This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

411 thoughts on “Courses”

1. Hi,

   You said to write to you, so here it is.

   I’m avoiding writing, and I’m avoiding everything else, and I was really giving myself a hard time about it.

   I never thought pleasing people was a high priority for me. Now here’s the
   kicker. I joined a book club. I’m hosting the next meeting and I picked the book. I found myself avoiding reading the book and feeling bad about it with the same intensity as avoiding the writing, etc. Why? What if the book was stupid, and I picked it and made my friends read a stupid book! (It’s pretty good – “Bridge of Birds”.)

   My writing is very controversial, so of course I’m not going to please everyone. And I feel like I have to say what I believe.

   I liked the tele – workshop. The feeling of having no strength is very familiar.

   Reply ↓

   • 1) you might find out why you’re resisting read the book by closing your eyes and imagine you’re involuntarily picking it up and reading it. At the point it gets most difficult, see how old you feel and why that child you were is resisting. She might let you now.

     2) Don’t exactly understand why you’re talking about your book – did you leave out a paragraph? Or are you planning to have the others read it in the book club?

     Reply ↓

2. Barbara, my problem is clutter. I dream of living with Shaker simplicity, but it seems as if I cannot be bothered by picking up my surroundings. In the evenings, I sit and think about which pile/area I’ll tackle first tomorrow … and then in the morning, I have zero interest in doing any of it. My avoidance methods include reading, computer and TV, and I am a master of avoidance. I am 66 years old, female, retired. I’ve had therapy up the wazoo over the years. I have hired a friend to come help me for a few days, so my apartment is looking presentable. And in a few weeks, it’s back to embarrassing, and I won’t invite people over when it’s a mess. I don’t know what to do. Thanks.

   Reply ↓

   • Holly – can I ask where you are?
     Anywhere close to NYC, by any chance …?

     Reply ↓

     • Yes, I live in Stratford CT, about 1-1/2 by train from Grand Central.

       Reply ↓

       • Are you looking for an Accountability Partner? Somebody to assist with the rearranging/cleanup kind of thing? Some sort of barter arrangement, maybe …?

         Reply ↓

   • Dear Holly,
     I am a de-cluttering management expert. I have never done this professionally, but could easily. And I have expertise to share. It is too extensive to share right here right now, on this library computer (the library is going to close soon!) But if you’ll e-mail me at rubydragonfly2@yahoo.com, I’ll be happy to ask some questions, and to share what I know.

     Reply ↓

3. The 2 hour class was great. Barbra has an amazing way of getting her ideas and enthusiasm across and making it all so simple and obvious. But I will have to listen to the recording again as some of the things that seemed so obvious during the class, don’t seem at all obvious now.

   My day job has taken me travelling and working long hours. So I guess it’s not a ‘day job’ at all. Hmmm. May need to swap that for a ‘good enough’ job.

   Anyway, I have made progress. Barbra hit the nail when she said I was isolated. Being ashamed of my ‘non practical’ dream has kept me from engaging with others. And the lack of any real delivery deadline is also letting me drift. So I am tackling these as follows.

   I have contacted several other puppetry enthusiasts and we have decided to hold a small puppetry cabaret (it’s called a ‘Slam’ apparently) in November. We will each present a short piece to illustrate our works-in-progress. I have also found a suitable charity that uses puppetry in hospitals for long-term young patients. The charity will sponsor the event and receive any takings. As a result, the venue will donate the space for the event gratis and we have a ready-made publicity engine on Facebook and other social media.

   A group of students from a local college, studying media, will video the event as part of their coursework. So I will have my show-reel to show others the kind of theatre I am trying to create.

   So, suddenly I have gone from an isolated blocked artist to a guy who has a show to produce by a deadline. Scary. But good!
   Respect,
   Max

   Reply ↓

   • This is wonderful, Max. You’ve taken your dream so far already it would just be wrong to let ignorant people smother it. You belong with other people who know and appreciate what you’re doing. You’ve gone from an isolated blocked artist to an unblocked artist with a lot of friends, colleagues and fans. That’s pretty good, I’d say.

     Any time you want to put up some photos somewhere: Flickr.com or Youtube, or somewhere you like better, it would be so great to actually see what you’ve got us fantasizing.

