Are you a creator with a conundrum?
The Creative Goods, my feminist advice column, launches soon!
AUTUMN INTAKE FOR FOLLOW-THROUGH SESSIONS
Do the creative work that matters most to you with the support of like-hearted peers (because even though we might make work alone, we don’t have to be alone).
This autumn, starting on October 3rd, two groups of eight creators will meet via Zoom every couple of weeks for a whole season of accountability and in-it-togetherness. Participants will also get access to a private Facebook group for facilitated weekly check-ins and encouragement, plus a custom Seasonal Planner (and other surprise goodies), a one-hour one-on-one coaching/consultation session, weekly co-working sessions, and weekly office hours. The intake is happening now, and there are only a few spots left. Learn more and/or apply now here.
Good Ones,
I’m popping into your inbox to let you know that The Creative Goods is launching on Friday, October 7th and you can be part of it!
Here’s the lowdown:
ABOUT THE CREATIVE GOODSThe Creative Goods is a free feminist advice column for creators with conundrums, written by me, Jill Margo of The Creative Good.
Through this column, I offer suggestions, commiseration, and reassurance, particularly to creators who’ve been most impacted by patriarchy and other forms of oppression. And by “creators” I mean folks who practice any of the creative arts, like writing, visual art, and music—whether they’re just starting out or already working professionally.
Advice columns fall under the self-help category. One definition of self-help is: “Care for or betterment of oneself by one’s own efforts.” Now, I’m all for the betterment of oneself, except there’s one problem: traditional self-help tends to start with the idea that we’re the problem, that we need fixing.
In my work, however, what I’ve realized is that often what we label as personal problems or failings—such as perfectionism, visibility blocks, burnout, and imposter syndrome—are actually collective issues that stem from “systems of fuckery” (h/t to Janine Bertolo) like patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy. In other words, it’s not us, it’s the oppressive system(s).
What I’m interested in is not traditional self-help, but justice-based self-help, which recognizes that the systems need fixing more than we do. So, that’s the underlying ethos I bring to dishing out the creative goods. I love how things can shift when we get out of the self-blame and shame that comes with oppressive conditioning and into power. I’m still learning too, so we get to learn together.
My hope is that this column will also have a thriving comments section, made possible by the Substack platform, in which folks can chime in with their own suggestions, commiseration, and reassurance because we are stronger together.
If you’d like to submit a letter for consideration for the column you can do so anonymously using this form. Please don’t feel that you have to outline an overt social justice issue in your submission though. That’s something I can help tease out, when applicable. Any conundrum related to your practice is fair game!
This advice column is something I do because of The Creative Good. I’ve opted to write it instead of a salesy, promotional newsletter because it feels way more generous, connecting, and creatively satisfying. To be completely transparent though, as I said in my last missive, if I have an offering I want to let folks know about, I will do a short shout out at the top of each monthly email like I’ve done here. That way, the primary focus always remains on having great conversations around creative practice—but if you’re interested in what I do, you’ll still be in the loop.
I hope you’ll look for new issues of The Creative Goods in your inbox on the first Friday of every month. Please also consider submitting a letter and interacting on Substack!
That’s it for now. Wishing you a lovely, creative autumn ahead.
Good things,
Jill
I’m Jill Margo (she/her). I created The Creative Good because it’s what I needed as a creator and couldn’t find. I work online, one-on-one and in groups, with creators at all levels (such as writers, visual artists, and musicians) who, like me, have been most impacted by patriarchy and other oppressive systems. My aim is for us to live better, more fulfilled lives through the realization of creative practices that feel generative, sustainable, and liberatory.
I’m really looking forward to this Jill!