Hey, all you creative types. I’m always looking for resources for writers and artists and a few months ago I came across a great little online community called Inked-in. Inked-in is an international social-networking community for writers, musicians and artists.

It’s a great group of people, with over 700 members so far. It is, of course, absolutely free, and it’s safe to say that you will get out of it what you put into it. It is for people who want to be writers, artists and musicians, as well as people already established in their fields.  Inked-In is associated with The Burry Man Writers Center, which you may also want to check out.

This is the mission statement on Inked-In’s home page:

Inked-In connects writers, artists and musicians with each other.

We are a giant, ongoing novel, with pathos and drama, pictures and video, stupid jokes and genuine friendships, and most of all supreme creativity. And you never know where it will head next.

Welcome home!

If you decide to join, check out my page , I’d love to be one of your first friends.

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Henry Sapoznik is a musician who has a pure and shining love of, as he says, “music that sounds like it comes from somewhere.” He was recently interviewed by www.burryman.com and had this to say about his work:

“I don’t do my work for anyone but me. This is a completely selfish undertaking. I love people to like what I do, but I can’t worry, will people like this? I love my audience, but they gotta love what I do. If we forget, if we’re not moved by our own work, our compasses are all screwed up. My work is completely reflective of my own interests—‘oh, this amuses me, I wonder what this would be like?’ . . . and we’re off to the races. I can’t even imagine a world where we’re forced to forgo that creative process. Maybe we’re stuck in a juvenile frame of mind that the world is about us.”

Sapoznik also said that doing the work was about satisfying his own integrity. It’s as if he trusts the process completely, even if, for the moment, it doesn’t seem to be taking him anywhere.

When you create, whether it’s writing, painting or some other art form, are you doing it for yourself? Do you love what you are doing and creating? I agree with Sapoznik that these are great “acid test” questions, ones we want to ask ourselves with regularity.

And what if you get lost in your work? So lost, maybe, that you aren’t sure just what you are doing or why? Sapoznik said:

“It’s like the thing I learned in the Boy Scouts: if you get lost, stay where you are. You will be found.”

In my mind, this translates to all of us former Girl Scouts, too. Follow your bliss, Joseph Campbell used to say. And if in that pursuit of your bliss you lose your way, don’t panic. The bliss will find you.

May you love what you do and be found in 2009! 

A Blessing for All Artists

(Writers/Poets/Painters/Sculptors/Musicians/Dancers)

and the Artist Within Each of Us.

• May the time you find to develop your talents be sacred and abundant

• May you be surrounded by people who encourage you in small and large ways

• May you develop a tough skin and a supple heart

• May you trust your creative process and express yourself with a true and unwavering voice

• May you be rewarded financially for all your efforts

• May any struggle you face make you stronger, so that you persevere and continue on the path

• May you grow in confidence, seeing clearly your value and worth

• May you be appreciated, in your lifetime, for the gift of healing you offer the world

© Susan Gabriel

www.susangabriel.com