This is #2 in the Writers Series of encouragement for folks writing for personal and public purposes. In community we thrive and dare to fly.

Joni Mitchell bounces between writing music and painting moods. George W Bush balances statesmanship and painting portraits. Thomas Merton wrote of the contemplative life then showed us with his artistry how loudly a small sketch can shout. I am beginning to understand why creatives move between outlets of expression, and why the creative bounce brings more, not less, of the soul and satisfaction to each effort.

For a long time I (fearfully) thought to leave a project was to interrupt the magical transmission, or end the fire of inspiration needed to see it through. I used to (naïvely) think creativity had to come in one full and perfect single rush, but anyone who has tried to move their craft from private to public, with the necessary eye and sufficient scalpel of a much needed editor, knows that is not how it works.

Now I am learning to show up, stay in the river, and trust myself and the process enough to bounce between projects.

Have more than one painting in the works.

Go ahead and start and court more than one manuscript.

Try it. It helps us show up to each effort with a fresher view and with less strident determination to force it to completion. It creates more room for the soul to emerge as playmates and stems the taskmaster of the mind insisting on perfection.

Allow and explore for yourself the power and delight in the creative bounce. And, see for yourself if your soul might not shine a bit more brightly in all that you do.