make art

As both a creative and a creative coach, I consider self-coaching to be one of the most importance practices for personal creative success.

By holding yourself accountable to the work of self-reflection, commitment to growth, and cultivating loving self-talk, you can open up a work of joy and fulfillment in your creative journey.

But it all begins with self-coaching. Tune into this week's episode to learn more about how you can get started with this all-important practice ASAP.

Book your ticket for the Wildmaking Journal Circle: www.kristenkieffer.co/journal-inner-critic

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

After a very unexpected hiatus from the podcast (for both you + me!), I'm making a triumphant return this week — but moving forward, things are going to look a little different here at Wildmaking. Specifically, things are going to look a little uglier. 

In today's episode, I'm breaking down what led to my unexpected hiatus, what this year is teaching me about my creative capacity (and my newly discovered neurodivergence!), and why all artists + makers should embrace the power of ugly creative wins.

It's good to be back, friends. Thanks for being here.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Hustle culture would have us believe that our joy and fulfillment as creatives lies just over the horizon of achievement. But focusing solely on external success is a recipe for burnout and seemingly relentless limiting beliefs.

In place of hustle culture, I propose the Slow Making movement — an intentional commitment to slowing down, prioritizing personal wellness, and making from a wealth of energy rather than a lack of worth. No sacrifice of ambition necessary.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

I'm a fairly pragmatic person. But if there's one 'witchy' practice that I've regularly made use of in my creative journey, it's oracle cards. 

Over the last year, my deck of cards has helped me un-shame my relationship with myself and my art by offering me the opportunity to intentionally reconnect with my intuition and self-trust — both of which has had a HUGE impact on the way I show up for my art and creative business. 

Want to learn more about what oracle cards are and how you might use them to your  creative benefit — even if you're not much into things that are witchy or neo-spiritual? This is the episode for you!

JOURNAL PROMPTS 🌱

• How has shame disconnected you from yourself + your art and taught you that you cannot trust yourself?
• Where or how might you decide to make meaning for yourself inside of your creative practice?
• What tools or practices (oracle cards or otherwise) might you use to reconnect with yourself and your art — and ultimately to make meaning inside of your creative practice?

LINKS

• Roots & Wings oracle card deck by artist Kat Ryalls
• Chelsey of Pip Cards Tarot on Instagram (@pipcardstarot)

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

In last week's episode, I mentioned that all art is political. But what exactly do I mean by this? And how can you use this knowledge to make a powerful impact on the world through your art no matter what you create? Tune into today's conversation to find out!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Ready for a dose of radical transparency? The recent launch of my new Consistently Creative program has failed. Yikes.

What I've realized upon reflecting on this experience is that the launch didn't go as planned because the trust + safety that I've built with you, my audience, has gotten a bit shaky over the last year and a half. And trust + safety is truly the foundation of any thriving, ethically-built creative business.

In today's episode, I break down why trust + safety is so damn important, the two major types of expectations you'll want to meet to build trust + safety, and many examples of how you can go about doing so today.

Upcoming Class 👇

On Saturday, July 15th, I'll be hosting a FREE 60-minute class called How Rest Supercharges Creativity. To learn more and register for class access, visit www.kristenkieffer.co/register.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

After sharing some snippets from my debut novel online this week, someone admired how brave I was for doing so — only I didn't feel brave because I hadn't felt any fear around sharing my work. But that certainly wouldn't have been the case for the writer I was in years gone by.

How have I grown comfortable and confident enough to share my work with ease? In today's episode, I'm breaking down the not-so-secret growth formula that's helped me cultivate safety in the midst of sharing my work with the world!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

When you consider what it means to be consistently creative, you probably think about regularly making art. Makes sense, right?

Yet it's my firm belief that consistent creativity has little to do with regularly making art and everything to do with faithfully and holistically nourishing your creative spirit.

What in the world do I mean by that? This is the question I'll be answering in depth in today's episode as we explore the four realm of creative energy and how tending to these realms can help you lead a life-long, nourished relationship with your creative work.

—

As mentioned in the episode, my new three-month group coaching program — Consistently Creative — is now open for enrollment. Click here to learn more and snag your spot today!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

When you consider what it means to be consistently creative, you probably think about regularly producing art—and that’s not a terrible definition! Making art is a huge part of what it means to be an artist, and regularly making art can be a richly fulfilling way to live your life.

But if you define consistent creativity solely through the lens of habitual art-making, then you might just be setting yourself up for disappoint and despair. In today's episode, I'll break down why this is the case and share how I define being consistently creative for a life-long, nourishing relationship with my creative work.

Join the Consistently Creative waitlist: www.kristenkieffer.co/consistent

What is Consistently Creative?

Being consistently creative has nothing to do with regularly making art and everything to do with faithfully nourishing your creative spirit. 

This is the mindset shift we'll be making in Consistently Creative, my new three-month group coaching program kicking off this July. The program includes two monthly classes and bi-weekly group coaching calls for a total of four live calls per month, as well as access to an exclusive Slack community for additional daily support and creative conversation.

