Tag Archives: Creative Goals

Jan8

Creative Juice #224

Posted on January 8, 2021 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

On Tuesday, my husband’s podiatrist told us she got her flu shot. Somehow, that fills me with hope for 2021. So do these awesome articles:

This one made me cry. The video is too echo-y. Scroll down and read the essay.
Writer’s playlist.
When we can travel again, maybe we can go to Mexico.
This article from 2018 may help you set your creative goals for 2021.
12-year-old Jesus didn’t have all the answers.
Interesting shots.
Everything I know about physicist Richard Feynman I learned from watching The Big Bang Theory. I didn’t know he liked to draw.
Good advice. And some not as good. And some I don’t understand.
These signs made me laugh.
There are reasons why you shouldn’t drive drunk, and there are reasons why you shouldn’t sing drunk. But they’re not the same reasons. Apparently, singing drunk is great fun, and nobody dies. Read about the Australian Pub Choir.
A quilter shares the 17 quilts she made in 2020.
This is an interesting idea: praying with index cards.

Jan2

ARHtistic License: 2020 in Review

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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2020 has been the worst year of my life. Obviously, the Covid pandemic has ravaged the world, killing at least 1,780,000 people worldwide and destroying the world economy.

One of my sons contracted the disease. Thank God, he has recovered. It could have been worse; he also has diabetes, and whenever he gets sick, he is at risk for ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition. He also lost his job; the restaurant where he worked for 17 years closed and will not reopen. He has not yet found a new position. But we can help him in the meantime.

That has been the extent of the impact of the pandemic on us personally so far. But worse than that, my husband’s health took a nosedive. I’ve written about his issues in other posts, so I won’t bore you with repetition. Let’s just say complete recovery is not guaranteed.

As far as my blog is concerned, 2020 was a satisfactory year. I published 647 posts this year, my record, 1.77 posts a day. I don’t think I missed a single day. ARHtistic License had 27,700 views, also a record for my blog. My followers have grown from 807 at the end of 2019 to 1,085.

For the first time in ARHtistic License’s five-and-a-half year history, the top ten most visited posts in 2020 were all from prior years. I don’t know how to take that. I would like to believe I’ve grown in the quality of my writing, and that people are eagerly awaiting each new article that I post. But maybe these articles just have great Search Engine Optimization. Maybe you will like them, too:

Jan van Eyck’s Crucifixion and the Last Judgment: Painted by a Committee This 2016 article explores the painters’ workshops and apprentice programs of the Renaissance.
How to Make a Meme on a Mac Step-by-step instructions, first published in 2017.
6 Creative Ways to Name Your Characters . . . by Andre Cruz This article is a repost from another website.
Review of poemcrazy: freeing your life with words This book convinced me I could write poetry. I wrote the review in 2017.
How to Practice Piano: Doh! Dohnányi The unplayable exercise book that is the bane of every pianist’s existence.
10 Best Zentangle Sites on the Web I wrote this in 2018. Note to self: I need to write a sequel to this article, because I’ve discovered so many other good websites.
Ballet Feet They’re not cute and dainty. Ballet dancers literally suffer for their art. This article was written in 2016.
About ARHuelsenbeck This is my “about” page, written in May 2015.
Video of the Week #113: Jack Storms I don’t know why, but this glass sculpture video from 2017 got 153 views in 2020.
Beautiful Sentences My growing collection of little snippets that knock my socks off.

My most-read posts of 2020 include many interviews with creative people:

An Interview with Judy Dykstra-Brown, Teacher, Artist, Poet, Part I
Interview with Photographer Cee Neuner
Meet Artist Alice Hendon
Z is for Zentangle Some pages from my Zentangle journal.
I’d Rather Be Dancing African Folk Dances
Meet Kathy Temean, Illustrator, Author, and Children’s Literature Advocate
An Interview with Judy Dykstra-Brown, Teacher, Artist, Poet, Part II
Meet Kathy Reeves, Musician, Quilter, Blogger, and Stitcher of All Kinds
OctPoWriMo Day 3 Every October, I participate in a challenge to write a poem a day.
In the Meme Time: What to Do While Self-Quarantined My most-viewed meme of 2020.

Another way to look at a blog’s popularity is to see which posts garnered the most “likes.” To my great dismay, my Jan Eyck piece, which has been viewed 2,030 times since it appeared in October, 2016, has only 11 likes. I don’t know how to take that. Most bloggers get many more likes on their posts than I do. It’s common for Cee Neuner to get more than 100 likes on a post. I’m thrilled if I get 25.

