cup of chi

Big Shout Out to Daily Creator S. McW. who joined the blog world today with her new site: My Cup of Chi: www.evolvingarts.blogspot.com

Check out her blog and her home site: http://evolvingarts.com/ and watch for her new show on HGTV "Fun Shui" which will be broadcast in the Spring.

looking over december

December is nearly over. Just two more days. Now it is time to take stock of what we’ve accomplished in this month.

We devoted this month to three ideas: PLAY, LOVE, LET GO.

TODAY’S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Browse through the archives of December and read over the exercises we’ve done.

Which of the exercises was easiest for you? Why? Which of the exercises was most effective at reaching a new level of awareness or experience? What have you learned about yourself? How have these three ideas enhanced your creative process? Which of the exercises will you keep in your “toolbox” as an artist? Why?

Pick three or four of the exercises that seemed most effective for you and look them over carefully. Are they related to one another in some way? Think about WHY they may have worked for you and how you can use them on a more regular basis. Commit to working them into your creative process.

Which of the exercises was hardest for you? Why? Which triggered the most resistance or dread or numbness or apathy or anger or boredom or avoidance?

Pick one or two of the exercises that seemed the least effective for you and try to tackle them one more time. Give yourself another shot at it and see what happens. Any movement? Results? Changes? Commit to working at least one of these “uncomfortable” exercises in your artist toolbox.

inventory part two

Let’s continue with our Artist Inventory.

Think about these seven aspects of your life:

Your Personal Relationships
Your Physical Health
Your Spirituality
Your Career
Your Financial Security
Your Emotional Well Being
Your Thirst For Knowledge

Which of these are most important to you? Where is most of your time going? Does it match up? Think about the changes you might need to make to spend your time on the most important aspects of your life.

TODAY’S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Pick your top three from the list above, such as:

PHYSICAL HEALTH
FINANCIAL SECURITY
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Then pick several short-term goals, long-term goals and a “stretch” goal for each, such as:

PHYSICAL HEALTH

Short Term Goals
- Stop Eating Sugar
- Take a Daily Walk
- Get Health Insurance
- Find a New Doctor

Long Term Goals
- Join a Softball League
- Have a Healthy Pregnancy
- Eat 6 Mini-Meals A Day
- Braces

Stretch Goal
- Learn To Surf

As you create your goals, keep in mind our agenda for the month: PLAY, LOVE, LET GO.

orhan pamuk

Daily Creator L.W. sent this to me today but I want to pass it on to all of you:

"In case you didn't read this article in the New Yorker, Orhan Pamuk's Nobel Prize acceptance speech is wonderful at describing why we write, the life of a writer, what it means to write."

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/061225fa_fact1

personal inventory

The New Year is just a few days away - a good time to take our personal, artistic inventory.

You don't have to turn this into a "list-making" exercise - you can just think about these questions, keep them in mind as we move from 2006 to 2007.

* Who are you as an artist?
* What do you want from life?
* What matters most to you?

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

From the answers to those questions, create a "personal ad" for yourself as an artist, something like:

Talented, risktaking artist with creative, profitable career seeks spiritual wisdom and personal courage to support a loving home full of laughter, creativity and community.

letting go

Maybe it's the let down from the holidays or maybe it's a crash after eating too many sweets for the past week but my thoughts today turn to the third "goal" of our month: Let Go.

I have an old leather chair that I inherited when my father died almost 16 years ago. It's outrageously heavy and I've been toting this chair from one side of the country to the other when it is too big to even fit in the apartments where I lived in NY and LA.

But I've held on to the chair because it has so much history, because it feels like a connection to family, because it feels like a connection to the past. And those three things are the EXACT reason why I should instead LET IT GO.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Look around your house, your work space, your apartment, your room. The things that surround you, the people in your life - is there something (doesn't have to be furniture!) or someone that you are hanging on to when your gut is telling you it is time to let it go?

Is it time for a trip to the Goodwill donation bin? Is it time to clear off that desk and get it organized for the new year? Is it time to swap out hand-me-downs for chosen pieces?

The things that surround you, the people that surround you - are they part of your future or your past?

blessings

Yesterday we opened presents, gave presents, ate a big dinner, gathered family or friends or both around us - it was a day of abundance in our own homes. I hope that you had a happy, relaxing day that included our three "goals" for the month: play, love, let go.

Today, I'm asking that we send those three thoughts out into the world.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Whether you create a small ritual to pass those blessings across the continents or you just keep them in mind today, focus your attention on sending the love, closeness and charity that you experienced yesterday out into the world.

Play:

May the children of the world live in safety and may they always have a playful spirit. May the children of this world be allowed to be children and not have to worry about adult things.

Love:

May the people of this world strive to love one another. May love open all of our hearts to a deeper understanding, connection and tolerance of differences.

Let Go:

May the governments of our world let go of their agendas and their egos and focus instead on creating peace. May the long-standing animosity between peoples dissolve into forgiveness. May we let go of the past and face the future as one.

43 things

Since it's the time for resolutions, check out the site: http://www.43things.com a website that encourages you to make a list of 43 things you're going to do and then announce them to 650,000 other people who will hold you accountable.

