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Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity
In this long-awaited sequel to the international bestseller The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron presents the next step in her course of discovering and recovering the creative self. Walking In This World picks up where The Artist's Way left off to present readers with a second course--Part Two in an amazing journey toward discovering our human potential. Cameron shows readers how to inhabit this world with a sense of wonder, a childlike inquisitiveness that each of us was born with. Full of valuable new strategies and techniques for breaking difficult creative ground, this is the "intermediate level" of the Artist's Way program.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
413 people are currently reading
3283 people want to read
About the author
Julia Cameron
106 books2,326 followersJulia Cameron has been an active artist for more than thirty years, with fifteen books (including bestsellers The Artist's Way, Walking In This World and The Right to Write) and countless television, film, and theater scripts to her credit. Writing since the age of 18, Cameron has a long list of screenplay and teleplay credits to her name, including an episode of Miami Vice, and Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which starred Don Johnson. She was a writer on such movies as Taxi Driver, New York, New York, and The Last Waltz. She wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning independent feature film, God's Will, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival, and was selected by the London Film Festival, the Munich International Film Festival, and Women in Film Festival, among others. In addition to making film, Cameron has taught film at such diverse places as Chicago Filmmakers, Northwestern University, and Columbia College. Her profound teachings on unlocking creativity and living from the creative center have inspired countless artists to unleash their full potential.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
March 30, 2024
Wow. Um. *Wow*.
I read this roughly a million years ago, when it first came out and I was still super-adherent to all the Artist's Way philosophies. (And for the record, I still think a lot of that first book is important to read and follow at least once, even if you end up not continuing Cameron's "basic principles". It's got some good stuff in it.)
I remember liking it a lot. I didn't remember much about it, other than adding a weekly walk to the other core things Cameron insists on doing. (Morning pages, an artist's date weekly.)
So I picked it up again at a library book sale and gave it another go.
Y'all. This did not age well.
Not only is it about six billionty times more Jesus-y than I remember (if you were to take a shot every time she mentions God or Prayer, you'd be comatose by chapter three), but some of the things that come out of her mouth (pen?) are just plain offensive. One such example: she says pretty much point blank that mental illness doesn't exist and that it's just stifled creativity. There's this whole anecdote about a supposed "crazy" woman (her word, not mine) who was on antidepressants, but still stirred up a lot of interpersonal drama (!?). All she really needed was to write a book, though, because now, five books later, she's healthy and happy and not at all crazy.
::blink::
::blinkblink::
Hooboy. No, Julia. Just...no.
The fact that I didn't pick up on this in 2003 just illustrates how far we've come in the past two decades on the whole stigmatization/erasure of mental illness and the demonization/disregard for medicating said illnesses. Because, y'know, they exist. No matter how you "crazily" express or stifle your own creativity.
I have to admit -- I skimmed the rest of this. I wanted to find that little seed of inspiration I found in it before, but there were just so many small things like this that it added up to me literally putting this copy in the trash. I don't want someone emotionally vulnerable to find it where I donated it and end up feeling bad for *having an illness*. Yikes.
Honestly...skip this one if you're on the fence. Reread TAW or the first follow-up, Vein of Gold. Both of those have actual, practical advice that doesn't veer into preaching or assault on the mentally ill folks of the world.
I read this roughly a million years ago, when it first came out and I was still super-adherent to all the Artist's Way philosophies. (And for the record, I still think a lot of that first book is important to read and follow at least once, even if you end up not continuing Cameron's "basic principles". It's got some good stuff in it.)
I remember liking it a lot. I didn't remember much about it, other than adding a weekly walk to the other core things Cameron insists on doing. (Morning pages, an artist's date weekly.)
So I picked it up again at a library book sale and gave it another go.
Y'all. This did not age well.
