The Spark Crew – June: Progress

A mid year check in + creative planning workshop

Poetry in progress. I started this notebook last October and it’s literally bursting at the seams. I like to think of these poems as ready to take flight, first onto my laptop and then out into the world. A visual reminder of intention, process and progress, whenever I need it.

If you’re feeling slightly panicked that it’s suddenly midsummer and you’ve been far less productive than hoped this year, you are not alone. Each month I’ve been migrating to-do lists, creative dreams and arbitrary (therefore non-binding and ineffectual) deadlines into the next section of my diary.

It’s all too easy to berate ourselves for procrastinating or letting life get in the way, when perhaps we’ve been over-optimistic about what we can achieve while also juggling the demands of work / caregiving / tending to this broken world.

Perhaps this is part of the process. If you are continuing to connect with your writing or creative project – whatever that means to you – while practising the delicate art of being an empathic human in these turbulent times, then it sounds like you’re on the path. Often progress is bubbling away below the surface, in ways we sense but can’t yet quite see.

And sometimes, we need a little more scaffolding or scheduling in, to support the development of our craft and creative habits. If the weeks are flying by, with very little writing or devising or painting or choreographing or whatever other -ing you want to do more of happening, then this is a chance to dig into the reasons why and make a plan for the weeks and months ahead. It could be an intensive summer camp, 15 minute daily session or weekly creative afternoon – you are the designer of your time and you get to choose.

Below you’ll find reflective questions, a workshop for anyone who would like to have company (me!) while completing these, and a few inspiration sparks to take your words and art to new places. I’ve also shared in the recording some of the things I do to keep my creative fires burning.

The Spark Crew is a gently-paced creative community for anyone who is open to taking their work in new directions. Each month we explore a different theme and experiment with new arts-based practices. If you’d like to read on beyond the preview, a paid subscription (£6 a month or £60 a year) provides full access, plus the previous six invitations to create. You are very welcome to join us for a summer creative boost, or stay on all year, as suits.