Their FAQ says:

People have known for years that making a list of goals is the best way to achieve them. But most of us never get around to making a list. 43 Things is great for that! Make a list on 43 Things and see what changes happen in your life. Best of all it’s a way of connecting with other enthusiasts interested in everything from watching a space shuttle launch to growing their own vegetables. So the next time someone asks you, “what do you do?” you can answer with confidence, “I am doing 43 things!”.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Check out the website and see if there's anything that's useful, helpful or inspiring to you as you move into the New Year.

top ten on stage

Big Congrats go to Daily Creators J.C. and S.R. whose plays were just named in the top ten shows of the year by Entertainment Weekly.

J.C.'s "Durango" (pictured above) came in at #8 and S.R.'s "The Clean House" came in at #9.

We're so proud of you!!!

apply yourself

As of today, most of the USA is shut down for the next week plus to eat too much, exchange presents and visit with family and friends. But this is the perfect time to do one of those grant applications or residency applications that you've been putting off for the last year.

Why now? Because you have a week of no work calls, no rewrites due, no work emails that have to be dealt with in a timely manner. Don't think of the application as work - think of it as dreaming.

Dreaming of a future residency where you have a month to devote to a new play, a new series of paintings, a new collection, finishing up that novel. Dreaming of grant money that will allow you the financial freedom to quit that crappy safety job. Dreaming of a fellowship that will connect you with other artists in your field.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Identify one residency, fellowship, grant or opportunity that feels a little bit out of reach, feels like it would be a dream come true if you were chosen.

Research what needs to be done to apply for this program and give yourself one week to do it.

Promise yourself you will finish and send the application. Call a friend and ask them to check in with you during the week about it.

Take advantage of the "down time" of the holidays to do something wonderful for your future creativity!

more grants

***Actors and Theater Companies Invited to Apply for Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships

***BMI Foundation Offers General Grants for Music Programs

***Creative Capital Announces 2007 Grant Cycle in Visual Arts and Film/Video

***Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Invites Applications for Visual Arts Fund Awards

***San Francisco Bay Area Arts Teachers Invited to Apply for Fund for Artists Arts Teachers Fellowship Program

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Actors and Theater Companies Invited to Apply for Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships
Deadline: January 16, 2007 (Intent to Apply)

Supported by the William & Eva Fox Foundation and administered by the Theatre Communications Group ( http://www.tcg.org/ ), the FoxFoundation Resident Actor Fellowships are designed to further an actor's artistic and professional development, to deepen and enrich his/her relationship with a not-for-profit theater, and to ensure his/her continued professional commitment to live theatre.

The Fox Fellowships are awarded to actors in two categories: 1) Extraordinary Potential -- early to mid-career actors who have completed their training within the last ten years; and 2) Distinguished Achievement -- actors who have demonstrated considerable experience in professional theater, with a substantial body of work. The program will bestow a total of six fellowships per year in both categories combined.

Applications are developed by the actor and the host theater company and submitted by the actor. Theaters may support only one actor in each round, regardless of category. Applicant U.S. theater companies will be TCG member theaters current on dues payments and with a minimum operating budget of$500,000 in their most recently completed fiscal year.

A limited number of British theaters were invited to apply for the program. Actors applying with a TCG member theater must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. Actors applying with an invited British theater must be a citizen of the United Kingdom. Recipients in the Extraordinary Potential category will receive$15,000, with an additional $10,000 available to relieve student loan debt. Recipients in the Distinguished Achievement categorywill receive $25,000. The host theater will receive $5,000 to be applied to costs incurred in the actor's residency activities.

Complete guidelines and application forms are available at theTCG Web site.
RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005614/tcg

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

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BMI Foundation Offers General Grants for Music Programs
Deadline: February 1, 2007

The BMI Foundation http://www.bmifoundation.org/ a not-for- profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and commissions, awards General Grants on an annual basis primarily to not-for-profit music organizations from around the United States.

These grants support and promote the creation, performance, and study of music. The program's emphasis is on classical, jazz, musical-theater genres, and contemporary American music in general.

Applications may be submitted by publicly supported nonprofit organizations that have a history of substantial commitment to music. Applicants may request either general operating support or support for special projects. In general, the foundation supports organizations with budgets under $1.5 million, and grants typically range from $500 to $5,000 each.

Applications are accepted only between January 1 and February 1 of each year.

Visit the BMI Foundation Web site for funding guidelines and an application form.
RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005615/bmifoundation

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

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Creative Capital Announces 2007 Grant Cycle in Visual Arts and Film/Video
Deadline: March 5, 2007 (Inquiry Form)

Artists across the United States will have a chance to promote their works-in-progress and works-to-be when the nonprofit arts organization Creative Capital ( http://www.creative-capital.org/ ) accepts proposals for its 2007 grant cycle supporting projects in the visual arts and film/video.

For the first time, Creative Capital has appointed two outside teams of arts professionals to assist in the selection process, which could lead to as many as forty grants. In keeping with the organization's multi-level commitment to its grantees, a total of at least $1 million is allocated for selected projects in the first year. In addition, over the term of the grant these projects receive follow-up support and can garner as much as $80,000 each in direct monies and services. Moreover, the grantees gain access to an extensive network of peers and arts professionals who can assist in fundraising, promotional, and presenting opportunities. This comprehensive approach to funding has become the hallmark of Creative Capital's work with artists.