My most liked posts of 2020:

In the list above, the first two articles are interviews with popular bloggers. The third is a curated list of interesting creativity-related articles from all over the web. The rest are offerings for poetry and photography challenges. The blogging, poetry, and photography communities are all very supportive of each other. I guess if I’m after likes, I need to concentrate more on the blogging, poetry, and photography worlds, less on music, art, dance, books, and quilting. Darn. I love all forms of artistic expression.

As for my other creative pursuits, I did almost no piano, recorder, or guitar practice this year. My daughter gave me a ukulele, but I haven’t played it yet, because somewhere I have a wonderful ukulele book, but I can’t find it. Handbell choir, church choir, and Phoenix International Folk Dancers did not meet because of Covid. I’ve done some painting, drawing, and zentangle.

In my writing, I’ve set aside my unicorn book and my bible study, and concentrated on a middle grades novel and a short story retelling (that’s not so short right now, so it may become a novel or a novella). I’m entering a lot of poetry and chapbook contests, and one of my goals for 2021 is to systematically submit to literary journals. My other goals are the same as every year; you know, finish stuff I’ve started and get it all published.

Now it’s your turn:

How did you do with your creative endeavors last year? What are your creative goals for 2021? Share in the comments below. If you’ve posted about it on your blog, feel free to share the link.
Have you read all of my most popular posts this year? No? Make my day and choose, say, three of the ones listed above and let me know what you think.
If you read a post on any blog, not just mine, that you find well worth your while, please “like” it if you’re given the option. Or leave a brief comment. It gives us bloggers such a boost to get some positive feedback. Share good articles on all your social media. Wouldn’t it be a shame if your favorite bloggers quit and took up chess instead?

Mar22

In the Meme Time: Inexhaustible

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Inexhaustbile

Dec29

2018 in Review

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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This time last year, I dreamed that ARHtistic License would grow from 350+ to 600 subscribers. As of this writing (Wednesday afternoon), we’re almost there. If you haven’t yet joined our subscribers and you like what you see on ARHtistic License, please help us out by hitting the “Follow” button on the sidebar. Thanks, and welcome to our artistic community!

My hope for 2019 is that ARHtistic License will pass the 1,000 follower mark. It would mean a lot to me if you’d help out by spreading the word, sharing your favorite articles on your social media.

My Top Ten Posts of 2018 tabulated by number of views. Have you seen all of these?

#DC350 Rimana Heart String—This post (and the next five) includes my entry to the Diva Challenge, a weekly Zentangle challenge. I don’t participate every week, but Zentangle devotees are a very generous group who encourage each other by visiting each other’s blogs, Instagram, Flicker, and Pinterest accounts.
#DC379 Holidaze
#DC364 Puf
#DC360 Shattuck vs. Tripoli
#DC362 Somnee
#DC346 Phicops & Huggins
12 Best Quilting Blogs—in my opinion.
10 Best Zentangle Sites on the Web—again, in my opinion. I’ve stumbled across some more fabulous ones since I published this list; I’ll have to update it eventually.
NaPoWriMo Day 21—My poem for Day 21 of National Poetry Writing Month (April) was featured on the challenge’s official website the next day, sending lots of traffic to ARHtistic License. The downside: it was not one of my better poems for the month. I much prefer this one or pretty much any other poem I posted that month.
Hawaiian Quilting with Pat Gorelangton—I wanted to write about Hawaiian quilts and had the good fortune to find a website that featured Gorelangton. I contacted her and asked if I could write about her work, and she generously consented to be interviewed via email and sent me images of her quilts to use in the article. Not only did my article get lots of views from quilters and people interested in the art of Hawaiian quilts, but Gorelangton is beloved in Hawaii, and her fans found the article, too.

But an article I wrote in 2016 got even more views this year than the Gorelangton interview. Jan van Eyck’s The Crucifixion and the Last Judgment: Painted by a Committee received 543 views in 2018 and 870 views since it was published.

