Today's treat is a blog post by Nicola Newman, our special guest judge for the April 2025 Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest.
As an artist and creative mentor who has spent over two decades exploring creativity through painting, writing, and teaching, I've discovered creative living isn't about waiting for the perfect studio, the right materials, or that elusive "someday" when we'll finally have enough time. It's about following our hearts to embrace what lights us up from the inside, right where we are.
Through working with students in my year-long creativity school Flourish: The Art of Creative Living and my own journey as a professional artist and writer, I've identified three key phases that support people to develop a sustainable and fulfilling creative practice. Whether you're a writer, painter, photographer, or someone who simply longs to express yourself more freely, understanding these phases can help you navigate your creative journey with more ease, purpose, and joy.
Phase One: Creative Renewal
The first phase is all about creating a safe container for your creativity to flourish. Many of us carry wounds from past criticism or hold limiting stories about our creative abilities. Perhaps a teacher once dismissed your efforts, or you've internalised the idea that you're "not naturally creative." These experiences can create what I call creative shame—an underlying fear that can stop us from even beginning.
The key to moving through this phase is gentleness. Instead of forcing ourselves to "get over it" or "push through," we need to create a supportive environment where our creativity feels safe to emerge. This might mean:
Setting up a dedicated space for your creative work, even if it's just a corner of your kitchen table, or a writing chair nestled in your garden or patio
Giving yourself permission to play and experiment without judgment
Starting with small, manageable creative sessions
Surrounding yourself with encouraging people who lift you up
Phase Two: Creative Practices
Once we've established a foundation of safety and support, we can begin developing our practical skills and creative vocabulary. This phase is about building our creative muscles through regular practice and experimentation.
Think of it like learning a new language—at first, everything feels awkward and unfamiliar. But as we continue to show up and practice, we gradually develop fluency. The key is to focus on the process rather than the outcome. Instead of expecting masterpieces from the start, we can:
Explore different materials, styles, and techniques with curiosity
Break down complex skills into smaller, manageable pieces
Celebrate our progress, no matter how small
Allow ourselves to make "mistakes" as part of the learning process
Phase Three: Creative Maps
The final phase is where we integrate creativity into our daily lives in a sustainable way. This is about understanding our unique rhythms and working with them rather than against them.
Instead of forcing ourselves to follow someone else's creative schedule or process, this phase is about learning to:
Understand and work with our natural rhythms and seasons
Navigate feedback and criticism while protecting our creative heart
Cultivate inspiration in sustainable and intentional ways
Use our deepest values to navigate and inform our creative path
Build a meaningful creative legacy
These phases aren't linear. We often move between them as we grow and explore new areas of creativity. The key is to approach each phase with gentleness, curiosity, playfulness, and self-compassion.
How to Apply the Three Phases to Your Writing Practice
If you're feeling inspired to bring more intentional creativity into your writing practice, here are some gentle prompts to help you begin:
Creative Renewal: Take a moment to reflect on your writing environment. Where do you feel most at ease to write? It might be a cozy corner of your home, a local café, or a quiet spot in nature. Create a simple ritual that helps you transition into your writing time—perhaps lighting a candle, making your favorite tea, or taking three deep breaths before you begin. Notice what helps you feel safe and supported to express yourself freely.
Creative Practices: Consider starting a "playground document" where you can experiment with different writing styles, voices, or perspectives without pressure. Give yourself permission to write badly, to explore wild ideas, or to write about topics you've never attempted before.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write without editing or judgment. The Community Write-Ins hosted here by Tadpole Press are a wonderful opportunity to do just that, alongside the support and connection of fellow writers. These experiments aren't meant to be masterpieces—they're about building your creative muscles and discovering what lights you up.
Creative Maps: Begin mapping your natural creative rhythms by noting when you feel most energised to write. Are you a morning person who loves to write at dawn, or do your best ideas flow late at night? Keep track of what inspires you – perhaps it's conversations with friends, walking in nature, or reading poetry. Use these observations to create a writing practice that works with your natural flow rather than against it.
The most important thing is to start where you are, with what you have, and be kind to yourself in the process.
As you develop your own creative practice, I encourage you to trust your intuition about what feels right for you. Your creative path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Whether you're writing your first story, picking up a paintbrush after years away, or simply longing to express yourself more authentically, you can begin right where you are. I hope that by understanding this framework of the three phases of creative living, you can develop a practice that not only supports your creative expression but brings more joy, meaning, and fulfillment to your life.
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Nicola Newman is an award-winning artist, creative mentor, and founder of Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, a year-long creativity school. Through her books, courses, and retreats, she guides Creative Hearts in building a loving relationship with themselves through mindfulness and creative expression. Combining practical creative skills with gentle approaches to dissolving creative blocks and building self-belief, Nicola helps others find fulfillment guided by their own inner wisdom, playfulness, and curiosity.
Her work spans painting, writing, and creative business mentoring, and always emphasises self-compassion and authentic expression over perfectionism. Connect with Nicola through her free resources, private coaching, online programs, monthly membership, or in-person retreats at www.nicolanewman.com.
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