Not only is it about six billionty times more Jesus-y than I remember (if you were to take a shot every time she mentions God or Prayer, you'd be comatose by chapter three), but some of the things that come out of her mouth (pen?) are just plain offensive. One such example: she says pretty much point blank that mental illness doesn't exist and that it's just stifled creativity. There's this whole anecdote about a supposed "crazy" woman (her word, not mine) who was on antidepressants, but still stirred up a lot of interpersonal drama (!?). All she really needed was to write a book, though, because now, five books later, she's healthy and happy and not at all crazy.
::blink::
::blinkblink::
Hooboy. No, Julia. Just...no.
The fact that I didn't pick up on this in 2003 just illustrates how far we've come in the past two decades on the whole stigmatization/erasure of mental illness and the demonization/disregard for medicating said illnesses. Because, y'know, they exist. No matter how you "crazily" express or stifle your own creativity.
I have to admit -- I skimmed the rest of this. I wanted to find that little seed of inspiration I found in it before, but there were just so many small things like this that it added up to me literally putting this copy in the trash. I don't want someone emotionally vulnerable to find it where I donated it and end up feeling bad for *having an illness*. Yikes.
Honestly...skip this one if you're on the fence. Reread TAW or the first follow-up, Vein of Gold. Both of those have actual, practical advice that doesn't veer into preaching or assault on the mentally ill folks of the world.
October 11, 2011
Walking In This World is the book you want to start reading immediately after finishing The Artist's Way. While The Artist's Way helps you understand your fears, overcome them and start creating, Walking In This World will guide you through the hurdles of your creative process.
In this book, Julia's essays and tools are much deeper, much more philosophical, contemplative and also personal. She is not afraid to reveal her own weaknesses, or the weaknesses of her colleagues and students. She is there for you to show you that every artist faces the same struggles, and it's okay because it's just a part of the journey.
Walking In This World helps artists create their support system, their safety net. This book will give you more than enough strength to "continue to continue", as Julia says. It will encourage you to reach even deeper into your artist's soul and understand that doing your art is the most natural thing in the world, your calling and your purpose.
In this book, Julia's essays and tools are much deeper, much more philosophical, contemplative and also personal. She is not afraid to reveal her own weaknesses, or the weaknesses of her colleagues and students. She is there for you to show you that every artist faces the same struggles, and it's okay because it's just a part of the journey.
Walking In This World helps artists create their support system, their safety net. This book will give you more than enough strength to "continue to continue", as Julia says. It will encourage you to reach even deeper into your artist's soul and understand that doing your art is the most natural thing in the world, your calling and your purpose.
September 10, 2008
On first reading, I didn't get much out of this book. There is a certain amount of repetition of ideas from The Artist's Way but that didn't bother me - I was after something that would serve as a reminder of the principles of The Artist's Way without actually re-reading TAW yet again - what bothered me was the writing style which I felt needed some serious editing. There are some excruciating extended metaphors there. Really really painful.
But the content is good, and while there is repetition, there are also some fresh ideas too, and reading it the second time I found it a lot more helpful.
My first recommendation for a creativity book will, I suspect, always be The Artist's Way, but this book is a good follow up for those who feel that, having started on their path, they need a bit more guidance.
But the content is good, and while there is repetition, there are also some fresh ideas too, and reading it the second time I found it a lot more helpful.
My first recommendation for a creativity book will, I suspect, always be The Artist's Way, but this book is a good follow up for those who feel that, having started on their path, they need a bit more guidance.
December 13, 2010
The format of Walking in this World is probably her best combination of stories that get you motivated and then interjecting tasks to try out for yourself. The Artist's Way was the first and so, in a way, it is the best, but she leaves all the tasks for the end of the chapter. I enjoyed The Right to Write because she put the tasks within the chapter, as she does with Walking in this World, but Walking in this World also has some of the feel of The Artist's Way as well. All in all though, Walking in this World, The Artist's Way, The Right to Write... they aren't all that different. If you enjoy one, you will probably enjoy them all.
March 24, 2024
HIGHLY recommend. solo or with a buddy or two. what a beautiful journey. 🙏🏼✨
January 1, 2021
Y'all know I love me some Artist's Way and here's my girl Julia's sequel (one of them) which I worked through on the page and on my feet on the Earth, doing a whoooooole lot of actual walking in this world during our pandemic year!
