Why is the creative spirit so sensitive? We keep looking at our inner artist as the child who sulks and is easily scared and must be coddled and indulged in order to coax them into creating. I’m not sure this is how parenting works. But you can only take the metaphor so far, before it gets rather extreme.

Speaking of extremes, this is week ten of the Artists Way. Last week’s reflection is linked here. This week we tackle distractions and indulgences that are harmful to our artist self. They take away more than they give. They are the excuse to not write or draw or paint or go on artist dates. 

Did I mention this cute anime I discovered about a quirky couple? The girl named is Aharen, who speaks so softly that the guy sitting next to her, named Raido spends the entire first episode just trying to communicate with her. Raido just wants a friend and refuses to give up on Aharen, especially after she admits she doesn’t get social clues and often ignores personal boundaries. Several times she acts more like a girlfriend standing too close, but Raido accepts this. He has his own quirks, like taking ideas to the extreme. In his quest to communicate, he tries sign language, smoke signals, messenger pigeons and they all backfire. Within a few days, his hearing becomes sensitive enough to hear her speak, problem solved. Phew.

It’s called Aharen-san wa hakarenai, which roughly translates to ‘Aharen is indecipherable’ and if you need a distraction… wait, we’re trying to avoid these. 

Oh, did I tell you about the new app I found that gives me free romantic comics? They’re Korean manhwa and the app is called Manta. For each story, the first three are free for anyone, then I get to unlock 1 chapter at a time. But, then you have to wait 24 hours for the next one. This means sometimes I skip a day of reading. Otherwise, I would have to read the chapters a little later each day, because of timing. I refuse to be glued to my phone, waiting for a notification. Don’t let the app control you! You control your own enjoyment.

Three romantic Manta stories worth your time

So far I’m still reading a story called Under the Oak tree, about a young noblewoman named Maximilian, who lives in a medieval fantasy world falling for her heroic dragon-slaying husband and coming into her own. She has suffered from a stutter and her father’s abuse for years, but is discovering the world. Then there’s Stairway of Time, about a woman who stumbles through a time hole and is reliving her high school years. She re-encounters her old boyfriend, who also may have ruined her life. The backstory hasn’t been revealed, but he’s shown some red flags: possessiveness, obsessive toward her, won’t take no for an answer and is jealous of other guys talking to her. It’s a quickly compelling drama. And there’s Falling for the Enemy, a fantasy about rival knight commanders, with a parallel world twist. Lorellia, looking so dashing in her red uniform, gets a letter from herself in another world and learns she’s married to her rival, Commander Edgar who wears a blue uniform. Meanwhile, Edgar has a huge crush on her. He is kind and compassionate toward her feelings and can’t always express his own. It’s sweet and I highly recommend it.

You need more comics in your life, right?

There is also Oshi no ko, which means ‘ my Idol’s child ‘, a manga released on the Manga Plus app. This app features Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump+ manga, some of the most popular Japanese manga out there. The ones that survive long enough often get an anime that makes them even more popular. Oshi no ko is a drama about reincarnated twins, whose mother was a famous idol. It’s so much better than it sounds though. It takes a tough look at show business in Japan, the social pressures on celebrities and the darker aspects as well as the artistic parts, which is what I like best. There is also romance.

So let’s see, that covers manga, manhwa/webtoons and anime. What have I missed? Books!!

I’m on book eleven of Tui T Sutherland’s epic dragon adventures. I recently finished Talons of Power, about the dragon named Turtle. Now I’ve reached the climax of the story about the second set of dragonets: time to confront the big evil dragon with no moral compass — the Darkstalker. The series has been so much fun and I devour the books as soon as I get them from the library. (Let’s not talk about my current dragon obsession.) The books are an example of fantastic good character drama. Yes, they’re dragons, but they have very relatable fears and hangups. Like the dragon who is afraid they’re a monster. No, wait, not that one. Each book features a different dragon, who must confront their deepest darkest fears. Like Turtle, who doesn’t want anyone to notice him, or Winter, who is desperate for his parents’ approval, or Moon, who has a secret she can’t share with anyone. These dragons want what we want, to make friends, be noticed by the cute guy or gal in their life and find their place in the world, where they belong.

I’m so easily distracted right now, because I’m in a rough spot health wise. Surgery is now coming in a few weeks.

I have been emotionally wrecked a couple of times because of what’s happening to me and the hard decisions I have to make. Sleep has been mercilessly absent. Where is my sandman? (We won’t get Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series on Netflix until August, but I’m looking forward to it.) But despite all this struggle, I am still devoted to the Artist Way. It gives me coping methods. It has taught me to be kind to myself. I have more faith than ever, that I am not alone and that I will achieve my dreams. I will get a book written this year and published. Then I will write the next one and the next.

Why can’t I be more creative? 

Well, maybe you can be. Maybe you already are and just don’t see it. Try to actually start doing those artist dates. Then work on your story when you’re not calling the hospital. Oh, I did one major thing. I put a limiter on my apps. Now my phone cuts me off when I get too obsessive. I still read my comics and webtoons, but limited. It’s better this way.

But did you know, you can’t bring valuables into the hospital. So, I will be without my phone! I can’t play games on my switch or draw on my ipad? I can at least bring a notebook, right? Or two. That way I can write my story and sketch. I mean, imagine if I’m two days in the hospital without a phone or comics or anime. I’ll need to do something fun during recovery. Stay tuned! I’ll keep you all posted!!

Erm as soon as I can post something.

Week ten, checking in:  

Morning pages: I missed two days out of seven. I am in a true love/hate relationship. One morning I skipped them, because I was too busy with emails — preparing myself for my surgery by keeping my friends and family informed. Then the next morning I was so anxious during my morning pages, I walked myself through the surgery, imaging how it will happen and how I will be calm and the outcome successful. It worked beautifully to talk myself down. I am still nervous, but I can face the fears easier. The morning pages worked! 

Artist Date: I’ve decided the date can be anything I want it to be. So I went on a picnic at the lake. I ate my noodles, I wrote a little of my story and I sketched some things. The sun was bursting through the clouds, warm and gorgeous. I slept so much better that night.

Moments of synchronicity: I realized the fact I started following the Artist’s Way is a moment of synchronicity. If I had not started, then I would not have my coping methods. I would not understand how important it is to be kind and gentle to myself, that I deserve a treat after a stressful doctor’s visit. Thank goodness for the Artist’s Way. It has helped me in ways I could not imagine ten weeks ago when I began this journey.

Other breakthroughs or significant insights: This week, despite the distractions, I was creative and did my art and wrote my story. In another few weeks, I will be through the entire 12 weeks, and I will recovering from my surgery. Bring it on, I say. Have you started finding your creative spirit? Have you wanted to be regain that enthusiasm? To follow your dreams? To be an artist? I never really called myself an artist before. I was a writer, but never an artist. Now I am.