Every writer personality enjoys different adventures. If you’ve read my blog post on Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, you may be wondering which types of artist dates you’ll enjoy. 

In Cameron’s workbook, she provides a series of activities for creatives who are feeling blocked or uninspired.

One of those is the artist date – a weekly dedicated solo adventure to let your inner artist play and reignite your creativity.

We have all experienced writer’s block, burnout and uninspired seasons in our lives. At times this may have gotten so bad that we’ve stopped writing altogether.

When you dedicate a weekly block of time to “play” alone, you allow your inner artist time to explore and rejuvenate. 

Whether you’re attending an art class or scouring the art supply store, these dates are nurturing your inspiration.

As Covey states in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, we cannot achieve success by grinding away at a dull blade. Time for ourselves is used to “sharpen the saw.”

When we allow our inner artist a play date we are proactively ensuring that burnout will not be an issue.

When our writer personality is allowed to explore new places or reconnect with old joys, we allow our curiosity to run wild and thus the world provides us with endless inspiration for our writing pursuits.

Coming up with an artist date every week may sound daunting. 

Of course, you don’t need to continuously search for new experiences. Sometimes a small, quiet, tried and true adventure can be revisited. 

However, when you are in the mood to change things up, a handy list of artist dates can be an excellent resource.

So, today I’ve compiled three options for every writer personality to spark ideas for artist dates you can explore!

At the end of this blog post, I’m also providing a master checklist of 60 artist date options just for you to mix and match between your writer personality type and others. 

Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and enjoy the adventure!

1. Go on a Hike: Explore new trails near or far, and embrace the natural calm of the outdoors. Check out these 25 incredible hiking trails around the world.

2. Street Art Tours: Have you ever noticed the amazing artwork in your neighbourhood? Ontario has many graffiti and street art tours as does other cities. These can be completed solo or in groups. Grab some ice cream and your camera and look a little closer at the walls of buildings, post boxes and other features of your community. You’ll be sure to find some inspiring local artwork.

3. City-Wide Scavenger Hunt: I loved scavenger hunts as a kid! Many cities hold scavenger hunts that can be completed via your phone. Learn more about neighbourhoods near you or join in one of the Haunted Scavenger Hunts provided by companies such as Let’s Roam.

1. Visit a Museum: Explore inspiring exhibits! Whether you’re into history, art or science there are so many museums to take in and visiting them solo is a very different experience.

2. Attend a Lecture: Is there a topic that you’ve always wanted to learn more about? Get yourself on eventbrite.ca and search for talks near you. Embrace the academia life for an afternoon!

3. Go on a Cozy Library Outing: A library or a bookshop – it’s up to you. Spend some time in a reader’s playground, browsing, digesting and slowing down for a while. Explore genres and authors you’re not normally drawn to. Here’s a list of some of the most beautiful libraries around the world.

1. Stargazing: Once, my mom and I stayed up all night to see a meteor shower and it was one of the most magical experiences I’ve had. Prep ahead of time with cozy drinks, blankets, and reading material. Find a dark place to camp out and enjoy the anticipation. Get into the experience by doing some research. Which constellations do you want to see?

2. Attend a Convention: I’ve been to Comicon and it was a surreal experience. Whether or not you’re into fantasy, sci-fi, anime or cosplay, exploring a convention will infuse you with energy.

3. Embark on a Literary Trail: How would it feel to walk in the footsteps of your favourite authors or to view the places where your favourite characters live their stories? Near and far, you can find sites and entire pathways to explore that connect to your favourite books. If you’re willing to do a bit more travel, check out some of these literary trails.

1. Attend an Open Mic Night: Music, poetry, readings or comedy – open mic nights provide a space for local artists to share their work. If you’re a social butterfly who likes the idea of a solo adventure that is still among others, this may be for you!

2. View a Theatre Performance: Are you into musicals? Plays? Have you seen a live performance of your favourite classic? Check out your local theatre to support the community or get excited about seeing performances in the big city!

3. Take a Pottery Class: Sometimes, trying a new art form solo can take away the negative self-talk that occurs when you compare your masterpiece to your more visually creative friend. Get messy with your hands in some clay and enjoy the experience of moulding and transforming.

1. Get into DIY: Need some quiet time at home? Try out a Do It Yourself project. You may not get this done in one artist date but then you’ll have an excuse to keep coming back to this habit. From upcycling furniture to arts and crafts, there’s a world of niches to get into. Here are 50 fun craft ideas to get you started.

2. Take a Virtual Art Class: Want to learn to draw still life or paint a landscape? Interested in creating your own terrarium or making homemade greeting cards? There are so many creative classes that you can take online. Websites such as Skillshare, Eventbrite and Yaymaker allow you to choose from a variety of interests, skill levels and price points.

3. Bake a New Recipe: Desserts, cookies, bread… there are so many delicious foods to try out. Find a new recipe to explore. Ask friends and family for their favourite recipes. Share your treats with others or enjoy solo.

1. Visit an Art Gallery: Art is another form of story. Visit an art gallery and learn about the artist’s inspiration for their work. Look closely. What does each piece make you feel? What story do you see in the work?

2. Go on a Thrifting Spree: Visit local thrift stores. Hunt for unique pieces and discover the stories behind them. My Grandma just found a book with pages cut in the middle, holding a key! What does that key lead to? We shall never know. But, I have so many questions and a world of stories that I could create from that tiny spark.

3. Showcase Your Photographs: Whether you share your memories in a scrapbook or through a gallery wall, spend time choosing some of your most notable snaps and determining how you want to present them. Never created a gallery wall before? This blog post will provide you with suggested ways to display your photos.

Artist dates can spark your creativity and infuse you with a sense of inspiration. Writers need time to play, rest and recharge. 

Use the above list to take yourself on an adventure this week, curated to your writer personality.

If you’re daring, pick an activity that’s outside your comfort zone and see where it takes you!

I’d love to hear how your artist date went or date ideas in the comments below!

For a master checklist of artist date ideas, subscribe for more creative inspiration.

Happy adventuring!

Talk soon!

Julia