I have been working on my books. Experimenting with colored pencils and different collage styles. Feeling encouraged one moment, then feeling incompetent the next. Because I can see my progress, but also just how much I still can’t do. It can discourage you. It discouraged me. But then, after a talk with a creative friend of mine, I was encouraged, again.

Writing and other creative work is often done alone, and that’s not all-together bad. But if you stay alone with your ideas for too long, things can get unbalanced:
After all, you only have so many ideas by yourself. And those ideas mostly came from outside input. I learned how to draw in perspective because someone taught me. So why should I limit myself to myself? I’d rather learn and grow. Otherwise, I’m just operating on the same old stuff.
And when you don’t have an exchange, you can lose perspective. You can either justify mistakes or throw yourself into a fit of self-doubt. But if there are others to support you, they can help you get out of those pitfalls. And you can help them, too.

What I’m trying to say is: It’s better to share. To share the joy of creative work but also the accountability and responsibility. You can share all those things and more. What do you think? Do you share your creativity, with all the success and mistakes? Do you have specific people to keep you focused and inspired? And is the relationship good for both sides, or just for you?
Stay creative, and have a great day!