     Reply ↓

4. Dear Barbara,
   (and everybody else out there who may want to join in),

   this is not about the Resistance Seminar (about which I’ve been posting here and there already) but about your Coaching Course.

   I had written to you at your direct-contact address because what I had to say seemed very limited to my specific situation -“This would be boring for anybody else,” I thought. I am not so sure anymore, as I read more and more about difficulties in making decisions that others have too, and group speculation on what those difficulties may come from.

   I am pasting here the text of that letter (which may never have reached you anyhow, in the adventurous times of this Resistance Seminar of yours). I am a little embarrassed at my uncertainty and my request for help, but then again there is no real reason why I should be (…any more.)
   Here it is, word by word:

   Dear Barbara,

   I can’t seem to reach a decision on whether to enroll in your Coaching Course 2014 in Frankfurt. It may seem funny to write to you about it, since you are the one who gives the course… Still, if you decide to give me your opinion on my thoughts, that can really help me.

   At first sight, is seems to make little sense for me to enroll. I have some experience as a coach already, even if I only coached managers and professionals so far, and only in communication (professional, interpersonal on the job, etc.; their firm or company footed the bill). Also, I have read almost all of your books several times and done a lot of exercises (they really helped, thanks!). Last but not least, I am 61, and though *it-is-only-too-late-if-you-don’t-start-now*, I try to remember your tip about always considering alternatives, before going back to school. Recently I also read an answer of yours to Kasia, on HO, where you suggest to “keep moving on something instead of stopping yourself to learn something you think is required.”

   Fact is, I love to go to school – always have, believe it or not – and I am always inspired by you. I would like to …use you (!) as a pretty good model for the years to come, and a reminder of how purposeful and interesting they can be. Plus, I really enjoy you and your work.

   School also would offer an opportunity to work with others – not only online. Working with others “in the flesh” makes me happy and keeps me geared on to action, rather than get stuck just thinking, as I tend to do. I would be practicing your method/process and getting the kind of feedback, from my fellow-students and from you, that one seldom receives so openly from a client.

   As for the content of the course – Barbara, I really should be a coach! I love to do it, and I am sure I can contribute something. I would like to concentrate on people that are approaching fifty, or are already older than that, and have been *tricked* into never imagining a fulfilling future after that. I have been through it myself, a few years ago and for a long time. I have moments where I find myself still believing the old lie, deep down… I am sure that you understand, or you wouldn’t have written “It’s only too late etc.” But my life is in fact now getting better and better, more similar to what I really am; others should have this opportunity too.

   On that – my having to coach – there is little doubt for me. On the good that working with you always does to me, also very little doubt. On the Course itself… is it the best way for me to do it (if I start right away with the coaching, rather than wait till the end of school)? Am I undecided just because I feel guilty doing something for myself only, and only because I want to, and investing time and money in it – and cannot find a good excuse for it all (yes, that’s a typical hang up of mine …)? Or am I just being “reasonable”?

   I do hope you can answer; it would be a big help.
   As you always seem to be.

   Thanks! (and a hug)

   Reply ↓

   • If it were free and you lived in Europe I’d say there’s no reason in the world you should miss it. I believe you’re already a coach – most people who come into my class are natural coaches, and some are practicing coaches. I tell them they only need their natural ability, a lot of practice, and some tools and answers from someone they trust and want access to (meaning me).

     They all start coaching each other almost immediately. Within a month or as soon as I can arrange it, they have test clients to work with – often 5 or sometimes more – as an answer to what I think was one of your questions.

     The community is unbeatable. And part of the class – almost the second half of it – is all about how to help each other get clients without having to do any selling. We’re moving into how to teach telephone classes and live workshops and virtual retreats, to refer people to each other because of what we know are special areas of expertise, and because I believe that’s how a good coach can become a successful coach, depending on their goals and their personal style: first, by becoming known, second by doing other things like speaking locally or running telephone classes either for income or to practice and get better or to show people who you are – or all three. I even show them how to use a different method to write a very good short book, and how to create a small but very good email list.

