Am I having a creative crisis? And is it Substack's fault?
Some thoughts after the AWP writers' conference.
At the AWP Writers’ Conference, I got coffee with the amazing book coach, podcaster, and Substacker,
. (I learned that she was there when she posted about the conference on Substack notes!) We talked about the disconnect between the mostly academic/small-press world of AWP and the larger publishing world beyond it.(I’ve got one foot in each.) And we talked about all the new opportunities for sharing stories, art, and ideas that are possible via Substack/newsletters. My brain is still buzzing from that conversation because it’s got me thinking “beyond the book.”Maybe I don’t know what my current project is because, for the first time in years, it’s not a book? (Gah! I feel like I should take that back immediately!)
Writing this newsletter always helps me figure out what’s important to me, and it will surely lead me to my next thing—to “what I’m working on now.” But sometimes I also think it IS the thing.
So, uhm, what are YOU working on now?
Thanks for reading The Habit of Art by Kelcey Ervick, a Substack Featured Publication (twice!). I love writing and drawing these posts and am grateful to everyone who follows along. I’m a writer and professor in Indiana, where the geese are nesting and the river is rising.
-Kelcey
p.s. Just wanted to add links for
, the mastermind behind and .Here’s my personal backlist :)
So many amazing replies here--thank you! It's been a busy week, but I'll be responding to each comment. ❤️
OMG Kelcey, all I am these days (read: the past 2 years) is CREATIVE CRISIS. What am I working on? Um... trying to figure out what ART EVEN MEANS? (holds 35 overflowing notebooks and sketchbooks, "Here want to see?") 😭😭😭😭