To be eligible to apply, an artist must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident; at least 25 years old; and a working artist with at least five years of professional experience. To apply, artists must first submit an inquiry form, which will be available February 5, 2007, on the foundation's Web site. The deadline for completed forms is March 5, 2007; those invited to submit an application with work samples will be notified in June 2007.

A complete list of grantees, profiles of funded projects, and up- to-date grant cycle information can be found online at the foundation's Web site.
RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005616/creative-capital

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

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Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Invites Applications for Visual Arts Fund Awards
Deadline: February 15, 2007

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice http://www.astraeafoundation.org/ works for social, racial, and economic justice in the United States and internationally. The Astraea Visual Arts Fund aims to recognize the work of contemporary U.S. lesbian artists by providing support to those who show artistic merit and whose art and perspective reflect a commitment to the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice's mission and efforts to promote lesbian visibility and social justice.

This year, Astraea will give three cash awards of $2,500 each to lesbian visual artists. At least one of the three grants will be awarded to a lesbian artist who is based west of the Mississippi. Lesbian-identified visual artists are eligible to apply. This includes bisexual and queer-identified women who also identify as part of lesbian communities.

Applicants must be U.S. residents. Applications must include slides of current original works of art produced within the last three years in the following categories only: sculpture, painting in any medium, print, drawing, work on paper, and mixed media.

Visit the foundation's Web site for complete program information and application procedures. RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005619/astraea

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San Francisco Bay Area Arts Teachers Invited to Apply for Fund for Artists Arts Teachers Fellowship Program
Deadline: January 26, 2007

The Fund for Artists is a consortium of four San Francisco Bay Area community foundations dedicated to increasing support to Bay Area individual artists. The Fund for Artists Arts Teachers Fellowship program is a regional initiative to support the artistic revitalization of outstanding arts teachers in San Francisco Bay Area middle and high schools. Through the program, fellows will design individualized courses of study that foster their own creative work and have the opportunity to interact with other professional artists in their fields.

The program will award eight fellowships of up to $5,000 each, with a complementary grant of $1,500 to the fellow's school to support post-fellowship activities. Fellowship awards may be used to defray the costs of tuition or fees, room and board, travel, purchase of materials and/or equipment for personal art-making, childcare, and other relevant expenses.

Eligible applicants are permanently assigned full- and part-time arts faculty (teachers of the visual and media arts, theater, music, dance, and creative writing) working in public middle and high schools located in Alameda County; Contra Costa County; Marin County; San Francisco County; San Mateo County; and Northern Santa Clara County (Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills).

Visit the San Francisco Foundation Web site to download a 2007 FFAATF application form. RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005621/sff

For additional RFPs in Education, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_education.jhtml

little ways

Daily Creator M.O. sent an email to me today about Saint Theresa, the patron saint of "Little Ways" and that phrase "little ways" stirred in me a thought about the way we approach our creativity.

Often, as artists, we strive for grand gestures - a finished novel, a collection of dresses, a body of work, an exhibit at a major gallery, site-specific performance pieces in the middle of Times Square, landing the lead in a movie, painting a masterpiece.

But what are the little ways we can be more creative in our daily life?

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Look at the little picture. Is there something little you can do, right now, to make your life just the slightest bit more creative?

Can you rearrange your books in a more creative way? Can you paint your bathroom or get new, more colorful towels? Flowers for the front porch? Switch the font you use for each project? Add tomatoes to your omelette? Light a candle? Decorate your notebook? Change your cell phone ring tone?

Nothing is too small. Think about the little ways you can further personalize the life that surrounds you so that everything you touch, hear, smell, see and live is an extension of your creativity.

Walk through your day today with a thoughtfulness towards this smallness.

classic kid

The holidays mean that a tremendous amount of "classic" children's programming will be in the ether - on TV, on the big screen, on stage - from A Charlie Brown Christmas to The Nutcracker to A Christmas Story...

But thinking about J.S.'s movie Life After Tomorrow reminded me that there are tons of children's movies, songs, plays, musicals, etc. that heavily influenced my aesthetic development - whether I was aware of it or not.

Clearly, Annie was one of those shows but what other mass marketed "children's programming" became a "classic" to me personally?

Off the top of my head, I would have to say any movie with Julie Andrews, the Xmas songs of Elvis, E.T. and Grease. Looking over this limited list, I would say I was raised with a very 50s sensibility of entertainment even though I was born in the 70s.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

As a child, what were the images, songs, movies, stories, plays, musicals that left a lasting impression? Think back and try to make a list. How have the titles on your list influenced you as an artist?

Dig out those old albums, rent those movies, buy the soundtrack and watch/listen to them again. How long has it been since you've seen/heard this material? What does it conjure for you now? What did it conjure for you then?