Certain bits of this book are exquisite.
Keep going, artists.
Certain bits of this book are exquisite.
Keep going, artists.
May 21, 2023
This is the second Cameron book I've read, and I still am not sure what it is that draws me to her self-help works for artists. Her temperament, at least on the surface, would not seem to mix well with mine. She's very nurturing, which is great, but in a way that can feel to me as condescending or boosterism. There's a relentless cheerleading and upbeat positivity that is hard going for a cynical man like me.
And yet... I do feel better and more productive when working through these books. I believe, unequivocally, that the Morning Pages are a valuable practice. I see results when I regularly practice this, but more revelatory is how my creativity seems to stall when I am not doing these. They keep me centered. As to the rest of the book, I find bits and pieces in there that compel me, inspire me, and guide me. They are in a mix of things that I dismiss, but I suppose that is par for the course of any self-help book. They are there to provide things to help you understand yourself.
And yet... I do feel better and more productive when working through these books. I believe, unequivocally, that the Morning Pages are a valuable practice. I see results when I regularly practice this, but more revelatory is how my creativity seems to stall when I am not doing these. They keep me centered. As to the rest of the book, I find bits and pieces in there that compel me, inspire me, and guide me. They are in a mix of things that I dismiss, but I suppose that is par for the course of any self-help book. They are there to provide things to help you understand yourself.
August 14, 2021
"The Artist's Way" was a revelatory book for me, and I wanted more of it, so I picked up "Walking in This World." I have just reached 12 weeks of reading the chapters and doing the exercises, so I definitely gave it a real chance.
It failed to inspire me. In fact, it frequently made me testy and impatient.
First off, this adds nothing to TAW's weekly plan save for, "Oh, BTW, take a walk." Seriously. The walk is mentioned at the beginning of the book and then never comes up again except for being checked off weekly. I was expecting tasks that were based around walks--choosing certain kinds of places to walk, or suggesting ideas to meditate on during your walk. Nothing of that sort. Nada. So it felt like she forgot the premise of the book right from the start.
Second, unlike TAW, which comes from a philosophy that we are all artists by our very nature and, whether or not one chooses art as a career, artistic expression heals all our souls, this book is very focused on careers in the arts. That rubbed me the wrong way time and again, because there was a smugness to her tone--no longer was it, "everyone can benefit from fostering their own creativity, whether it's painting, writing, or creating a welcoming home." No, now it was, "we artists are just so much more enlightened and superior," and even a focus that felt dismissive of people who happily make art around their careers and aren't interested in turning their artistic endeavors into full-time jobs. It felt off-putting for me; my book buddy, who is the "welcoming home" kind of artist and happy with that, found it alienating.
Finally, there is so much whining. Almost every chapter included a task that amounted to, "someone in your past must be responsible for why your life isn't perfect now" or "you've probably never even considered this as a problem, but let me encourage you to feel sorry for yourself." When I worked my way through TAW, I did almost every exercise. This book? I started out doing those exercises but then thought, "why am I searching for ways to be miserable"? and began skipping over them.
All in all, this felt very threadbare when it came to ideas and insights, and I was disappointed. I finished because I am compulsively completist and for no other reason. I expect in another year or two to repeat working through TAW. This one? It's going to the used book store.
It failed to inspire me. In fact, it frequently made me testy and impatient.
First off, this adds nothing to TAW's weekly plan save for, "Oh, BTW, take a walk." Seriously. The walk is mentioned at the beginning of the book and then never comes up again except for being checked off weekly. I was expecting tasks that were based around walks--choosing certain kinds of places to walk, or suggesting ideas to meditate on during your walk. Nothing of that sort. Nada. So it felt like she forgot the premise of the book right from the start.
