THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER by Penny Dolan

 Today is the start of SEPTEMBER . . .

            

That great, golden, roistering giant has swept in, claiming the year as its own, no matter what. That very name is a call to alertness, bringing a brisk gust of the future, a moment when whatever is to happen might start to happen.

Go, August, with your unreliable promises; go and take your scorched weary grasses and grey clouds with you. Nor you yet, October, with your darkness spread around street corners, seeing off the last of our daylight hours, and reminding us of all the winter months to come.

It’s September that is here now, offering a chance, a second chance, a change, a new beginning, or a fresh pathway. All sorts of possibilities lie ahead, even a moment to look up and stare into the distance and, maybe, think about stepping out and away from tangles and brambles and worse. 

                                                                                                                                            

Come on, says sturdy-legged September, let's go! You might be down-hearted or wearied by this and that, so use my storms and squalls and sunsets to stir up your spirit as well as any late summery moments. Some of the hike might be a bit uncomfortable, but you’ll probably be all the better for it.

Besides, September is quite a strong-minded month, keen to nudge us into order and preparation. It gently bullies us with memories: a need for stationery, for reliable pens and sharpened pencils, for dates and diaries and time-tables and for setting things in order, both in real life and behind the screen nearest you. 

    

The month invites us in, tempting us with strategies and plans and sensible promises-to-self. It encourages us to begin new journals, gather fresh ideas from wells and fields, to wipe the dust from old documents and smooth out that rough heap of crumpled ideas. 

 

It is Seize-the-Moment September, Look-What's-Here September, Check-your-Basket September, bringing all sort of possibilities along with its pear and apple harvest. So why not join up, sign on, try out, taste this - or that?- a little.

September’s just that kind of month. Good luck!

                        

Penny Dolan

p.s. Yes, alas, you guessed. I’ve promised to finished something this month.

pps. Apologies, also, for my missing first-of-August entry. The house wifi decided to fight with the computer for a week or more. Grrr! Thanks to those who helped.

Sustaining a Lifelong Creative Practice - Heather Dyer

Following a creative pursuit can sometimes be lonely and frustrating. Here are five books I’ve found particularly inspiring because they contain practical advice from other writers and artists who’ve ‘been there’:

Three Marriages: Reimagining Work,Self and Relationships by David Whyte

David Whyte is a poet. Only indirectly about creativity, this book is about integrating our work, our relationships and inner selves in order to live a fulfilled and productive life. Writers often talk about finding 'balance' between day jobs, family and creativity - but Whyte's advice seems to be to knit them all together rather than think of them as separate. He includes nice examples pulled from authors’ lives.

The Everyday Work of Art: Awakening the Extraordinary in Your Daily Life by Eric Booth

Booth explores that small ‘pull’ that makes us want to make art in the first place, and shows us how to fan those flames. This book, ‘illuminates the artistry we all practice, and it enables us to reclaim the fun and satisfaction that is already happening unnoticed right under our noses’.

Creative Quest by Questlove

This book might best be described as a riff on retaining your creativity throughout your career. Questlove is a musician. One of the things he says is that, as emerging creatives, we are hungry to be influenced by others, but as we solidify our practice we become more concerned with influencing others. Stay open to being influenced, is his advice. I also like his description of what collaboration should look like: “Collaboration isn’t about what’s there so much as what’s not there. It’s the jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing and a pile of bright pieces nearby.”

Creating a Life Worth Living: APractical Course in Career Design for Aspiring Writers, Artists, Filmmakers, Musicians and Others by Carol Lloyd

This is an accessible how-to-sustain-your-practice guide for emerging creatives. The book is described as helping the reader ‘search memory for inspiration, understand his or her individual artistic profile, explore possible futures, design a daily process and build a structure of support.’ In the past I’ve drawn from this book for exercises for an 8-week ‘Developing Your Creativity’ course.   

Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life by Chase Jarvis.  

Chase Jarvis is a photographer who now runs a successful online learning portal. The book includes a lot of advice about how to find your 'tribe', network virtually and in person, and market your work. 

What all these books endorse is listening to that early intuitive pull, exploring by doing, drawing inspiration from living, creating a regular practice (however short) and staying open to flow by letting go of expectations and setting out anew, each day, into uncharted territory. If you have your own recommendations, I'd love to hear them.

Heather Dyer is a consultant in writing for children. She provides writing and publishing advice through The Literary Consultancy, The Writers' Advice Centre for Children's Books, and privately. If you’re ready for feedback on your work-in-progress contact Heather at heatherdyerbooks@gmail.com. 

Heather’s children’s novel The Girl with the Broken Wing was one of Richard and Judy’s book club picks, and The Boy in the Biscuit Tin was nominated for a Galaxy Best British Children’s Book award. Heather also teaches creative writing for the University of the Creative Arts, and facilitates workshops in creative thinking techniques for creatives and academics.