The WIP Raven Post #5 Exploring Joyful Creativity

and Not Holding Back

I haven’t been using my Substack as much as I would’ve wanted to when I first set out to make this. I realize that, apart from having too much to deal with on my plate, it’s still probably the perfectionist in me that’s keeping me from just posting.

I’m still learning how to let my creativity be. Because I’m still nowhere near finishing my book or accomplishing a lot of the art-related goals I’ve planned for myself since 2021, it’s still a lot of learning, indeed. Although, I don’t think I ought to think of it as a stressful sort of learning but the allowing of fun to come back into the picture. I think what is necessary for me, specifically, as an artist and writer, is to not take the process all too seriously.

This month, for example, I’ve decided to post snippets of the art process (the WIPs) rather than a fully finished art piece on my Instagram reel. Somehow, and at least so far, the result is aesthetic in its imperfection.

I’ve also decided to post my sketchbook art more intentionally now than before. It occurred to me that there was this inclination to post ‘perfect’ digital art pieces in the previous years, which resulted in hardly posting at all, considering it takes a while to be satisfied with any piece if I’d even start an art piece at all.

In the decision to post sketchbook art and allow for the same freeing aesthetics I’ve been doing on my personal Instagram, I think I’m slowly finding my footing in my art account.

As for my writing, I’m back to a dry season, but at least I’ve acknowledged my ability to commit to 20 minutes a day, on a weeknight, if I could help it. I’m usually low on energy after the Day Job, though, so it’s really not as consistent as I would’ve wanted. But still, better than not trying at all.

This 20-minute thing has further brought to my attention that maybe the way back into falling in love with writing is to make it fun, to find the aesthetic, romantic, and addictive aspects of it that drew me in. For this reason, I’ve been reading Story Genius by Susan Cron and The Emotional Craft of Fiction by David Maas, both of which were recommended by an Indie author who has a vlog on YouTube and a Trad author with Instagram reels. I’ve also taken to exploring Writing-vlogs and Writing-Apps/Tools. Scrivener was and is still a good find from last year, mostly because I find myself easily enjoying the features.

Meanwhile, as for this Substack, I want to hold onto it. I want to continue using this and knowing I can still keep using it even if I don’t yet have an audience. Maybe someday someone will browse my archives and read this very entry, or maybe it’ll just be me in the future checking in on how I strived to create and document even in a dry period. I know I’m not exactly ready to go back to my regular Newsletters on Mailer Lite, especially with nothing (yet) to promote. For my last entries there I’ve been feeling like a huge imposter, giving updates to my small readership when I was actually not sure half of the time where the book was going or if I could ever meet the deadline.

This Substack just feels more personal and less pressure. It speaks to my Creativity and gives me hope for an archive of my thoughts and musings during this journey. But rather than focus too much on the burnout or about how stuck I feel (which is totally fine to share and be open about!) I think it might also be a good idea to write about the inklings of ideas. The excitement about a project I’ll want to do, or the enthusiasm about a thing that inspires me and makes me want to create.

Maybe that’s a good way to continue this Substack. Maybe that’s another way to move this creative journey is general too.