Second, unlike TAW, which comes from a philosophy that we are all artists by our very nature and, whether or not one chooses art as a career, artistic expression heals all our souls, this book is very focused on careers in the arts. That rubbed me the wrong way time and again, because there was a smugness to her tone--no longer was it, "everyone can benefit from fostering their own creativity, whether it's painting, writing, or creating a welcoming home." No, now it was, "we artists are just so much more enlightened and superior," and even a focus that felt dismissive of people who happily make art around their careers and aren't interested in turning their artistic endeavors into full-time jobs. It felt off-putting for me; my book buddy, who is the "welcoming home" kind of artist and happy with that, found it alienating.
Finally, there is so much whining. Almost every chapter included a task that amounted to, "someone in your past must be responsible for why your life isn't perfect now" or "you've probably never even considered this as a problem, but let me encourage you to feel sorry for yourself." When I worked my way through TAW, I did almost every exercise. This book? I started out doing those exercises but then thought, "why am I searching for ways to be miserable"? and began skipping over them.
All in all, this felt very threadbare when it came to ideas and insights, and I was disappointed. I finished because I am compulsively completist and for no other reason. I expect in another year or two to repeat working through TAW. This one? It's going to the used book store.
July 10, 2014
When I first read the Artist's Way a decade ago I thought it was the best thing ever for my writing career. I started this book five years ago and never finished it. I finished it today on a whim and now I can tell you why this book had nothing to offer me--these are great books for people who just want some pop-psychology mumbo jumbo. Lots of white-washing and easy answers to genuinely tough and interesting psychological questions.This book feels good, like your older, wiser friend telling you that you can go and make great art you just have to believe. It's inspiring if that is inspiring to you.
I may not be expressing this well but art interests me for real. Its purpose for the human making it and its purpose for the human enjoying (or not enjoying it). Especially stories. Why do we tell them? What needs do they meet? What is writer's block really? Should one make art because one is an artist, even if he/she doesn't have anything to say? To answer these questions and many questions like these I found books like Ayn Rand's Guide to Writing Fiction and Romantic Manifesto and Joseph Cambell's Hero With A Thousand Faces. And Non VIolent Communication. All of these books taught me more about making art than Cameron could at this point.
As an intro book this book gets 3 stars--but for an intro book The Artist's Way is better. If you are not at the "intro" point though, this book is one star. It just repeats the same old memes you have already heard.
I may not be expressing this well but art interests me for real. Its purpose for the human making it and its purpose for the human enjoying (or not enjoying it). Especially stories. Why do we tell them? What needs do they meet? What is writer's block really? Should one make art because one is an artist, even if he/she doesn't have anything to say? To answer these questions and many questions like these I found books like Ayn Rand's Guide to Writing Fiction and Romantic Manifesto and Joseph Cambell's Hero With A Thousand Faces. And Non VIolent Communication. All of these books taught me more about making art than Cameron could at this point.
As an intro book this book gets 3 stars--but for an intro book The Artist's Way is better. If you are not at the "intro" point though, this book is one star. It just repeats the same old memes you have already heard.
October 15, 2021
Disappointing. Too many references to God and The Great Creator to be of any practical use to someone like me. Nothing I found insightful that wasn’t in The Artist’s Way. Too much repetition of ‘checking in’ asking the same questions at the end of each chapter, which might have been less annoying in print when you could skip over it. And given how grating I found the narrator’s voice I’m actually not sure why I bothered to finish. I guess because every once in a while it seemed the author was going to delve into something fresh and interesting.
February 5, 2014
Second in Ms Cameron trilogy - the first book Artist'a Way I read a number of years ago with a group of artists and found it very helpful. Reading and working through this second book has once again made a big difference in my attitude and I am gently heading back to my visual art and children's writing.
Highly recommend for anyone who is stuck or facing a block to their creativity...read, do the exercises, think about what you have learned and go forward with your life.
Highly recommend for anyone who is stuck or facing a block to their creativity...read, do the exercises, think about what you have learned and go forward with your life.
November 4, 2017
I've finished the book, that is, I've reached the last page.however, as anyone who has read any of the Artists Way books, this isn't really finished.
What I've learnt from it for now is sufficient for this time in my life, for where I am in my creativity. In a year or some, more or less, I'll be back rereading it again and finding a different message.
