A vulnerable newsletter today! Why I include creative exercises in my programme

Today I'm sharing a small section of the first creative exercise in my editorial training and mentorship course, Get into Children's Publishing: www.getintochildrenspublishing.co.uk

Why? Because I've made some pretty visuals on Canva. I got over-excited and wanted to share! Also, I have never really explained why I place so much emphasis on sparking creativity in my otherwise highly practical programme.

Take a look at the snippet of the exercise and do get in contact with me if you can relate, whether or not you want to do the programme. It's great to connect with people who want to work in publishing or anyone who loves books and creativity.

Here goes:

EXCERPT FROM MODULE ONE'S CREATIVE EXERCISE: UNLOCKING YOUR CREATIVITY

Unlocking your creativity is a powerful way to connect with yourself and the world. If you want to work in publishing – especially in editorial, design, marketing and publicity – it is key.

Before I say more, being creative doesn’t mean you need to be an amazing artist or writer – it’s about exploring, playing and discovering what ignites your joy. When you feel creative consistently, it can spill over into your work, which is the dream – right? To have a creative, purposeful and fulfilling career.

Like all corporate jobs, publishing exists to make money. This often means becoming burdened with deadlines and work pressures, which can hinder creativity – all the more reason to commit to maintaining a creative outlook.

I believe creativity is a huge part of well-being because once you are connected to your inner creator, you will learn to speak up for that part of yourself and prioritise your needs.

This is not always easy in the workplace – far from it.

In my opinion, changing our lives (finding a new job, for example) requires an abundant mindset – and healing our inner creator is key to achieving this. Much of the world operates on a scarcity model, and it’s easy to become trapped in it – especially when the evidence around you suggests progress is hard, if not impossible.

You need to detach yourself from what’s happening around you – after all, that is the manifestation of the past. Instead, you need to find a sense of inner peace and begin creating from there.

Easier said than done, I know, but stick with me.

If you’re struggling with self-doubt or fear of rejection at work, creativity is even more important. Why?

Because your own unique, authentic creativity is magnetic and it pulls in people and opportunities that are aligned with you.

There are no overnight solutions, but there are daily steps of inspired action that, with patience and perseverance, can bring you closer to your goals. Being bogged down in negativity only clouds potential solutions that seem currently out of reach.

Here are steps 3 and 4 from the first creative exercise: 5 Steps to Unlock Your Creativity

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3. Recognise patterns?

Observe recurring themes in your habits or thoughts. Ask yourself: When do I feel most critical of my creativity? What triggers self-doubt?

Claire: I feel most critical when I think of times when other people have criticized me, like the primary school teacher who tore up my workbook or when a friend told me that no-one is good at poetry, soon after I had shown him one of mine. Self-doubt is triggered when I am met with silence after sharing creative ideas or when I say yes to work that pays too low.?

Take creative action: Create some kind of visual map of your patterns. Draw a circle with your creative block at the centre and branch out with thoughts or behaviours that contribute to it, like procrastination, fear of judgement or perfectionism. I decided to visualise mine on Canva in a sort of meme:

4. Reframe the narrative

Acknowledge that these old beliefs do not define you. Write down a new belief or affirmation that feels empowering, for example: My creativity is unique and valuable. I don’t need to compare it to anyone else’s.

Take creative action: Be inspired by Carrie Fisher, who said: “Take your broken heart, make it into art.” Turn one of your new desired beliefs into any kind of creative or art piece. Here’s my updated visual:

How does a creative exercise like this help?

Engaging in an activity like this can help us overcome the extremely powerful resistance that can arrive whenever we set a goal or speak an affirmation that currently feels untrue. For me, doing something creative is a healthy form of release. When I am creative, I let go of scarcity and I exist in some kind of liminal space of possibility and potentiality. This brings me a sense of peace – and when I can feel peace I can take inspired action steps from a sense of abundance. When I do this (it is not easy), that is when the universe co-creates with me and opportunities that I have been desperately seeking through sheer mind-power alone (which is somewhat ineffectual) arrive.

Try it – and let me know how it feels for you. Here is my favourite affirmation – what would yours be?

I'm part of Gingerbread Moon Creative, a lovely bunch of editors and designers supporting book publishers. Amazingly, we are getting booked up for 2025 already – get in touch soon!