Want to make more time for your creative pursuit? Do it in community.
The Kettle's Co-Create Circle kicks off this Wednesday.
Why does creativity often feel so…lonely?
I think it’s because our culture doesn’t make a lot of space for being creatively productive together. Instead, we tend to think of writers and photographers, spinners and sculptors, or bakers and knitters going about their work alone somewhere, in a solitary studio or attic or she-shed.
But there’s a reason that throughout the ages women gathered together to piece quilts, make sausage, harvest berries, embroider handkerchiefs, or bake pies: it’s a way to engage in the creative work of our brains and hearts and hands while still staying connected to other people for support and encouragement…or simply for company.
And this kind of “co-creating” isn’t limited to the domestic arts, either: from literary salons to artist collectives, there’s a long history of creative people coming together to share space and inspiration, even taking their creative work on the go.
Think, after all, of all the scenes in nineteenth-century novels featuring women - even ladies of noble birth - taking their needlework along with them on social calls.
We’ve lost a lot of natural opportunities to be creatively productive together in the modern world, haven’t we? Activities that once would have been considered social - like baking or even cleaning - have become lonely, private affairs. No wonder they can feel so disagreeable, or at least difficult to fit into a typical day, with all the other demands on our attention and time.
And while you might argue that certain creative tasks - say, writing or painting - are better suited to solitude, this “ambiverted” writer isn’t so sure. I can do an awful lot of wheel-spinning when I’m left to my own devices too long, and have a way of never making traction on things when I stay in my head too long.
Time spent in the quiet creative company of others working on their own projects can be inspiring and encouraging: a sort of silent cheering section and accountability group all in one.
So I’m very excited to announce a new offering here at The Kettle: a weekly Co-Create Circle.
This low-key gathering will take place via Zoom, facilitated by my friend, fellow mom-writer, and creative coach
. We initially launched these Circles two years ago, before I moved my community to Substack, and they’ve become a calming, centering, and much-anticipated weekly touchpoint for participants - even those who didn’t necessarily see themselves as “creatives” before they joined.Amy wisely wrote this in the official announcement in The Kettle chat:
Everyone is creative. It’s part of being alive, it’s the nature of the universe. But work and other demands can crowd out the part of ourselves that longs to play, connect, and create.
And that’s why Co-Create Circles are so valuable. Whether you are looking to carve out more time for cross-stitching, have been wanting to give art journaling a try, want to get that poem or bit of dialogue out of your head and onto the screen, or just need to devote some time to organizing your knitting supplies, photo books, or recipes, this group will give you a container of time to devote to your chosen pursuit - with the quiet support of a friendly circle of co-creators. We open and close each circle with a check-in and then quietly work together on our own projects, offering encouragement and inspiration to carve out space and keep creating.
This Wednesday morning (2/26), paid subscribers are invited to a kickoff workshop to The Kettle’s Co-Create Circle, where you’ll have a chance to meet the group’s facilitator,
, and other like-hearted women.
Amy is a writer, creativity coach, and mother of 5. She loves creating women’s retreats, workshops, co-writing sessions, and supportive communities, using the power of togetherness to cultivate and celebrate self-expression.
The Co-Create Circle introduction and kickoff workshop will take place on Wednesday, February 26 from 9 to 10:30 EST. In this introductory meeting, we will talk about what helps and hinders creativity and try a few activities that will help us get in touch with our curiosity and creative interests.
The Kettle’s private chat is a great place to express your interest in attending, but if you’d rather not use the chat feature on Substack, that’s no problem! When you upgrade your membership to “paid” you’ll also get a notification (and Zoom link) via email before the workshop begins.
I know finances are uncertain for many, so if you’d like to participate but a paid subscription isn’t possible for you right now, please respond to this email letting me know, and I would be happy to provide you with a comped membership.
And if the format or timing of our Co-Create Circle doesn’t work for you, I hope you’ll find (or create) opportunities to work creatively in the presence of others.
Maybe you’ll take a tip from those Jane Austen heroines and haul your “work basket” along next time you go over to a friend’s house; maybe you’ll intentionally invite guests a little early so you can spend time socializing in the kitchen while you finish dinner. Maybe you’ll make a point of sharing your scrapbook, finished painting or another project you’re proud of with a friend soon. Or maybe you’ll reclaim the old-fashioned practice of sending handwritten letters - a particular goal of mine for 2025!
There are so many ways to be creative, and really no good reason for going it alone. The more we share in one another’s creative processes, the more we can put creating (rather than simply consuming) at the center of our lives - which I believe is the sweet spot where humans flourish.
Being part of a regular community of creative women has been such a rewarding and rich experience for me, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Looking forward to seeing new and old friends on Wednesday for our kickoff workshop!
Just to cosign this idea of co-creating being more fun and productive... my writing group (just five of us) meets frequently on Zoom to write. We do a catch-up (sometimes quick, sometimes not), then everyone turns off their audio, someone sets a timer, and we write for 45 minutes. As an introvert, I never would have thought I'd like something like this, but it makes me feel so happy, being part of a community, and it brings us closer together.
Your co-creating circle sounds great!