I high
Y recommend Julia Cameron's work in all its guises but for newbies, start with the Artists Way.
What I've learnt from it for now is sufficient for this time in my life, for where I am in my creativity. In a year or some, more or less, I'll be back rereading it again and finding a different message.
I high
Y recommend Julia Cameron's work in all its guises but for newbies, start with the Artists Way.
January 4, 2009
another in the series to motivate and encourage creativity .... its not as amazing as the first one but certainly can keep you going once you start... walking , literally !
November 11, 2022
Je weg in de wereld. Door: Julia Cameron.
Dit is het vervolg op dé bestseller: The artist’s way. Geschreven in 2002 maar nu pas vertaald blijkbaar. The artist’s way is een geweldig boek, niet voor niets is dat een wereldwijd verkoopsucces. Een aanrader voor kunstenaars maar daarnaast ook geschikt voor iedereen die ten volle wil leven: met open blik, hart en hoofd.
De twee belangrijkste pijlers uit het eerste boek zijn de morning pages en de artist date, in dit boek komt daar een derde pijler bij: een wekelijkse wandeling. Ook dit boek is een cursus die je in 12 weken kan volgen. Per week lees je een hoofdstuk en doe je de bijhorende oefeningen. Plus dat je, zodra je met de cursus begint, elke ochtend 3 pagina’s schrijft, je 1 keer in de week een artistiek uitje op je eentje onderneemt én dat je minstens 1 keer in de week gaat wandelen.
Dat alles om je creativiteit te voeden, want ja: dat is geen onuitputtelijke bron waar je uit kan blijven putten zonder er ooit iets in te steken. Dat leerde ik van Cameron, in haar vorige boek én door dit boek: je moet jezelf blijven voeden, je ogen en oren de kost geven. Tijd en aandacht aan jezelf besteden. Ruimte laten in je agenda, leven, hoofd. Ruimte die toelaat dat er iets nieuws gaat broeien.
Ik ben nog niet met de oefeningen begonnen, want ik wil er even 12 weken helemaal voor gaan en die tijd heb ik momenteel niet. Maar ik ga ze zeker doen. Sinds ik haar eerste boek deed schrijf ik nog elke dag mijn pagina’s. 2 in de plaats van 3 en in de namiddag in de plaats van in de ochtend maar ik doe ze wel, en ze helpen me. Met mijn andere schrijven én met mijn leven. Elke week wandelen doe ik sowieso al.
Soms lijkt wat ze zegt wat zweverig, en ze heeft het nogal vaak over de geweldige Schepper/God maar daar moet je omheen lezen. Of vervangen door iets dat jou wel past, als S/G niet je ding is. Als het gaat over creativiteit, in alle facetten van je leven dan is er geen betere gids dan Cameron, geloof me. Zo blij dat Walking in this world eindelijk vertaald is! Bedankt uitgeverij Lev.!
Dit is het vervolg op dé bestseller: The artist’s way. Geschreven in 2002 maar nu pas vertaald blijkbaar. The artist’s way is een geweldig boek, niet voor niets is dat een wereldwijd verkoopsucces. Een aanrader voor kunstenaars maar daarnaast ook geschikt voor iedereen die ten volle wil leven: met open blik, hart en hoofd.
De twee belangrijkste pijlers uit het eerste boek zijn de morning pages en de artist date, in dit boek komt daar een derde pijler bij: een wekelijkse wandeling. Ook dit boek is een cursus die je in 12 weken kan volgen. Per week lees je een hoofdstuk en doe je de bijhorende oefeningen. Plus dat je, zodra je met de cursus begint, elke ochtend 3 pagina’s schrijft, je 1 keer in de week een artistiek uitje op je eentje onderneemt én dat je minstens 1 keer in de week gaat wandelen.
Dat alles om je creativiteit te voeden, want ja: dat is geen onuitputtelijke bron waar je uit kan blijven putten zonder er ooit iets in te steken. Dat leerde ik van Cameron, in haar vorige boek én door dit boek: je moet jezelf blijven voeden, je ogen en oren de kost geven. Tijd en aandacht aan jezelf besteden. Ruimte laten in je agenda, leven, hoofd. Ruimte die toelaat dat er iets nieuws gaat broeien.
