Yesterday, I took an early lunch break and headed over to the local pub to meet wonderful creativity warrior, Amie McNee and purchase her new book:
We Need Your Art.
Let me tell you, friends, I was bricking it!
But I needn’t have worried.
Amie was so gracious and kind, taking a genuine interest in my writing and encouraging me to keep going. She listened to my fangirl ramblings and made me feel ‘seen’ as I spoke about my struggles with consistent creativity and falling into the clutches of the inner critic.
We talked about how much bravery is needed to put your work into the world, and how exhausting it is, and whilst I’d felt that way myself, as someone beginning to explore their creativity in Substack, I’d never considered it from a more established writer’s perspective.
I realise now how genuinely hard it must be for well-known writers in this space to keep going - the energy expended to keep from crashing, when others hold them up as a shining example of success and creative freedom.
Creatives offer their work to the world with love and immense bravery because they believe in their acts of creation, but it is easy to forget that they are people too - needing time and space to nurture themselves without feeling guilty, to refresh the wellspring of ideas and sparks of joy that fuel the creative act.
It was an incredible privilege to meet Amie and I am truly grateful for her time and generosity of spirit. It is up there as one of my best memories - a light during a low point in life.
Later, that evening when my kiddo asked about my day, I told him about my awesome experience and when I mentioned the title of Amie’s book, he said,
“Oh yeah mum, you told me about her before. That’s really cool.”
Honestly, I couldn’t remember. But hey, that’s perimenopause for you.
“Did I?” I replied.
“Yeah,” he said, “she’s the one that wants everyone to make art.”
Yep kiddo - you got it!
For anyone who hasn’t bought Amie’s butt-kicking book on creativity -
What are you waiting for?
It could change your life…
https://www.amiemcnee.com/pre-order-we-need-your-art-book-amie-mcnee
How fabulous, Lynette. I'm one of Amie's 'true fans'! She has changed my life into a more creative and art-filled one. So glad you got to meet her (I did too in March :)). The book is wonderful and I'm so glad she and James worked so hard to bring it into existence. We need this book and We Need Your Art!
Thanks, glad I read this