Finding joy in your art

I’ve written about finding inspiration. I’ve written about how to nurture your creativity. I’ve written about finding a routine that works for you. And all of those things are good and important. But do you know what’s maybe even more important? Finding joy in your art.

I love writing more than almost anything, but sometimes it feels like a slog. Some days I’d rather do anything other than sit down at the computer and write a chapter, a blog post, or an essay. These are difficult days, because I want to be a professional, so I need to be able to create even when it’s hard, but I also want to feel excited about my writing. That’s why today I’m talking about ways to find joy in your art… even when it’s difficult, or you have to do something boring, or the final product isn’t shaping up the way you want it to.

Find joy in the process

Even if the act of creation isn’t feeling joyful for you in this moment, you can still find joy in the process. When I’m not in the mood to write, for whatever reason, I take a moment to really take pleasure in the process. I’ll light my favorite candle, or maybe my favorite incense. I’ll put on a playlist that I love and that gets me inspired. Maybe I’ll take a few minutes before I dive in to sit in my yard and listen to the birds, or do a tarot pull, or I’ll meditate, or I’ll go on a short nature walk. I’ll grab myself my favorite beverage, or take myself to a nice cafe, or curl up under a soft blanket and write from bed instead of my office. Anything to make me feel good while I’m working on my project.

Making the act of creation a joyful one–even if you’re not really feeling it–is a great way to find joy in your art. You’ll be amazed at how different creation feels when you have set the process up to be pleasant. 

Make sure you’re making the right thing

When I was a kid, I always imagined that I’d be writing Important and Serious literature. I tried so many times to write something literary, something innovative, something that would change lives. It was only when I gave myself permission to make something a little bit silly that I fell back in love with writing. I discovered, quite by accident, that writing a goofy middle grade mystery was a million times more fun than trying to force myself to write something introspective for adults. At first I was disappointed, and then I realized that writing for kids IS important literature; it’s literally shaping the minds of the next generation, and hopefully creating lifelong readers. What could be more important than that?

The point of that story is that you should make sure that you’re making the right thing. Maybe you’ve always had your sights set on something specific and haven’t left room for experimentation. Well, if your art isn’t feeling joyful, I’m here to tell you that you can and should try something totally new. If you’re a filmmaker, can you try experimenting with genres? If you’re a visual artist, is there something new you can create, a subject you’ve never worked with before? If your art form is food, is there a cuisine you’ve never tried to cook or an ingredient you want to experiment with? When something really clicks, it will feel so good, and if it doesn’t, you can always leave it behind and chalk it up to a learning experience. Maybe you’ll discover something you really love!

Indulge yourself

When you’re creating something, how much time do you spend thinking about what other people like? How much do you think about what’s marketable? 

While there’s nothing wrong with thinking about those things, it’s important to make sure that what’s guiding you is what you like. Sure, think about what’s marketable, but before you get there, make sure it’s an idea you’re excited about! Think about the things that spark joy for you and make sure you’re incorporating those elements into your projects. I get really excited about writing stories with spooky elements, especially ghosts and witchcraft, so when I indulge that spooky side of myself, I find a lot of joy in my art. What are the elements of a project that are indulgent, joyful, and just for you? Identify those things and then lean into them. Give yourself permission to really play and have fun with each project you take on. It’ll make it that much easier to commit to things and find joy in your art.

Get clear on your why

Why do you want to make art? Many people have an innate desire to create something, but that isn’t always enough to get you through the difficult times. You need to get clear on why you want to make art. For me, I want to write children’s literature because I love storytelling and want kids to feel seen by the books they read. I hope that the challenges I’ve faced throughout my life can become a way to help kids feel less alone. It’s a less noble reason, but I also want to build a legacy and leave something behind when I die, and books are what I want to leave. I have a lot I want to share with the world, and writing is how I do it.

Do you make art just for fun? Do you want to help people? Do you have specific things you want or need to express? There’s no such thing as a silly reason to make art. Getting clear on your why will go a long way towards finding joy in your art.