Ik ben nog niet met de oefeningen begonnen, want ik wil er even 12 weken helemaal voor gaan en die tijd heb ik momenteel niet. Maar ik ga ze zeker doen. Sinds ik haar eerste boek deed schrijf ik nog elke dag mijn pagina’s. 2 in de plaats van 3 en in de namiddag in de plaats van in de ochtend maar ik doe ze wel, en ze helpen me. Met mijn andere schrijven én met mijn leven. Elke week wandelen doe ik sowieso al.
Soms lijkt wat ze zegt wat zweverig, en ze heeft het nogal vaak over de geweldige Schepper/God maar daar moet je omheen lezen. Of vervangen door iets dat jou wel past, als S/G niet je ding is. Als het gaat over creativiteit, in alle facetten van je leven dan is er geen betere gids dan Cameron, geloof me. Zo blij dat Walking in this world eindelijk vertaald is! Bedankt uitgeverij Lev.!
March 15, 2018
I have used this Cameron book as a follow up to The Artist's Way. Walking in this World focuses on the business and practice aspects of being an artist, and aims to help creative people wed their worlds so that the creative/artist activities can connect to the more practical aspects of publishing, or showing your work, earning income with your talents, staying organized (an especially hard thing, I find, when involved in creative projects!).
I recommend this book whether or not you've read any of Cameron's other books. I think it is practical, helpful and kind-spirited in its tone. For someone like me, who struggles with managing so many projects at once and whose life easily falls into chaos because of the many projects, a forgiving and humorous tone like hers is very much appreciated. I'm not the kind of person who benefits from the drill sergeant kinds of "how to organize your life and your work" books. They always make me feel like a failure! Cameron's, instead, makes me feel more appreciative of my own special style of moving through the world. I think that's one of the many gifts this book offers.
I recommend this book whether or not you've read any of Cameron's other books. I think it is practical, helpful and kind-spirited in its tone. For someone like me, who struggles with managing so many projects at once and whose life easily falls into chaos because of the many projects, a forgiving and humorous tone like hers is very much appreciated. I'm not the kind of person who benefits from the drill sergeant kinds of "how to organize your life and your work" books. They always make me feel like a failure! Cameron's, instead, makes me feel more appreciative of my own special style of moving through the world. I think that's one of the many gifts this book offers.
Read
March 16, 2025We finished! In August 2023 I lucked into a little reading circle where we started with The Artist's Way, met weekly to discuss, and, over the course of it, all became so fond of one another. Similar to my comics club it is full of women way out of my league with whom I nevertheless receive this incredible gift of time, affection, and attention. What a dreamy life.
Anyway this book: We took a year with this one, doing the chapters monthly instead of weekly. In some ways a monthly commitment to this material is so much harder to pull off than a weekly commitment--harder to keep the material front of mind, harder to prioritize the kind of work these books know we need to prioritize.
In conclusion Julia is wild. I wish we could get out there and spend a couple weeks with her. Dear Julia if you read this please invite us. We love you. Thank you for your work in this world.
Anyway this book: We took a year with this one, doing the chapters monthly instead of weekly. In some ways a monthly commitment to this material is so much harder to pull off than a weekly commitment--harder to keep the material front of mind, harder to prioritize the kind of work these books know we need to prioritize.
In conclusion Julia is wild. I wish we could get out there and spend a couple weeks with her. Dear Julia if you read this please invite us. We love you. Thank you for your work in this world.
December 12, 2025
The weekend after I was laid off from my job I knew I needed to ground myself in something other than my drive to find a new job. I had recalled how I enjoyed The Artist Way when I was transitioning from college to being a graduate and all the tribulations of growing and evolving at that time. I jumped into the work and worked through it consistently for the first two months. Then, as contract work and eventually a full-time, stable job landed on my lap, I slowly trudged through the last few weeks of the workbook. Glad I did.
