I Finished The Artist’s Way—and Accidentally Started a Business ✨

Twelve Weeks Later: I'm Blonde and I Own a Bakery! 🎀

Besties, we’ve done it: We made it to Week 12 of The Artists Way. The LAST week. I can’t believe it!

I’ve been a bit quiet about my Artists Way journey (which is a 12-week creativity course by Julia Cameron for those of you wondering) but I’ve been toiling away— doing my morning pages (three pages of freewriting) and going on my artists dates (solo creativity excursions). My creativity has very quietly blossomed in a way I honestly never expected it to. I went into this 12 weeks thinking I would recover something very specific, and it turns out I was completely wrong. The Universe had other plans, and I’ve been surprised and delighted by all of it. 

I hope you’re sitting with a cozy drink, or bundled up in your pjs today, cause I’d love to share some of my key takeaways, how my life has changed since I started this journey 12 weeks ago and what’s to come. Let’s get comfy and dive in!

Not what I was expecting 🥹

What I Thought Would Happen vs. What Actually Happened

Julia Cameron positions this 12-week journey as creative recovery. The last time I started The Artists Way, I was in my mid-20s and working as a professional actor. At the time, I was performing in a dream show, I had just started yoga teacher training, and was generally thriving as a creative. I only got about 4 weeks in before abandoning the journey, but looking back now, it all makes sense. I didn’t even clock the recovery part then, but now? As a woman in her late-30s who has pivoted into freelance writing, content creation and has left those theatre dreams behind her? The recovery part hit hard. 

I know I am a creative to my core, but as I’ve lived a little more life, my creative pursuits have felt a bit more like work and less like fun—because it is work. I truly thought my creative recovery would look like dipping my toe back into my life as a theatre artist. I thought I’d start singing again, I thought I’d pick up my uke and maybe I’d see a show or two. 

But whenever I thought of doing one of those things for an artist's date—it felt heavy and anxiety-ridden. 

I think this means there are pretty deep wounds that need tending to eventually, but I was led to something softer. Julia talks about how your creative self is a child, and you should do things that would entertain them. I followed my gentle curiosity, letting my creative little girl self lead the way, and she brought me to some pretty adorable places.

I watched The Little Mermaid for the first time in like, two decades.

I re-read my favorite American Girl book (Meet Kirsten, obvi)

I took a sewing class

I did paint-by-number

I baked chocolate chip cookies

All little things that made me smile. They added delight and whimsy to my days. My weeks! It ultimately blossomed into something more, but in the first few weeks especially, it was so sweet rediscovering small creative loves: baking, crafting, reading. Ahhh. 

I did experience, however, a MAJOR bout of annoyance, grumpiness and overall feelings of UGH WHY AM I DOING THIS, about halfway through—which is apparently par for the course. It’s definitely not all sunshine and butterflies, and my annoyance took the form of WHY AM I NOT MORE SUCCESSFUL. The funny thing? The following week was all about fame, and how it messes with creativity because you’re looking for external validation instead of staying connected to what’s true to you. Touche Julia. Touche. 

A sweet synchronicity 💕

The Biggest Changes I’ve Seen 

Julia talks at length about so many different things each chapter and each week, but for me? What has stuck is the idea of not taking life too seriously. To have fun. And to regularly chat with the universe/God/whatever higher power resonates with you. It is a deeply spiritual book, and I’ve reminded myself that my morning pages can be a conversation with God and I’ve honestly loved it. It can be whatever you want, and my convos usually start with like, “Hey girl, what the hell am I doing” and the Universe is quick to respond as I continue to write. It's basically just the little voice in your head that's kind and cute and encourages you to do the thing, whatever it is. Since I’ve started chatting with the Universe/doing my morning pages (which are three pages of handwritten brain dumps) here are the biggest changes I’ve experienced. 

• I started a business. I now have a micro bakery out of my home. I HAVE A BAKERY. 

• I am now blonde. I went from brunette to like…BLONDE. Not just highlights. Blonde bb. This definitely came from the idea of having fun and not taking life too seriously. I’ve thought about taking the plunge for months (years!) and I finally said what the hell let’s do it. Fun!

• I can show up creatively without judgement. Or at least, way less judgement. Perfectionist girlies know what I’m talking about. 

• I trust my instincts more—especially around beauty, pleasure and play. And it’s never a loud, like, “DO IT!” It’s softer, gentler, and more curious. It says, “Wouldn’t this be fun? Let’s try!” 

• Synchronicities happen on the daily now. The book is sprinkled with affirmations that you’re guided to come back to throughout the 12 weeks, and one of my favorites is “As I create, I am led” And wowowow has this been true and so fun. Synchronicities I’ve experienced? Seeing an American Girl poster at the vintage market (I was deciding whether I should re-read one of the books for fun, and this Universe said, “Yes girl! Here’s Kirsten at the market!”) micro bakeries popping up in my algorithm (literally had no idea they existed until I started baking), a fabric store offering sewing classes 10 minutes from my house (this is also apparently the only local fabric store in the DC area and it just so happens to be super close to me?!) and more. 

What The Artists Way Taught Me 

I admit, I’m someone who goes all in. I won’t start something unless I know I’ll be the best at it. There’s a chapter in the book that talks about how creatives will push themselves to the edge of a cliff, terrified to jump and resisting the entire time—when the truth is literally no one is asking you to jump off a terrifying cliff. It’s the author who won’t write because they’re terrified they won’t become a NY Times Best Seller, so they don’t start the novel that’s been wracking their brain for years. The truth is no one’s asking you to write a NY Times best seller, maybe just write like, a chapter. Drag meeeeee Julia! 

Committing to your creativity doesn’t need to happen in grand gestures. It’s about taking teeny tiny steps each day. You don’t need to look way ahead, just look to what’s right in front of you. This morning. This day. What’s a small way you can nurture your creativity today? What’s a small step you can take towards your creative goals today? Just do the next right thing. However small. Brilliant. 

Creativityyyyy

What’s Next?

So technically, this is the last week of the 12-week journey. One more week to go! But I’ve already thought that I’d like to go back and do some of the tasks I didn’t get a chance to do. Each week there are a number of tasks/creative activities listed out, and Julia even mentions that it’s ok if you don’t get to all of them. But I’d like to review and highlight some of the tasks I’ve missed! I also plan on sticking with morning pages—I’ve loved journaling literally since the 4th grade, and getting back into the habit has been wonderful. I’m also sure the book gets into a plan for what to do when the course is over, which I’m excited to dive into. And I’m just excited to continue following my creative curiosities! I now have a micro bakery (omg) and I’m so looking forward to baking more, trying new recipes and growing my little side hustle. A dream.

Overall, my 12 week journey looked so different than what I imagined. It connected me to little creative joys I had forgotten about, and has ultimately led me to a whole new chapter of my life. I’m blonde with a bakery now, who would have thought? 

Have you ever done The Artists Way? How did it unfold for you? I’d love to hear—and if you’re curious about starting it yourself, I would totally recommend! Happy to answer any questions you may have. Cheers to your creativity, and I’ll see you next week! 🫶🏼

xx, Kristen

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