The sun is out and the spring semester grades are beginning to roll in, which can only mean one thing – here comes summer!

This year, I’ve got one enormous goal. On 15th August, exactly three months from now, I will be clicking ‘SUBMIT’ on my final portfolio for my MLitt Creative Writing. This will be the culmination of two years hard work, and makes up a substantial amount of my overall degree grade, so it’s a very big deal!

I already know what I’m going to submit. I started my novel in earnest this time last year and completed the first draft in December 2015, so my portfolio will consist of the first 15-25,000 words of the novel. The challenge is now to get those first all-important chapters into a state worth submitting!

Bumblebee on sunflower.(Copyright Kerrie McKinnel)

The Artist’s Way

Part of my plan for doing this is to follow the course described in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way (London: Pan Books, 1995). This book features on the Recommended Reading list for my MLitt, and describes itself on the back cover as a ‘twelve-week course that guides you through the process of recovering your creative self.’

Every week, there is a chapter to read, followed by a list of tasks designed to help you to get back in touch with your creative side. Week One tasks range from writing an imaginary letter to an editor in your defense, to going on a walk. The idea is to complete as many as you can manage, and obviously the more you can commit to the course then the more you’re going to get out of it.

How am I going to get on? Will it make any difference to my writing? Will it help my novel, or get in the way? Only time will tell …

Summer Plans

Here comes summer – and here’s the plan!

Following Julia Cameron’s 12-week course, beginning today, I should finish on Sunday 7th August. Perfect timing for submitting for portfolio by the 15th … or at least, that’s the idea!

Follow me here or on Facebook for regular updates, and to see how I get on. I’ll also be letting you know how I’m enjoying the book, and whether I think it’s a worthwhile purchase for other writers.

Do you want to rediscover your creative self too? If you’d like to join in with my summer challenge, post here or find me on Facebook (Kerrie McKinnel – Author) and let me know! I’d love to know what you think of The Artist’s Way.

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