November 21, 2020
A continuation of The Artist's Way.
I liked this. It wasn't the life-changing experience of working through The Artist's Way for the first time. It had more of a feel of smoothing out the rough edges, and teaching you how to live with the changes you were asked to make in the first book. For example, you don't have to give up reading for a week, but you do have to do more art.
Recommended if you survived The Artist's Way and are worried about backsliding.
I liked this. It wasn't the life-changing experience of working through The Artist's Way for the first time. It had more of a feel of smoothing out the rough edges, and teaching you how to live with the changes you were asked to make in the first book. For example, you don't have to give up reading for a week, but you do have to do more art.
Recommended if you survived The Artist's Way and are worried about backsliding.
January 12, 2023
Another thoughtful book on the creative process and nurturing creativity in our lives. Morning pages, artist dates and walks are her main tools to unblocking artists.
She talks about emotions being a catalyst to unlocking our creativity even those we perceive as negative especially anger. One of the activities was listing 10 things that anger you one of her examples was The Catholic Church abandoning Latin.
She talks about emotions being a catalyst to unlocking our creativity even those we perceive as negative especially anger. One of the activities was listing 10 things that anger you one of her examples was The Catholic Church abandoning Latin.
June 3, 2024
I’m a huge fan of The Artist’s Way. It’s a book that has genuinely changed my life and how I see the world. I think this sequel is a nice follow up and reminders of the lessons taught in the original. The main newest addition to this book is the introduction of weekly walks. I do think some of the information is redundant and this isn’t as groundbreaking as the original, but still a great, moving book.
May 27, 2024
An absolute must for any artist — will hold you, help you, and guide you in the most tender and honest ways.
March 2, 2017
I love Julia Cameron's "Artist's Way" series. This is the second book in the series.
May 3, 2018
p.8 – “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” (Joseph Campbell)
p.10 – “A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” (Frank Capra)
p.11 – “What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” (Aristotle)
p.15 – When we avoid our creativity, we avoid ourselves.
p.17 – “The realization of the self is only possible if one is productive, if one can give birth to one’s own potentialities.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Creativity is inspiration coupled with initiative.
p.18 – We hunger to make art the same way we may hunger to make love. It begins as desire, and desire requires that we act upon it if we are to conceive things.
p.20 – Creative energy is energy. When we are worrying about creating instead of actually creating, we are wasting our creative energy.
p.72 – “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” (Robert Bresson)
p.103 – “I love those who yearn for the impossible.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Teaching those around us what our priorities are – and remembering them ourselves – makes for harmonious relationships. Clarifying ourselves to others brings honest connections that are grounded in mutual respect. Honesty starts with us. Identifying those who habitually abuse us or our energies is pivotal, but identifying them is only step one. Avoiding them is step two.
p.108 – Creativity expands in an atmosphere encouraging to it, and constricts self-protectively in an atmosphere that is cynical or hostile. This is why artists can have a difficult time accessing their best work in academia.
p.117 – Creativity requires vigilant self-nurturing.
p.121 – “All in all, the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world.” (Marcel Duchamp)
p.125 – Creative work is often invisible to other people.
p.133 – Creativity thrives on small, do-able actions.
p.178 – For an artist, a bout with restlessness is best met with curiosity – not with the conclusion that your true cranky character is surging to the fore.
p.231 – “Where there is great love there are always miracles.” (Willa Cather)
p.271 – “Only the hear knows how to find what is precious.” (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
p.10 – “A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” (Frank Capra)
p.11 – “What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” (Aristotle)
p.15 – When we avoid our creativity, we avoid ourselves.
p.17 – “The realization of the self is only possible if one is productive, if one can give birth to one’s own potentialities.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Creativity is inspiration coupled with initiative.
p.18 – We hunger to make art the same way we may hunger to make love. It begins as desire, and desire requires that we act upon it if we are to conceive things.
p.20 – Creative energy is energy. When we are worrying about creating instead of actually creating, we are wasting our creative energy.
