CREATIVE SUCCESS NEWSLETTER

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Enter Our 50th Issue Newsletter Celebration Contest

This is our 50th newsletter! We hope you like our new colorful format, which I am very excited about! Help us to celebrate the end of 2004, the promise of 2005, and all of our creative adventures together by entering our contest. The winner will get one hour of free consultation with Gail by telephone (a $200.00 value) on the topic of your choice and a copy of our 90 minute audiotape workshop "Positive Choices: From Stress to Serenity" which has been featured in The Improper Bostonian and Human Resource Executive.

To enter the contest, send us your answers to our quickie survey
by December 31. If you are the lucky winner, we will notify you
in early January to schedule your free session and to send you
your free tape! Good luck!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Out on a Limb Creativity Club Teleclass

There are only 4 spaces left in our new Club, beginning on January 11, as I have limited classes to only 8 participants. People are dynamiting their way through creative blocks in just three months. Do you have a creative risk you are putting off or feeling stuck with? Join a small group of creative women on the phone who are daring to change their lives. You will learn to honor your personal style, as well as to clarify and achieve your goals. Give yourself the gift of group coaching and support.
Comments from other classes:
"Gail is a great facilitator who helped me get to the core of my resistance and redirect my energy in the right direction."
"I am now doing what I promise myself I will do everyday, and feel wonderful."
To sign up for the January class and forward the action for your intentions in 2005, click on:

http://www.creativesuccess.com/specialprograms.html : http://www.creativesuccess.com/specialprograms.html

Stress Relief

Do you need a last minute gift for a stressed-out friend or family member, or yourself? Not available in stores, the Positive Choices Package has been featured in Christiane Northrup's newsletter, Redbook, Shape, Investor's Business Daily, and was selected as a top Bookclub choice by Living in Balance Magazine. This innovative combination of a book and an audiotape workshop will help you to recreate your life by learning the art of positive life choices that support your body, mind, and spirit, as well as your personal and professional goals. This is a limited edition, so order now at:

http://www.creativesuccess.com/products/index.html: http://www.creativesuccess.com/products/index.html

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Strategy for Creative Souls #25: The Gift of Giving

At the request of a number of newsletter readers, I am devoting
this month's issue to funding for the arts. In last month's
newsletter, I talked about how your career is your business and
if you are a "creative soul", your challenge is to learn how to
run a successful business, not to depend on grants or funding for
the long-term. The starving artist lifestyle keeps you locked in
a dependent, victim state and hides your talents. The purpose of
grants or funding is to give your career a boost so that you can
leverage your next level of self-expression and make your
business stronger. To get some tips on funding and the art of
giving, I spoke with two experts on writers and artists.

I have had the good fortune to be on the Advisory Council of a
fabulous foundation called A Room of Her Own(AROHO), created by
Darlene Chandler Bassett, (http://www.aroomofherownfoundation.org
) which gives up to a $50K grant each year to a creative woman.
Darlene had several comments to share with us:

1) The great news is that all of the finalists for the American
Book Award are women this year which is evidence of better
opportunities in the mega-awards arena for women.

2) Successful writers and artists dilgently take time every week
to apply for prizes, awards, and to market their work.

3) You need to demonstrate a thoroughly detailed creative
project plan to get funding and to orient you in your
career. Be specific about what you will do yourself to
further your career.

4) Surf the net for grants and funding on a regular basis. Just
use Google-grants, artists, writers, etc. Writers tend to be
more regular researchers, according to Darlene. She recommends
not limiting yourself to local grants, but going for the best
national funding.

5) When gifting to funders for writers and artists, like AROHO,
you can donate a personal gift in honor of a particular writer
or artist you know.

6) Give creative gifts to your friends, made or written by
another creative woman.

My colleague, Caroll Michels, author of the classic book "How to
Survive and Prosper as an Artist", also encourages artists to
focus on generating sales, not just grants, but does feature
grants on her website http://www.artisthelpnetwork.com and
supports clients in writing effective grants for their work.
Caroll's website is packed with wonderful resources, but she
directed us to two in particular for funding. You can contact
them to donate funds or to apply for funds:

http://www.creative-capital.org

http://www.nyfa.org

So, in this season of giving, let us all think creatively about
sharing our "gifts" with each other. Support the charity or
foundation of your choice, purchase gifts from small business
owners, and/or give the gift of time and share your expertise
with another creative soul who can benefit from your knowledge.
Find your own way to participate in this special circle of
giving. As Darlene points out, giving to others can relieve your
own feelings of scarcity and also help you to live vicariously by
supporting work you love.

May your creative inspirations make your holidays truly special.

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Creative Acts and Resources

Spiritual Cinema

Are you disheartened by many of the commercial film choices out there? There is a marvelous new alternative: Spiritual Cinema Circle. Each month you will receive 3-5 DVD's of high quality spiritual film selections to keep and share with others. Spiritual Cinema examines who we are and why we are here and illuminates the human condition through stories and images that inspire us to reach our best human potential. Start the new year with inspiration and intellectual nourishment. For more information and to sign up, click on:

http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/?af=17381: http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/public/?af=17381

Great Reads

There are two new books from my publisher which I have had the pleasure to read. Mari Messer has written a little gem of a book called "Shore Lines: Reflections Beside the Wide Water" which invites you to a close encounter with the sea and youself. Also, a former teacher of mine, Winter Robinson, has a new book called "A Hidden Order: Uncover Your Life's Design" which will guide you to find what she calls "creative order" based on the truths in your life. Both books can be ordered through:

http://www.redwheelweiser.com: http://www.redwheelweiser.com

Overcoming Creative Obstacles CD

Only 4 CDs left in our first printing! If you missed the Overcoming Creative Obstacles Teleclass, you can purchase a CD to listen to at your leisure. Mary, a graphic designer says: "This CD is almost worn out already because whenever I encounter an obstacle and need to brainstorm solutions, I listen again, and it always guides me to the answers I need." Learn to blast those obstacles out of your path! To hear a 5 minute clip from this one hour CD, go to:

http://www.creativesuccess.com/products/overcomecreativeob.html: http://www.creativesuccess.com/products/overcomecreativeob.html

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Creatively yours,

Gail McMeekin

Career, Creativity, and Life Choices Coaching, Consulting,
and Writing