     I think the class is wonderful for anyone who really loves to coach, more than any other class I have ever heard of. And I guess it doesn’t hurt to have a certificate that says you studied with me. People who like my books have been asking me to refer them to ‘Barbara Sher coaches’ for decades, but I didn’t know any. Now I do. 🙂

     But I have to charge a serious amount of money for the course – to share with the sponsors, who can publicize it and provide a venue and many other things I need and to pay me so I don’t have to use my time to earn my income a different way.

     You can learn at least 75% of my philosophy and my tools from my books. If money and travel are an serious issue, and you don’t need the support, warmth and availability of the community of your classmates (I make a very strong effort to have the students turn into a community that keeps working together after I’m gone) and you have all the sources of coaching income you might need – because you know I’ll personally answer your questions as often as I can, right here on barbarasclub, not with the depth I do in class but as honestly and thoroughly as I can – then you can survive very well and be a very good coach without coming to my course at all.

     But if there was no prohibitive cost of any kind to you, I’d say, “What are you thinking? Get into that course now!” without a second thought. That’s the honest truth.

     Reply ↓

     • Yes yes yes, I did see your answer and loved it. Thank you for taking the time to answer so exhaustively.

       I am definitely enrolling! I am so much looking forward to it- and I feel so *alive*, having made the decision. Also. I feel a little naughty, believe it or not…Since I still usually feel guilty doing something for myself, this time I’ve decided to *enjoy* the naughtiness of doing it anyway. 😉

       I will write to the Frankfurter Ring as soon as the money comes in from having sold a few things that I didn’t need anymore anyway (looking forward to something you really want does make you creative, doesn’t it?).

       Thanks again. And I am sure that by the end of next year I will have even more to thank you for!

       Reply ↓

5. I know I am a Scanner! Ideas pop up in my head non stop not only for me but for others too.

   Spent the last two years studying everything there is about marketing strategies about selling affiliate products, creating your own products and writing for the Kindle and other platforms. It has been sheer overwhelm and it eventually created a block where I feared moving in any direction. Wasted time listening to useless so-called gurus, who are only interested in selling half baked ideas, and gave up my power to too many of these scavengers.

   But not any more! I’ve now stepped away from them unsubscribed to the massive distractions and got back on track. Yet I still feel trapped because I’m a perfectionist which leads to me stalling on the process of moving forward.

   My wish list is to create as many fiction and non-fiction books as I can whilst I’m still on this earth. I can’t see why I’m not doing it already when I also have graphic design skills. It is that ugly perfectionist that stops me!

   The next wish is to live 6 months in the UK and 6 months in Turkey and have a thriving publishing business as well as a holistic place for weary people to come and relax and share their aspirations. Maybe help those who want to brand their image and books online. Who knows…………

   Finally, the third wish, is to find the right partner who can share in all my endeavours as well as having tremendous fun supporting one another.

   Maybe that is too much of a tall order to ask from the Universe of Life.

   Reply ↓

   • The first step — unhooking from all that noise — was a good one.

     Your perfectionism is your enemy. Don’t trust it. It’s just another way to stop yourself. Perfectionists are living for their worst critics, not for the people who could benefit from their books. If I were a perfectionist I wouldn’t have written anything.

     And if you want to write a lot of books, I’d get started on my first one tomorrow morning and have the next one waiting for you, ready to begin in six months or so. Make it real, and if you mean it, you can actually do it. It can be a lot of fun if you really enjoy it.

     I don’t know how many books Isaac Azimov wrote, but he loved learning about one different thing after another, and writing books was his way of doing it — or just showing everyone something *really neat* that he had discovered and paying his rent while he was having his favorite kind of fun.

     Reply ↓

     • Asimov wrote…hundreds of books – over five hundred, depending on the way you count them.

       Reply ↓

   • Dear Tania,
     I don’t think it’s too tall of an order at all. And it seems to me that those wishes mesh together, or could.

