Creativity and Community
What's on my Mind this week . . .
I write weekly about whatever is on my mind and that can range from spiritual topics, to writing, to humor, and often the small details of life lived one day at a time.
Creativity and Community are on my mind this week for different reasons. Last week, I met with fellow writer and friend Karen Leahy. Her new book of poetry, Enchantment, had just come out and it was wonderful to celebrate with her over a couple of cups of delicious mocha coffee. From the beautiful cover to the incredible poetry within, I’m a fan. And my endorsement, which you can read at the title link, will tell you why.
When I began to take my desire to live life as a creative person seriously, I hadn’t the confidence to call myself a writer. Community is what brought me the confidence. In 1979 I joined a New York organization called The International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) and within a few years, in-between lots of international travel for my work, I attended the organization’s annual summer conference at Skidmore College for the first of what would be many times.
The conference was life-changing in many ways. I found there a true community of creative women at all stages of life, bound together by the love of writing. And the support and celebration of each other was a positive change from the intrigue of corporate politics that had plagued me in my high-level corporate role. That encouragement and support enabled me to claim my creative self - to say I AM A WRITER!
Community has a lot of power. The sense of belonging, of being understood, is heady. But it takes a belief in cooperation over competition to fully derive the benefits of community. It takes the ability to recognize the uniqueness of each person’s creative expression and to honor their approach, though different from one’s own. It takes the understanding that to find joy in a creative life, competition and thoughts of scarcity have to be left behind.
I remember thinking, when I first started writing, that I had nothing new to say. And that’s true. Everything that can be said has been said. Every story that can be told has been told. And that doesn’t matter one little bit. Because my writing calls to me like a siren, demanding I tell the stories flowing through my mind. If I were to believe in scarcity and competition, I wouldn’t feel the joy. And the joy is paramount to me.
I love encouraging and celebrating other writers. Absolutely LOVE it. As an editor I love working with other writers. As a reader, I am inspired by the creations that come before me. All writing is self-revelatory, I believe. A post, a poem, a memoir, a novel, a script, a play - each form has specific structures and purposes. And, in the choice of form, the writer reveals something about herself. And that takes courage and grace.
I missed all the drama that ensued last week about Glennon Doyle’s decision to join Substack and then leave. I love her writing and would welcome reading it wherever she decides to share. But I gather she experienced a tremendous backlash from other writers here. And that’s what competition and thoughts of scarcity will do. It folds you in upon yourself with fear that there is not enough. And a Community in fear turns upon itself.
I invite you this week to think about creativity and community. I believe we are in a dance of co-creation with each other and Divine Love in a process called life. How do you see it? Have you found your community that welcomes you, inspires you, encourages you, and celebrates you? I hope so. I hope you find a way to keep the joy paramount.
Sending compassion to all in need this week.
with love,
Cathleen
Do you need a creativity boost? The 2025 Creativity Retreat for Women Writers is here and it’s a true box of chocolates - surprises and delights abound.
Take a weekend for yourself and break free from the confines of screens and immerse yourself in the richness of an in-person creativity boost. Join me and fellow creativity coach, Paula Chaffee Scardamalia at the Guest House Retreat Center in Chester, CT on September 26 - 28, 2025. Paula and I believe that creativity needs time. It needs presence. And it is a WHOLE PERSON Process. Take a look and see if it’s right for you. https://thecreativitycoaches.com.
Creativity Chatz is Coming Soon!
For my paid subscribers, I am working on a series of short podcasts with other creatives on their approaches to creativity. The new podcasts will be rolling out by end of the month. More to come soon. Thank you for your support of my writing life.
Thank you, Cathleen! You practice what you preach: you are a supportive, generous writer-friend. I'm so glad I met you at the International Women's Writing Guild many years ago, and that we still cheer each other on.