The Magic is Real, Part II

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Hi all. Liz here, sad to see the end of summer approaching. I love the fall, but I think everyone knows that what comes after that isn’t my favorite part of New England.

Julie wrote a great post recently about the magic of the work we do – the writing and the creativity itself, but also about how we, as creatives who’ve found our paths, have a duty to help others who are struggling to either get or stay on their paths. She’s is going deeper down that path by creating a online arts administration school for artists, which is going to be awesome.

As Julie mentioned, we took the same online courses with the same goal in mind – to create online communities that nurture creatives. For me, it’s about helping people regain – or find – their creative voices. I remember as a kid turning everything into a story. I used to collect notebooks and carry them around with me, alternating between writing a new poem or story and creating mysteries I could then solve – of course, using the notes I so painstakingly took throughout the day. At age 11 I even outlined a proposal for a soap opera, creating a whole cast of characters and a town and some cheesy storylines. I dreamt of writing my books.

But somewhere along the way, I let people tell me that writing wasn’t a viable way to make a living. That teaching, or some other career, would be my real way of life and I could do my writing in my “spare time.” It never felt right to me, but then life took over and I let “reality” set in. On top of that, for a long time I had trouble putting words on the page. I’d lost my voice and was floundering to find it.

I found my way past that to become a successful author. It’s true that I’m not yet making my living just from my writing, but I don’t see that as an unrealistic achievement like I did 15 or 20 years ago, when I was listening to everyone but myself. In fact, my goal with my own online business is, like Julie, to make more space to write more things so I can achieve that goal.

But the point is, it wouldn’t have taken me so long to find my way back to my voice if I’d had some help.

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If I’d had a tribe, like I have now.

If I’d been introduced to The Artist’s Way a long time before I was.

If I’d had someone to listen, and help my analyze my blocks so I could find my way through them.

If I’d left behind my need for perfection and let myself write in a journal – really write, about everything and nothing – way before I did.

If I’d had someone to keep me accountable with realistic goals and action steps.

If I’d understood that meditating, and an overall spiritual practice, could’ve done for me in a short amount of time what I’d struggled and suffered to figure out on my own for years.

If I’d had someone to help me see my creative worth, when I’d lost sight of it myself.

If I’d had someone to tell me they believed in me.

All of those things are what I hope to provide others struggling to get their creativity back. I want to create a tribe of spirit writers – people who look inside of themselves to find out why their voices were silenced, and do everything to get them working again.

I’m still working the day job and still writing the books, but I’ll also be working to get this new venture up and running, with the goal of being in service to my fellow creatives.

I can’t wait to share it with all of you as it develops. And in the meantime, we’ll be working on that Crime Bake masterclass.

Published by Cate Conte / Liz Mugavero

Cate Conte writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in the Boston area with her rescue pals.

35 Thoughts

  1. I fault society, which has for too long given women conflicting messages about how we are supposed to look and behave, and as for our creative sides, that has to be set apart for AFTER we have taken care of our families, especially our men.

    1. Men get it, too. After all, we have to support our wives and families, and we need a real job to be able to do it.

  3. Bravo! Thank you for the books, the inspiration, and the willingness to show us your process. Excited to see the new venture!

  5. Great post! Now is the time to share our gifts as much as possible. The world needs the magic of what we do in a big way!

  8. Glad you are figuring this all out. Can’t wait to hear about your new venture.

    (And I’m sorry to see summer end as well.)

  9. So glad you have all found your voices! And want to give back and help others who are struggling. It is sad that not just in writing but so many other dream we are told that’s not a “real” job and that we need to find something that will support us.

  11. Congratulations, Liz! I think society has devalued arts and creativity for a long time. My girl used to dream of being a pro ballerina, even though she was told “you can’t make a living at it.” And Mark’s right, guys get told the same thing. There’s more to making a living than just a paycheck.

  12. So glad you found you again. It is shameful when our dreams that could. be realized are broken by those who should help us. Keep on listening to helpers.

  13. I love this post so much and I love what you’re doing, Liz. Everything you said really resonates with me. I am looking forward to being a part of your spirit tribe.

  15. So many of your points are applicable to life in general. We all need to be encouraged in our hopes and dreams, not told they are not possible. It’s sad when we grow old and have regrets because someone told us it (whatever it is) couldn’t be done. It’s never too late! Go for it.

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