     Reply ↓

6. Hello barbara,

   Thank you for a wonderful two hours yesterday, it is always nice to hear your voice and advice. I see you are still engaged with the participants on the day after. I know you had few questions for me and maybe the time didn’t allows us to talk during or after the Q&A. Maybe I was the only scanner with resistance issues on the call. As a scanner I have read, listened to or watched over 1000 in books and materials related to psychology, sociology and personal-development (self-help), plus 1000 pages of notes. Initially, I got into self-help books to get my career on track but then I had to figure out what was/is wrong with one of my older siblings!? she turnout to be a “psychopath” from hell. Her impact is minimal today but that cost me so much over the years. So I have done almost everything from yoga to meditation and everything in between. Although I hated doing those down memory lane exercises in your books but I did enough or what I considered relevant to my situation today ( i still have to do the craft part). So I came a long way and I’d like to go further on all fronts….and looking forward for more….p )

   Reply ↓

   • Thanks, Hani. No, I couldn’t get to everyone and I wish I didn’t have to lecture at all but could just work with people for the whole two hours. But please ask things here. Whenever I have time, I’ll come back and answer whatever I can.

     Reply ↓

7. Ok. Its driving me nuts. How do I upload an image/avatar that appears beside my posts? Ive looked at the Update Profile page and there is nothing there about uploading an image. Help?

   Respect
   Max

   Reply ↓

   • hey Max,

     You have to set up an account at gravatar.com. Over there, you can associate a different avatar for your email addresses. Then they automatically appear on most commenting systems.

     Reply ↓

     • many thanks indeed, Margaux

       Reply ↓

8. any more info available on this resistance course? I

   Reply ↓

   • Sure. It’s interactive: you can ask questions in advance (using the Comments on the workshop page) and during the Q&A periods. Barbara will interview a few of the participants who ask questions in advance. She will ask what good things they are resisting going after and what happens when they try. She’ll show us all how she narrows in on the nature of the Resistance and offer tips and exercises to help quiet it enough to move forward.

     After it ends, you’ll have access to the recording and to the private Comments area on the workshop page for following up with the others who attended and with Barbara. What more would you like to know, David?

     Reply ↓

9. Hello! I need HELP! I have written to the Success Teams three or four times about becoming a Success Team Leader here in Japan. I applied twice and have heard nothing. I really would like an answer or information on what happened to my applications. Can’t I become a Success Team Leader in Japan?
   Please help!

   Reply ↓

   • Hi, Athena. An acceptance letter went out to you on August 13th. I just now sent a second copy. Look for it.

     Reply ↓

10. I registered for this as soon as I saw it was scheduled. I was so sad that I was not able to register for the ill-fated one (which was scrubbed). So I had a big red flag in my head saying ‘sign-up as soon as the next one comes along’.

    You see, I know what my dream is. Ive done the Wishcraft book and a local course and I’ve worked it all out ages ago.

    I have develped a new kind of puppet theater that can bring stories to life in an amazing way (based on traditional Taiwanese puppetry) – and I’ve even done some initial shows (long ago) that got everyone excited. I’ve adapted 3 Shakespeare plays for this theatre (as I want to help teenagers appreciate The Bard in an approachable and amusing way). I’ve made hundreds of sketches and worked out all the lighting and props and costumes. I’ve also written several ‘Ancient Irish Legends’ plays and designed the characters on paper (looking like a more child-friendly version of the Lord of the Rings movies).

    I’ve also work out the economics of this kind of theatre – so it can be used in developing cuntries and refugee camps – it only needs a single person to put on shows and the entire theater packs down into a single backpack so it can be carried to anywhere there are people in need of entertainment or education or political motivation or whatever. The puppets and the theatre is made of materials easily sourced locally (and mostly recycled stuff).

    But I cannot actually DO any of this. I do not know why. I have the materials and the tools and the plans. But I never build anything. I dream of it. I love it. I meet other puppeteers. I watch videos and read books. But no action.

    I am so afraid of dying “with all my music still inside me”.

    My family were not in favour of frivolous artistic stuff. My artistic and storytelling skills were not appreciated – in fact they were seen as signs of laziness and wrong-headedness. So thats one source of my resistance.

    I am even embarrassed to tell people that I am into puppetry as a hobby. Puppets! It sounds so silly. That I could even imagine I could make a serious endeavour out of this – its just a mad crazy idea!

    Yet, in the past, as part of a church thing (which made it sort of respectable) I did a series of bible stories that were amazing – very moving and very entertaining – and much admired by the few people who saw them. But even those memories are tinged with some sort of shame. Not a worthy pursuit for a grown man.