To learn more about the program when details drop, be sure to get yourself on the waitlist using the link above!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Make a comparison between your creative work and someone else's (or even you're own past work or current expectations) is perfectly natural and normal. What matters is how you respond when you find yourself making comparisons. 

Comparing and despairing? You might just be erasing the beauty of your humanity! That's why, in today's episode, I'm going to break down the importance of giving yourself the dignity of your own process—including what that means and how you can go about giving yourself that dignity, baby!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Over the last few weeks, I haven't been sleeping well — and that lack of sleep has been deeply impacting my creative work. But in a strange way, I'm almost glad to find myself in this position. Why? 

In today's episode, I'm sharing how this period of exhaustion in helping me un-shame my relationship with my art and why you should consider re-framing your definition of creative consistency ASAP. Need a permission slip for rest within your creative practice? This is the episode for you!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Creatives are often taught to be original so that their art stands out from the crowd, and there's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to craft unique and compelling creative work — but there's a dark side to prioritizing originality in your creative practice. 

In today's episode, we'll explore what makes the pursuit of originality so destructive and what you can pursue instead to ensure your art makes a memorable impact.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

You have a creative spirit inside you; it's the part of you that has big artistic vision and wants to partner with you to bring that vision to life. But if you haven't been making art with joy and ease, there's a good change you might be in unhealthy relationship with your creative spirit.

In today's episode, I'll break down the five ways you could be mistreating your creative spirit and share how working to be in better relationship with your art can help you make some serious magic in this world.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

In working to shed your shame stories, you're now on a healing journey. But when it comes to the topic of healing, there's a massive misconception that may be holding you back rather than helping you along, and that's the belief that you could ever be fully healed in the first place.

Simply put, there is no such thing as "being healed." But if you can't heal yourself, then what's the point of striving to heal? Are you healing anything at all when you do inner work? What's so wrong with the idea of "being healed" in the first place? I'm answering each of these questions and more in today's episode, friends. Dig in!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Do you often set big productivity goals, give yourself difficult deadlines, or aim for lofty social media growth? If so, you aren't alone. Many creatives have high expectations of themselves and their art. 

But are such expectations truly challenging us to grow and achieve great heights? Or are they a recipe for burnout and self-blame? 

In today's episode, Emily Golden and Rachel May of GoldenMay Editing join me for a kick-ass conversation:

1. How we've been conditioned to adopt unrealistic expectations of ourselves and our art
2. Why that pressure often sneaks up on us subconsciously
3. How we begin to un-shame our relationship with so-called "low" expectations to find greater joy and sustainability in our creative practices.

Want more from GoldenMay? Don't miss these links:

The GoldenMay website: https://goldenmayediting.com/
Tenacious Writing: https://www.tenaciouswriting.com/

Emily's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygoldenedits/
Rachel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookcoachrachel/

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

It's normal to look back on the art you've made in the past (or even the art you're making now!) and find it cringe-worthy. Same goes for having to tell others about your creative work or the act of sharing your art online.

What can you do to mitigate this cringe factor? How can you stop feeling like your art is embarrassing so you don't lose your joy and drive for making? Let's discuss!

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

You may think that confidence is something you gain when you get good at making art or finally achieve that big milestone you've been chasing... but you'd be wrong!

Confidence can't be attained through action, only affirmed by it. But, ugh... what exactly does that mean? And how can you take effective steps to start building confidence in yourself and your creative work ASAP? Let's chat!

P.S. Looking for my full episode on Transformational Goal-Setting? Check out E7: How to Set Shame-Free Creative Goals. As for my freebies on this kick-ass techniques, download them here: https://www.kristenkieffer.co/subscribe

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Despite our best efforts, sometimes things in life go sideways. Your agent quits, your sales dip, you lose a portion of your work to a computer crash... Shit happens. In today's episode, I'll teach you how to make peace with your worst case scenarios by thinking about them through five different lenses.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

Think it's bad to want external validation? Think again!

Wanting to feel affirmed and supported in your creative journey is a valid desire. But not all forms of external validation are made equal.

In today's episode, I'm breaking down the two internal desires that might lead you to seek validation—one healthy and one unhealthy—and how you can make sure you're getting the validation you need at each step of your writing journey.

Webinar Details 👇

On March 16th at 2pm Eastern, Sara and I will be hosting a FREE joint webinar called "Finding Empowerment in Creative Community". Use the following link to register to attend the webinar today: kristenkieffer.co/register

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer

"I just don't have time to create" is a sneaky phrase, one that may be disempowering you inside of your creative practice and beyond. No matter how true it might feel.

In today's episode, I'll break down why "I just don't have time..." is a limiting belief, why you have more control over your time than you think, and the importance of reclaiming your agency no matter the circumstances life has thrown your way.

Website: www.kristenkieffer.co
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristen_kieffer