Do you remember what it was to be a child awed by the theatre, a movie, a story, a song? Can you feel that way again? Do you still feel that way about your art?

after annie

A big congrats to Daily Creator J.S. whose movie "Life After Tomorrow" airs on Showtime starting 12/24/06. See below for more information:

LIFE AFTER TOMORROW (TV14 - LD)
This fascinating documentary tracks down actresses who have portrayed orphans in the hit stage musical "Annie," to discover what happened to their show business aspirations after their fifteen minutes of fame in the theater. Some, like Sarah Jessica Parker ("Sex and the City") have gone on to greater success, while others have struggled with or abandoned their dreams. Directed by Gil Cates Jr. and Julie Stevens

For the screening schedule visit: http://www.sho.com/site/schedules/product_page.do?seriesid=0&episodeid=128739&include=01photos.inc

p-1

My pal and Daily Creator B.A. has great news about her band, P-1! See below:

"I'm happy to announce that my second P-1 album POWER is available for purchase in STORES NATIONALLY! Please order your copy today AND check out our new video for Digital Lover (featuring vintage footage of Betty Boop).Thanks for all of your support in '06!"

Click here for details: www.p-1music.com

grants

**California Council for the Humanities Announces Youth Digital Filmmakers Program

**Entries Sought for New York State Council on the Arts Electronic Media and Film Grants

**Multi-Arts Production Fund Offers Support for Live Performing Arts Projects

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California Council for the Humanities Announces Youth Digital Filmmakers Program
Deadline: April 2, 2007

The California Council for the Humanities ( http://calhum.org/ )has announced a new grant program, Youth Digital Filmmakers, to support projects that engage California youth in creating short films about how they see California. Each project will involve a local filmmaker, a humanities scholar, and a community-based organization in an effort to create humanities based media that will be used for community screenings and wider distribution. Youth Digital Filmmakers is part of "How I See It," the newest phase of the council's California Stories initiative,which is designed to strengthen communities and connect Californians by uncovering personal and community stories that tell the story of California today. "How I See It" will focus on the stories and perspectives of California youth. The council will fund projects in which youth explore the theme of connections (or disconnections) in their individual lives and communities.

The applicant must be a California nonprofit organization or municipal/state agency or be sponsored by one; involve at least one experienced filmmaker or videomaker as a workshop leader/producer; work with a teenage population (14-19 years old); and involve one humanities scholar in the project.

CCH will grant up to $30,000 per project. Each grant request must be matched by at least an equivalent amount of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources. Program guidelines, including proposal narrative requirements and an FAQ, are available on the CCH Web site. The online application will be available on the program's Web site on March 1, 2007.

RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005540/calhum

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

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Entries Sought for New York State Council on the Arts Electronic Media and Film Grants
Deadline: January 3, 2007

Coordinated through the Independent Feature Project http://www.ifp.org/ funding is available from the New York State Council on the Arts ( http://www.nysca.org/ ) to support the distribution of recently completed work by independent media artists residing in New York State. Grants are given for audio/radio, film, and video productions; computer-based work; and installations incorporating these media. Artists may request funding up to a maximum amount of $5,000, though grant awards are generally lower.

The work proposed for support must have been completed between December 1, 2005, and November 30, 2006. Note: This grant is for works that have been fully completed; grants may not be used for production or post-production costs.

For guidelines and an online application, visit the IFP Web site.

RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005541/ifp

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

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Multi-Arts Production Fund Offers Support for Live Performing Arts Projects Deadline: February 16, 2007

The Multi-Arts Production Fund ( http://www.mapfund.org/ ), a program of Creative Capital ( http://www.creative-capital.org/ ) supported by the Rockefeller Foundation ( http://rockfound.org/ ), supports original new work in all disciplines and traditions of the live performing arts. The goal of the fund is "to assist artists who are exploring and challenging the dynamics of live performance within our changing society, thus reflecting our culture's innovation and growing diversity." MAP seeks especially to support work that brings insight and vibrant critique to the issue of cultural difference, be that in class, gender, generation, ethnicity, or tradition.

Applications for MAP support must come from U.S.-based organizations based with nonprofit federal tax status. Nonprofit artist- services organization may apply as fiscal sponsors on behalf of unincorporated artists or ensembles. While an applicant organi- zation must be based in the U.S., participating artists may be from anywhere.

The MAP Fund supports only artistic projects that contain or will contain a live-performance component. The fund award may be applied to artist commissioning fees and salaries, research and development fees, or production expenses up to and including the premiere run of a performance for any given project. MAP is especially interested in providing support to work early in its development.

The touring of completed projects is not eligible for MAP funding. Eligible projects must not have premiered in or outside the United States before October 1, 2007 Award amounts depend on the project budget of the grantee but range from $10,000 to $40,000. The average award amount is $22,000.

Complete program guidelines and an online application are available at the MAP Fund Web site.

RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10005542/mapfund

For additional RFPs in Arts and Culture, visit: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_arts.jhtml

your pack

Daily Creator K.M. sent me this quote today as part of a longer email but I thought it was so good for us that I'm pulling it out and putting it up for our consideration today.

" Now this is the law of the jungle........
....the law runneth forward and back,
For the strength of the pack is the wolf,
and the strength of the wolf is the pack."