Other older articles that were heavily viewed in 2018:

2. Ballet Feet—what ballet dancers suffer for their art.

3. How to Practice the Piano: Doh! Dohnányi—If you’ve ever practiced these exercises, you know what I mean.

4. How to Make a Meme on a Mac—step by step instructions.

5. Yarn and Beads—about the art of the Huichol people of Mexico.

6. Escaping the Khmer Rouge: Review of Beautiful Hero by Jennifer H. Lau—This autobiographical book has won 5 awards.

7. Happy Anniversary!—wherein I celebrate the first three months of the existence of my blog.

8. Phoenix Art Museum—what my daughter Katie and I saw on a Mother’s Day excursion.

I also contribute guest posts to A Writer’s Path. Here are some of my top articles there:

1. 12 Worst Blogging Mistakes. 808 views.

2. For Bloggers: How to Post Every Day. 543 views.

3. 20 Tools Every Writer Needs. 478 views.

4. 21 Inspirational Quotes for Writers. 416 views.

As I review my creative goals for 2018, I see that I didn’t completely achieve them, but I did make general progress.

I did a run-through of my God of Paradox manuscript with my bible study group, got some excellent feedback, and discovered some real problems that needed to be corrected. I’m almost finished with the rewrite. I’m going to see if my pastor or someone with a theology degree will read through it for me, then I’ll maybe do another rewrite if necessary, or a quick polishing, and start submitting in 2019.

The Unicornologist has been on the back burner, but never far from my thoughts. I’m hoping to solve all my plot problems and do a thorough final rewrite, then seek representation in 2019.

I’ve really stalled on recorder and guitar, hardly practicing at all in the last six months. I’ve been more faithful about piano.

I’ve written some poetry; if I can write and rewrite enough poems in the next couple of weeks, I might enter another chapbook in a contest.

I’ve made some artwork, illustrations and Zentangle. Here’s my New Year’s wish for you. Patterns used: poke leaf, fescu, chainlea, leaflet variation, brayd, herzlbee, cuke variation, verdigogh.

I had a hip replacement in July. For eight months before the surgery I suffered enough pain that I could not dance. (Heck, I could barely walk.) I am happy to say I am dancing once again and helping to teach dances in my international folk dance group.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me what you’d like to see more of on ARHtistic License. What art- and creativity-related topics would you like me to cover? Which artists, musicians, and composers would you like profiled? Which of my articles and features do you like best? Please share in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe to ARHtistic License, to hit the “Like” button below, and to share your favorite article (find links to my most popular articles above) on all your social media. Thank you, and have a happy New Year!

Dec28

In the Meme Time: Plan Now

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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It’s time to set some goals. Want us to keep you accountable? Feel free to share your 2019 goals in the comments below.

Jan19

In the Meme Time: How to Accomplish Your Goals

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Accomplish Goals

Jan12

In the Meme Time: Set Goals

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Set goals

Dec26

Setting Creative Goals for 2018

Posted on December 26, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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writing-helloquence The new year starts in six days. Have you thought about what you’d like to accomplish in 2018?

Last January, Jeff Goins posted an article about writers resolutions. His ideas can help you make realistic goals.

The best thing I did last year when I set my goals was actually schedule specific days to work on specific projects. I’d highly recommend you do that. (I’ll tell you how that worked out for me when I post my creative goal update on New Year’s Day.)

There are so many things I still want to do—regain my German-speaking skills, maybe take art and/or guitar lessons—but I know I have to figure out how to make time for those things, or they won’t happen.

I also need to identify positive steps I can take next year for my writing. I believe I have a brand—the arts and the creative process—but I’ve been told my focus is too wide and I ought to narrow it down. My gut says I should continue to explore everything that interests me, even if that means I’m an expert at nothing. I’m not getting any younger—I can’t put off all my pleasures for some far-away future.

What about you? What new things do you want to try? What kind of progress do you want to make on the work you’re already doing? Do you need any help setting some new goals?

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How to Set Your Creative Goals for 2018:

Make a list of all the things you’ve been promising yourself that you’ll try someday—whether it’s exploring the antique stores in your county, making scrapbooks for your children, learning how to yodel, or writing a cookbook.
How much time can you free up to do some of the things on your list? Use this determination to choose a reasonable number of activities (say, five, or three, or one—at least one).
Right now, plan exactly when you are going to do these activities. Pencil them in on your 2018 calendar—i.e. yodeling on your spouse’s bowling nights, antiquing on the second Saturday morning of every month, etc.
Now, make a list of all the creative endeavors you’re already doing, like sewing felt hand puppets, recording stamp-collecting podcasts, and crocheting infinity scarves. What can you do next year to take your art to the next level? Come up with at least one action step for each endeavor.
Schedule all the items from step 4 just as you did in step 3.
Come up with a motivation to actually do the work. Do you have an artistic buddy who could be your accountability partner? Do you have an agent who is waiting for a rewrite? Do you have a blog you can post your goals on?
Visit ARHtistic License on January 1st. I’ll be sharing my progress on my 2017 goals, and my new goals for 2018. You can share your goals, too.