p.72 – “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” (Robert Bresson)
p.103 – “I love those who yearn for the impossible.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Teaching those around us what our priorities are – and remembering them ourselves – makes for harmonious relationships. Clarifying ourselves to others brings honest connections that are grounded in mutual respect. Honesty starts with us. Identifying those who habitually abuse us or our energies is pivotal, but identifying them is only step one. Avoiding them is step two.
p.108 – Creativity expands in an atmosphere encouraging to it, and constricts self-protectively in an atmosphere that is cynical or hostile. This is why artists can have a difficult time accessing their best work in academia.
p.117 – Creativity requires vigilant self-nurturing.
p.121 – “All in all, the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world.” (Marcel Duchamp)
p.125 – Creative work is often invisible to other people.
p.133 – Creativity thrives on small, do-able actions.
p.178 – For an artist, a bout with restlessness is best met with curiosity – not with the conclusion that your true cranky character is surging to the fore.
p.231 – “Where there is great love there are always miracles.” (Willa Cather)
p.271 – “Only the hear knows how to find what is precious.” (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
March 22, 2017
I read this book instead of reading for second time its prequel, "The Artist's Way".
I believe is was the right choice. It's a good refresh of the lessons the author offers in the prequel (one of the most important books I've read), plus she offers a few more tips.
I didn't rate this book with five stars because I'm not fond of Julia's advice on the artist being... a God's tool? The author sees every artist as a God's medium to continue creating. And I find that thought dangerous. I believe that creation is an activity that's deeply human, not holy.
Other than that, it's a solid book that I absolutely recommend reading.
I believe is was the right choice. It's a good refresh of the lessons the author offers in the prequel (one of the most important books I've read), plus she offers a few more tips.
I didn't rate this book with five stars because I'm not fond of Julia's advice on the artist being... a God's tool? The author sees every artist as a God's medium to continue creating. And I find that thought dangerous. I believe that creation is an activity that's deeply human, not holy.
Other than that, it's a solid book that I absolutely recommend reading.
August 28, 2009
By drawing on the accomplishments of artists, Cameron addresses how to handle some of the more difficult aspects of our own humanness. How to handle anger, investing in yourself, finding a balance without guilt are just a few focuses of this book. While reading this piece I got many connections to Tom Crum's The Magic of Conflict. Cameron instructs us how to change our anger to fuel, how to make the highest potential of your passion, etc.
I love these books. In them are perspective, relief, and a way to touch base with your self-respect.
I love these books. In them are perspective, relief, and a way to touch base with your self-respect.
August 17, 2013
Well - her intro suggested 'Morning Pages',haven't tried them I must admit, 'Artist Dates', which I do anyway called something else (had some creative ideas though) and going for a '20 minute walk once a week' - the woman clearly doesn't have dog!
The rest of the book expanded on these and various other ideas for unblocking the channels of creativity, but was not really for me. Maybe one to revisit...
The rest of the book expanded on these and various other ideas for unblocking the channels of creativity, but was not really for me. Maybe one to revisit...
January 20, 2011
That's it? She spent 270 pages detailing basically what appears in "The Artist's Way", except for one more principle: Go on a weekly walk ... I'm disappointed and eventually got so bored I was falling asleep on the pages! The quotes (from various sages) in the margins were original and good though.
February 4, 2021
This is more insightful than The Artist's Way in some moments, and more repetitive than The Artist's Way in others. I found it sufficiently inspiring for my personal tastes. What I loved the most about this book is its powerful message. It strengthens you so you are ready to accept the idea of art making as being an act of service.
March 23, 2022
This book just didn't work for me. I really enjoyed Ms. Cameron's book: "The Artist's Way" and thought that this book would be a continuation of creative ideas and inspiring tasks. However I found it to be very repetitive and felt like she was just rambling to fill up the pages. I just don't think it was the book for me at this time.
October 7, 2011
This is a wonderful book & audio book and now my favorite of Ms. Cameron's! No matter what your creative outlet is, this book will offer you guidance and useful suggestions!
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