- Rudyard Kipling

At the end of November, I was invited to a meeting with TDF where 10 really amazing playwrights gathered in a room to talk about the future of theatre. The constant refrain in the room was the "creation of community" in LA and this quote, the holidays and the success of my weekly Women's Creativity Group has really got me thinking about how artists can connect, gather and work together.

We are strong as individuals but we are even stronger as a "pack of wild artists!" moving through the world. And not just gathering for a specific project and then scattered to our lives after that project has ended (which is the life of anyone in theatre) but the creation of an extended creative force.

A non-exclusive, all-inclusive think tank of creativity connected for the purpose of CREATION ENERGY, PROGRESSIVE THOUGHTS & ACTIONS, the building of new forms, the pushing of boundaries!

Wow - clearly I drank the Koolaid this morning.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Think about the artists in the world that inspire you. Think about the artists around you that you could connect with to create community.

Maybe it's 2 other people you'd like to meet with on a regular basis to just talk about art, design, museums, dance, etc.

Maybe you can host a weekly gathering of artists for a creativity session.

Maybe you can join a group.

Maybe you can apply for a residency. (The MacDowell is amazing!)

The creative process can be very isolating and gathering artists can sometimes feel like you're herding cats. But the exchange of ideas and the energy of a creativity group CANNOT BE BEAT! I strongly encourage you to find or create your pack.

If you'd like me to post a call for packmembers for the city you're in (because we have artists on this list from MN, TX, WV, CA, NY, NJ, FL, NC, MA, AZ, WY - all over) then just email me the information of how you'd like to be reached and I'll post it here: abramsclient_sj@verizon.net

mystery of love

Daily Creators E.K.C. and A.D.S. send us this information:

"What a beautiful way to reflect on and think about at this time of year. Sending much love, light and a little wink"
EKC

"I hope you will catch The Mystery of Love, a documentary I am hosting for PBS. It airs at 9pm on Wednesday, December 13th on PBS stations.This is the perfect season, and the perfect time for a little inspiration about the force of love and all the things it can do - even in unexpected times and in unexpected places. I hope you will catch it or set your various machines to record it.Best wishes for a great holiday season."
ADS

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Watch TV! How easy is that?

Remember our "goals" this month are play, love, let go. This documentary sounds like it's right up our alley.

So let's watch (or record and then watch if the holiday parties are starting for you) The Mystery of Love.

nickelodeon fellowship

Call for Entries: The Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship

Nickelodeon is offering writing fellowships in live action and animated television to culturally and ethnically diverse, new writers. Participants will have hands-on experience writing spec scripts and pitching story ideas.

The program, developed to broaden Nickelodeon's outreach efforts, provides a salaried position for up to one year. The '07 - '08 cycle is tentatively scheduled to begin in October 2007.

The Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship Program is designed to broaden its outreach efforts in order to attract, develop and staff – new, experienced, culturally and ethnically diverse writing talent on Nickelodeon Network productions.

The Fellowship provides a salaried position for up to one year and offers hands-on experience writing spec scripts, pitching story ideas, attending storyboard pitches and table reads, in both live action and animation television.

The Fellowship operates in a three-phase structure over a one year period. The audition phase (phase one) last six weeks and allows each of the chosen fellows to write one spec script. The fellow’s writing talent and progress is evaluated to determine if they are qualified to remain in the program.

The development phase (phase two) lasts ten weeks and again each fellow writes one spec script. In addition, they are integrated into the activities of the production/development department. Each fellow is assigned to a team that consists of two executives (one from live action and one from animation), a manager or coordinator and an assistant. The manager or coordinator functions as the point person on the team, and the assistants maintain the schedules. This approach allows the fellows an opportunity to attend storyboard pitches, notes meetings, records, table reads, show pitches and show tapings, all while being exposed to top creators and key production crews.

During the placement phase (phase three), the fellow will spend the remainder of their time in the program – thirty four weeks. They will write another spec script and pitch one original idea.
This three-phase structure allows the fellow an opportunity to come in contact with creators, network executives, line producers, head writers, showrunners, story editors, etc.

As part of their script writing, each fellow will be assigned to an on-air show and have an opportunity to write a spec script for that show all while working with the Executive in Charge of Production.

The next submission period runs from January 2 - February 28, 2007. Applications and submission guidelines are available at http://www.nickwriting.com/.

revealed

Daily Creator S. M. brought this photographer to my attention. His name is Scott Indermaur and his most recent project is called "Revealed" which can be found online at his site: http://www.siphotography.com/portfolio.php

Move your cursor over the images and read about how each person connects to their own spirituality. Take a close look at the objects they chose to put in their box.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

What would you put in your box to represent your spirituality? Think about it.

Make a spirituality box. Place it near your working space. Add or subtract from it as necessary.

the religion of intention

Two or three nights ago, I couldn't fall asleep and I stayed up watching the local PBS pledge drive that featured psychologist Wayne Dyer speaking about the power of intention. It was a four hour telethon so, eventually, I fell asleep. But I Tivo'd the program so I could hear the rest of what he had to say.