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Dec1

#ALCGC2017 December Check-In

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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The end of 2017 is approaching at the speed of light. So, how are you doing on your creative goals for this year? Have you accomplished what you expected to? Time for the final sprint.

I’m bogged down with my blog in that I am working only six days ahead as of this writing (though I have posts scheduled here and there through next Thanksgiving). I prefer to be completely scheduled at least four weeks in advance. Sigh.

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I’ve made progress on the two major writing projects I hoped to finish this year, The Unicornologist and The God of Paradox, though it’s safe to say they won’t be finished by December 31. Maybe by mid-2018. At least one of them.

I’m also getting ready to submit a bunch of my poems to a chapbook contest.

Speaking of poetry, I wrote five new poems in November. I put two of them on ARHtistic License, here and here.

And I made a bunch of small pieces of art. Some I posted on the blog; others will make it into a post closer to Christmas.

I’m still working on the last pages of The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book 1 and I’m up to page 60 in Essential Elements for Guitar. I’m practicing piano about four times a week. In December my tradition is to spend my piano practice time playing carols.

I danced once this month. I don’t think I’ll be dancing again soon. Arthritis in my hip is giving me a lot of grief. I start new medical insurance today, so I’m planning to make appointments with a new PCP and my orthopedist to see if I need a hip replacement.

Sadly, the other two women who usually lead our folk dances are also having hip and leg issues. Jo-Ann is having hip replacement surgery on the 13^th. We’re hoping some of our accomplished dancers in the club will step out of their comfort zone to lead in the meantime.

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I created the hashtag #ALCGC2017 for ARHtistic License Creative Goals Challenge for 2017. Feel free to use it to tweet about your goals and your progress.

Nov1

#ALCGC2017 November Check-In

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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I love challenges! They encourage me to try new things. During October, two very good challenges, Inktober and OctPoWriMo, helped me with my goal of creating more poems and art.

I wrote several poems during October, and the best ones are posted here and here. One turned into a Christmas poem, so be sure to visit ARHtistic License on December 25 to read it.

For Inktober, I often defaulted to concurrent Zentangle challenges, and completed fourteen drawings in all. I posted some of them on ARHtistic License, and all of them on my Instagram page. Here are some of my favorites:

On the book front, I still have no representation for the three picture books I’ve sent out to agents. I wish I were an illustrator; I think if agents could see what I’m visualizing, they’d love my books for sure. Sigh. I’ve started rewriting two of them to submit as short stories.

Starting November 15 I’m running through The God of Paradox with my Bible study group. I know the third lesson is too lengthy. I’m actually thinking of taking most of it out and writing a second Bible study guide out of it. Anyhow, after this dry run, I should be able to fine-tune it and start submitting it in early 2018.

I’m still rewriting The Unicornologist. It keeps getting shorter, but it needs to be meatier.

I’m still practicing the same last 11 pages of The Sweet Pipes Recorder Book, and I’m still up to p. 59 in Essential Elements for Guitar. My tone and facility are improving, even if it looks like I’m not getting anywhere. I’ve been pretty good about practicing on piano, recorder, and guitar, but I’ve missed a few days due to lack of energy.

I’ve hardly done any dancing this month. The last Tuesday in September, I landed funny on my right foot and heard it crunch. It hurt really bad. I danced on it an hour and a half two weeks later, but that was probably a bad idea. Until recently, it ached something fierce if I spent more than half an hour on my feet. I think I’ll be able to resume dancing next week.

Now it’s your turn. How are you doing with your goals? Don’t be shy! If you’re keeping accountable on your blog, paste a link into the comments below. Or if you don’t have a blog, just tell us your successes and your challenges this past month. And remember to check in on December 1, 2017, to share your progress during November. I created the hashtag #ALCGC2017 for ARHtistic License Creative Goals Challenge for 2017. Feel free to use it to tweet about your goals and your progress.