Five ways to keep your creativity flowing

Regular practice is HARD. With anything. A new hobby, a new habit a new years resolution…something creative.

I want to share with you five things that have helped me, and hundreds of people I have taught, find their flow, calm their minds and JUST KEEP CREATING.

It's not just that one workshop, online class, or watching YouTube tutorials that keep your creativity flowing and growing. It's you.

It's how you make time for it.

It's how you speak to yourself when you create.

It's what you do with the things you make.

It's how you perceive creativity. A luxury? A chore? ...an essential part of who you are that you need and want to exercise?

So what do I do when I don't have time... when I tell myself I'm not good enough... when I find old cards I never gave to someone...?

I do one of these five things:

1. I forget about the BIG projects.

When I get that itch to create, I do it. Back of an envelope, post-it note, anything! Pencil, pen whatever is within reach, because, let's face it, we're not going to start setting up and digging out the 'good pens' between calls and emails.

Just practice the day of the week. That's it. If more comes out, great! But it doesn't have to.

2. I book in with my calligra-friends.

Every first Monday of the month me and my Mindful Calligraphy Club members get together and explore a theme and calligraphy style. Sometimes there's a mini project or something to get creative with - but everytime, there's people to chat and connect with about pens, techniques and the simple pleasure of pen to paper - and slowing down.

3. I drill down and breathe.

There are 10 essential drills that I love to share with people, not just in one session. It's the 10 strokes that I wish everyone knew to not only practice the shapes and transitions, but to pause and breathe and SLOW down. Anytime.

It unlocks a kind of 'creative brain' - perfect before a tricky decision, hard chat or just when things feel overwhelming.

I share lots of bonus downloads with my Club members so you can dip in and grab anytime.

4. I connect calligraphy to something else.

Like a theme - it can be about Christmas, or a season, or a feeling. This shifts the perspective of creativity having to be 'perfect' but something that journeys with you. It can craft your ideas, set your intentions, draw-forth your visions - just as we explore in the Seasonal Reset sessions (free to Club members!).

As we welcome in each new season, I guide you through a dose of self-care and clarity. These sessions help you feel calmer, more connected and aligned as we transition into a new part of the year. Dreamy.

5. I share it.

With others, to inspire them to be creative. As an act of kindness. To celebrate them. Perhaps I create a card, a tag, a poem, by hand. It's special, unique and made by me - thoughtfully given to another.

But also, it's easy to forget: there was a time before you knew how to do calligraphy, or to draw, or knit or paint, or cook... And now, you've picked up some new skills, learnt about a technique...something that you didn't know before. About yourself, and maybe, just maybe, someone else would love to learn it too.

Tell people, give them the card, bring them with you. Just share it.

So if you're thinking about getting some regular practice in, being with a small group of calligraphy lovers and improvers, and simply finding time and ways to calm your mind...

...now is a great time to join me and the Mindful Calligraphy Club - we’re waiting to welcome you!

Find out more, get the answers to your queries in the handy FAQs on the Club page, or drop me a message.