Watching the program the next day with my man, J.W. reading at my side, Mr. Dyer was pacing back and forth and had chosen a white, round Chinese lantern to symbolize "The Source" or God and physically returned to it over and over again to show that we need to return to this infinite source of wisdom.

J.W. said nothing for an hour and then finally chortled, "we'd better get one of those paper globes fast."

We are both EXTREMELY practical people (despite the fact that we have lived totally impractical lives) and I have to admit that I avoid New Age remedies like the plague. Mostly, because I hate the stink of "guru-ism" which I feel leads to manipulation and less self-awareness. (Not that I'm suggesting Mr. Dyer is striving to be a guru.) But I do think, there are things we can "steal" from all religions - New Age or Old School (does that make me a sinner?) in order to fully connect with the creative spirit inside each of us.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Read the article Seven Secrets of a Joyful Life. Wayne Dyer’s Feel Good Guide excerpted from Family Circle Magazine by Glenn Paskin at http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/seven_secrets.php

Is there anything helpful about this article for you? Have you examined how the religion of your childhood influences your creativity? Are you writing about spirituality? Do you feel your artistic life is in any way hampered or supported by your spiritual beliefs?

How do you relate to the creative energy that inspires you? Do you consider it a spiritual force, a scientific fact, an inexplicable feeling? Do you feel that you are in control of your creativity or do you feel that your creativity is in control of you?

I'd love to hear the answers to these questions. Please respond in the comments section or if you're having trouble with the comments section or prefer to be posted in the blog, you can email to me and I'll post for you: abramsclient_sj@verizon.net

sufficiency

Daily Creator L.P. sends this for our consideration:

SUFFICIENCY: RECLAIMING THE POWER OF WHAT IS THERE

"We each have the choice in any setting to step back and let go of the mind-set of scarcity. Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency. By sufficiency, I don't mean a quantity of anything. Sufficiency isn't two steps up from poverty or one step short of abundance. It isn't a measure of barely enough or more than enough. Sufficiency isn't an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough. Sufficiency resides inside of each of us, and we can call it forward. It is a consciousness, an attention, an intentional choosing of the way we think about our circumstances......Sufficiency is not a message about simplicity or about cutting back and lowering expectations. Sufficiency doesn't mean we shouldn't strive or aspire. Sufficiency is an act of generating, distinguishing, making known to ourselves the power and presence of our existing resources, and our inner resources....We engage in life from a sense of our own
wholeness rather than a desperate longing to be complete. We feel naturally called to share the resources that flow through our lives - our time, our money, our wisdom, our energy, at whatever level those resources flow...."

- Lynn Twist from The Soul of Money

Daily creator I.L. is writing a character who suffers an extreme case of insufficiency, even though she has much material wealth. Her contemporaries suffer similarly. To me, this condition of "not enough" is pandemic in our country, fostered by social mores, consumerism, our education system, an overly competitive aspect of sport, art and professional pursuit. Perennial dissatisfaction, a constant need for more, bigger, other, younger, faster, whatever effects even our youngest citizens.

If we can cultivate a feeling of sufficiency in ourselves we can then send it out to the universe. Are you in?

THANK YOU L.P. FOR THIS AMAZING NEW WAY TO THINK!

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Are you feeling insufficient? Does your artisitic work feel insufficient? Does your career feel insufficient?

What would it feel like to embrace the spirit of sufficiency in both your personal life and in your creative work?

What if you have already everything you need? What if your work is already everything it is supposed to be?

What if who you are right now is already enough to share!

big money for fiction females

Daily Creator J.M. sends us this information:

A Room Of Her Own Foundation (AROHO) is dedicated to helping women artists achieve the privacy and financial support necessary to pursue their art. As Virginia Woolf recognized in the 1920s, “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write.”

While Woolf spoke of writers, AROHO applies her words to women of various disciplines. The 2006-07 Literary Gift of Freedom Award will be given to an American woman fiction writer. Because the award is quite substantial, the application process is extensive. During this grant cycle, April 2006 through February 2007, only applications from WOMEN FICTION WRITERS will be accepted. Awards in other literary genres will be granted at a later date.

We intend the FICTION category to be interpreted in an inclusive manner. If you consider your writing to be fiction, please feel free to apply.

To apply for the 2006-07 Literary Gift of Freedom Award, complete the Application (http://www.aroomofherown.org/giftfreedom_application.html) with all its parts (please follow the Checklist) and mail the application package to A Room Of Her Own Foundation, P.O. Box 778, Placitas, NM 87043. Packages must be postmarked on or before February 1, 2007—no exceptions. Courier service (UPS, FedEx) packages will not be accepted—use the U.S. Postal Service. Do not send return receipt requested. We will return your self-addressed, stamped postcard upon receipt of your package.

gomi taro

Gomi Taro is also published as Taro Gomi depending on the publisher's translation. You can find Gomi Taro's work online at http://www.gomitaro.com/ or the books can be bought through Amazon.com.

outside the lines

Every Wednesday, a group of women artists gather in my living room to talk, laugh and experiment with creativity exercises. I find it fascinating to watch each of these women approach the "task at hand" because it reveals so much about us personally.

