also helps me sleep better, so that gives me some extra motivation when I’m just not feeling it.
Social Media
One of the habits I’ve got to discard: Checking Instagram and Facebook several times a day. Now, because I am upping my social media game to increase interest in my art and books, I am on there a lot more to create new content and boost posts. But then I want to check it. Again and again.
So another social media goal is to check it, but maybe just once a day, not fifty. I’ve got to trust the process, then when I do come back to look, I can respond to comments and make a productive plan on what to create next. Some things that I think are really going to take off are flops, and others that I spent about two seconds putting together are the most popular.
Developing my style
I recently attended a webinar that focused on maintaining a style when I am selling my art, but it’s also something I’ve been attempting with writing as well. I am using this concept with my art, online and in-person markets, over the last few months. Here’s the plan: I will focus on Scapes (landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes) and Figures (people, portraits) using mainly Acrylic and Watercolor + Pen medias. I think this will still maintain my style, but also focus my art a little more. It’s different when it comes to establishing my writing (books, blogs, etc.) because often, I draw based on the type of writing. For example, in my travel book, Solivagant, I wanted the book to look like a journal or sketchbook, because that is exactly what I do during my travels. For my novel Reserved, I included some little drawings from a six-year-old character as well as poetry scraps from a songwriter character. These types of drawings are going to change within each book, but my style can still be Emotions, Movement, and Story, within both my art and my writing.
Celebrate Community
Of course, visiting markets also has the advantage of talking with other vendors and eventually taking home some of the artisan wares! I recently found a chai tea and a peach habanero jelly from nearby vendors! It is great to hear their stories and to get advice from those who have been doing this longer than I have. I will be the first to admit that driving out and setting up (not to mention dragging all of my stuff down a flight of stairs) is not my favorite thing to do. But talking with the visitors about art and getting to know the vendors in my area is completely worth it! I look forward to the upcoming months when I can expand my community and interact more with them.
Stay creative!
Hannah Marie.