Take for example, our Prayer Stick day. Each of us brought a stick and I.L. led us in an exercise to create prayer sticks with yarn, feathers and a hidden prayer. Every artist in that room created something beautiful but we all went about it in completely different ways.

Some of the sticks were CRAZY - they looked like they had been drug out from behind the sofa or just pulled out of the ground. Some of the sticks were meticulous and symmetrical. Some glittered, some were colorful, some were muted and woodsy.

And those were just the finished results.

During the process, each of the women in the room were responding in THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY to the exercise. Some women were asking lots of questions about the "rules" so they could get it right, do it right. Some women were winging it and making it up as they went along. Some women were working quietly while others were laughing and talking.

Our artistic process reveals us.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Buy a coloring book or a children's activity book. I recommend "Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing and Coloring Book" by Taro Gomi. Have it around for days when you feel uninspired and just need a jumpstart.

Watch how you interact with the pages. Do you add background landscapes to the pages? Do you "color outside the lines" and if you do, how does that feel? Do you follow the rules? What are the rules anyway?

Think about your artistic process. Do you have rules in your head about how things are supposed to be done? Are those rules limiting you? Are you a person who hates rules or boundaries and tosses them out the window before you even start? What would happen if you forced yourself to "color in the lines" just once?

Are you an "outside the lines" or an "inside the lines" kind of artist?

play dates

Maybe it's that time of my life but it seems all of my new friends in LA have babies and attend Mommy & Me classes which brings to mind the thought of creating play dates.

Julia Cameron talks a great deal about scheduling time for a weekly artist date but I have never been able to work that in on a regular, weekly basis. Part of being an artist, for me, has been that my weeks are never, in any way, predictable. Plus I spend so much time alone already - doing only what I want to do that the thought of creating yet another day of "me" time seems ludicrous.

And now all those new Mom friends I just made are cursing me as they read.

But the idea of creating an occassional play date seems like something I can get behind. A day that is purely about play, fun and excitement. It's not to inspire my inner artist - it is simply to go and have a good time.

And we all know that leads to inspiration whether we're searching for it or not.

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Set up a play date for yourself. Maybe it's tickets to a show. Maybe it's a jog by the beach. Maybe it's riding a Merry-Go-Round. Maybe it's a massage.

Make the date and keep it.

kidding around

Daily Creator I. L. sends this suggestion to us:

"Wow! I love it! Being a mom of young children I have no problem embracing these ideas. At the moment I'm thinking, let's play charades, write our own captions to comics, (draw comics then pass to the right, write caption and share.) We could put on a mix of eclectic music and do a "freeze" dance in the different styles. We can do a messy art project in my back yard or decorate cookies for holiday gifts, etc., etc., as you can see I get pretty silly with ideas!"

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

What is a silly thing, that you used to do as a child, that you NEVER allow yourself to do now?

Maybe you used to love to dance in your living room or you chased butterflies or you did funny voices to drive your brother crazy or you liked building secret forts out of your bed sheets.

Maybe it wasn't something "silly", maybe you loved to swim or you loved horses or you loved baking.

Think of three things that seem "silly" or "childish" to you but stir up feelings of fun, naughtiness or excitement.

Do atleast one of them!

blow away

I wanted to find an image that seemed to embody the idea of letting go, opening your hand as suggested by Daily Creator L.P.'s selection of quotes. I found the image above at http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~skc33/halsey/index.htm though I could not find more information about the artist.

Visit the site. Some of the images are quiet and beautiful. Clearly, there's a story here.

And if anyone happens to discover the name and contact information of this artist, please let us know so we can give them their proper credit.

UPDATE:

The artist, Kurt Halsey Frederickson, can be found at http://www.kurthalsey.com/info.html Shout out to Daily Creator B.B. for tracking him down.

letting go

Daily Creator L. P. sends us this suggestion and several quotes about letting go:

May I suggest that for the first two week in December, we just try to experience each moment fully. Let us allow nature to come to us. The sounds, the smells, the warmth or coolness of the day or night. Let us be present to experience. Let us open our senses as if opening our hand to receive. Forget "achievement" for two weeks. Experience each necessary task, such as washing the dishes, as if it is an honor and a gift.....feel the warm sudsy water with pleasure....listen to the forks clanging and clicking as if it is music. Just experience.......slow down. Let us empty so that we may fill again.

Here are some quotes about letting go:

Let's try an experiment. Pick up a coin. Imagine that it represents the object at which you are grasping. Hold it tightly clutched in your fist and extend your arm, with the palm of your hand facing the ground. Now if you let go or relax your grip, you will lose what you are clinging onto. That's why you hold on. But there's another possibility: You can let go and yet keep hold of it. With your arm still outstretched, turn your hand so that it faces the sky. Release your hand and the coin still rests on your open palm. You let go. And the coin is still yours, even with all this space around it. So there is a way in which we can accept impermanence and still relish life, at one and the same time, without grasping.

-Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dyingfrom Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

Muddy Water
There is a famous saying: "If the mind is not contrived, it is spontaneously blissful, just as water, when not agitated, is by nature transparent and clear." I often compare the mind in meditation to a jar of muddy water: The more we leave the water without interfering or stirring it, the more the particles of dirt will sink to the bottom, letting the natural clarity of the water shine through. The very nature of the mind is such that if you only leave it in its unaltered and natural state, it will find its true nature, which is bliss and clarity. So take care not to impose anything on the mind, or to tax it. When you meditate there should be no effort to control, and no attempt to be peaceful. Don't be overly solemn or feel that you are taking part in some special ritual; let go even of the idea that you are meditating. Let your body remain as it is, and your breath as you find it. Think of yourself as the sky, holding the whole universe.

--Sogyal Rinpoche, in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

The more you practice letting go, the more you begin to understand the journey of your soul or your spirit as it detaches from the material nature of existence. There is a river, and as soon as you unmoor the boat and you start to enter that river, you end up on a journey.

-- Bruce Rubin

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Is there something on your mind? Something bothering you? Something not quite right with a piece you're trying to finish? Something in your life that you're constantly trying to fix? A scene in your play that just won't come together? Notes you're having a hard time trying to incorporate? You've run out of energy or enthusiasm for your current project?

Let it go. Just for today. I promise it will be there tomorrow when you return. But just for today, let it entirely go.

Meditate and imagine that you put that problem in a big, pink bubble and you send it off into the atmosphere where someone or something else can fix it for you.

Give yourself the day completely off. No worries allowed. No holding on. No control. Let go.

thank you letter

Daily Creator J.M.J. sends this suggestion.

"One idea is a belated Thanksgiving exercise...writing a thank you letter to the first thing that you are grateful for on a given day. For me it might be coffee, or the hummingbird I see on the way to get it: "Dear Hummingbird," etc... , or the roof of the building across the street that shines red in the sun. It's better if it's not a person, but a person will do too. It puts you in a mindframe of appreciation for the rest of the day that I think really serves us creatively."

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Write a thank you letter, expressing your gratitude, to a part of your day, a part of your life. Try not to write to a specific person but if you feel so moved, then follow your heart.

hello love

The suggestions are rolling in and I particularly thought this one, submitted by Daily Creator H.R. was a great way for us to start our December.

A small group of women, here in LA, are experimenting with a grass roots approach to love. Their premise is simple and I think, in a very tiny, specific way can completely change the way you move through the world.

And perhaps, how the world receives you?

TODAY'S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

Visit the site: http://helloloveexperiment.org/ and then give yourself the next week to try their exercise.

Think about doing this when you are dealing with your creativity as well. When you turn on your computer to work, think hello, love! When you step into a meeting with an agent, a buyer, think hello love!

What happens when you approach your creativity as an act of love, play and fun? Instead of approaching with worry about the future, money or "is it any good" energy?

Come to your creative work as if you are greeting that stranger on the street. With full eye contact and the thought of love in your mind and heart.

let go and let the daily creators

Life is funny, Daily Creators. I had every intention of turning our December daily exercises into an extensive, list making month cataloguing the inventory of our past work, current work and future work. In my head, I was already making lists and then I visited my friend’s website: http://madalynaslan.com/horoscope.html and my head just blew off.

Madalyn has a real gift and every time I read my horoscope on her site, she nails me. This is what my horoscope said:

Let it go, Aquarius, just let it go. Not everything is rational.

You are just catching your breath - and this is a good thing. This December you get a lift as the creative Moon lights you up - and eureka!

You see something brilliant and I advise you to write it down at once. Throw out the lists you've been making - why waste your time?

Play a little.

Wonderful love-time awaits. So say bye to the pressure and grab the opportunity with both hands.

In terms of TIMING, just remember you may be acting with too much haste. The intention is great, but watch that your eagerness doesn't scatter your energies.

Take a time out until mid-December, and avoid making any major decisions.

Enormous changes are happening all around you. I urge you to go with the flow.

The Beatles were right. It really is all about love. Love, Love, Love.

The fact of the matter is Madalyn is right. December is the perfect time to blow off the business, take that time out and just enjoy the holidays, the social gatherings, the love you have for your friends, family or chosen family.

Daily Creators, I am in completely uncharted waters here because I’m throwing out my control manual and taking Madalyn’s advice to Play, Love, Let It Go.

Play is the root of what I do – I am a “play”wright – and as artists, creative play as children nurtured in us the desire to create more and more. Have we lost our sense of play? Has our art become about work and business?

Love – as artists we do love our work deeply. If we didn’t love it then why would we still be pursuing that dream in the face of adversity? Can you still feel that love for your art? Can you allow that love to be expressed in the entirety of your life?

Let It Go – I am such a control freak that I have no idea what to write here! What does it mean to let go of the outcome? What does it mean to stop trying to control your creativity and allow it full reign to express itself? What would that look like?

TODAY’S CREATIVITY CHALLENGE:

I’m letting go and reaching out to you, Daily Creators. Send in your ideas for exercises/creativity challenges that explore these themes of Love, Play and Letting Go.

How can we incorporate these three ideals into our creative work?

If you have my personal email, send to me there. If not, you can reply to the comments section of this site or if you prefer, you can email it to me at my business email: abramsclient_sj@verizon.net

I am really looking forward to seeing where this leads us.