    I *know* that puppet based TV shows is a serious multi-million dollar business. And I know *in theory* how to progress my plans. But something deep inside me defeats me every time I try.

    I am hoping this course on Sunday will help me to figure out how to overcome this invisible barrier.

    Respect
    Max

    Reply ↓

    • oops – the course is Saturday 31-Aug

      Reply ↓

      • Did you get the telephone number and the code, etc. Max? If not, come back to http://www.barbarasclub.com/courses and you’ll get it there.

        Reply ↓

        • Max, if you’re already registered for the August 31st workshop, the call info is at http://barbarasclub.com/resistance831

          Reply ↓

    • Max, that’s such a fantastic and wonderful idea! And, without any support from anyone around, even worse, being belittled about something that fantastic, you still did so much work! You are amazing.

      Are you saying that you stop yourself because the power of your family’s criticism has made you afraid? If so, you’re not the only one this has happened to. Ignorance and jealousy have succeeded in destroying the dreams of too many talented people.

      Do you have anyone who admires your work and wants to work with you? You sound so isolated, and this sounds like a well-thought out piece of work and should be respected.

      Isolation is the dreamkiller, Max. When you’re alone, your mind takes your self-image on trips from Genius to Fool like a roller coaster.

      I’d like to know what some of your plans are. What’s your first goal and what steps do you need to take? Where could you could use some help? Where are you stuck?

      Reply ↓

      • Barbra – many thanks for your words – they uplifted me on a very bad day.

        Isolation is a key issues here. My life is full of kick-ass go-getters who (I suspect) would scoff at my plans. And especially at my chosen medium; puppets. If I dreamed of opening my own CGI or animation studio – not that would be cool.

        I did organise a puppetry group for a while and it was wonderful to hang out with others who got it – but rivalry among performers and the politics of ‘the arts grant’ mentality spoiled the experience.

        I have also worn out my welcome with a few people by talking up a storm about my plans but then being unable to get started. People get tired of that. So their support faded.

        My plan is simple. Pick a single play. Pick a single dramatic scene from that play. Build the puppets and the props for that one scene and perform it to camera and post the result on youtube or vimeo.

        My other big agenda item; attend the resistance course and ge help to tackle this crippling inability to get into action.

        I am not afraid of failure. And I am confident of my skills and abilities. So I suspect I am scared of success – which is odd.

        My current job is a golden prison – I make a lot of money doing something I am skilled at but no longer enjoy – I call it death by security. A slow death. Most days I feel like a claustrophobic who is working in a coal mine.

        Anyway. Enough negativity for now. I have taken some good steps by posting here and booking the course. So if I dont succeed, at least I will go down swinging and being true to myself.

        Respect
        Max

        (I will check out the link to make sure I have all the contact details)

        Reply ↓

        • I’m wondering if a firm deadline wouldn’t help spur you better? My employer likes to say “sell the tickets first, then build the stage.” Filming it and uploading to the web doesn’t have a fixed enough time limit, unless you’re announcing all over the web that you’ll be uploading this amazing performance on a certain date?

          Are there any street festivals, fairs, or other public performance events in your area? Even a very small local one, such as one in your neighbourhood? To get me to commit to getting something like a puppet show done, I would seek out a low-key event like that, contact the organizer and say I want to put on a live puppet show during the event, then get to work.

          Even if the event is for next spring or summer, it gives you a lot of time to plan and complete it, advertise it, tell everyone you know that it’s happening, and then you have built-in accountability. Would that work for you? Or would that be too much pressure?

          Reply ↓

          • Thats exactly how I did my first series of shows – Bible stories in our local church. So I will broach that subject again (Ive moved to a different parish – so will have to start over with new people – not a bad thing).

            I did write up a series of proposals for several Shakespeare fetivals – but the idea of a puppet show seems not to have connected with the organisers. Thats why I want to make a video – so they can see what I am proposing – that its not some fluffy kids thing like the Muppets or Punch & Judy, but a serious and emotive production.

            I am considering crashing a festival next year by busking on the street outside the theatre. I have a ‘walking’ puppet theatre (and I can even run in it, if they call the cops!).

            So yes, you have given me some good ideas there.

            Many thanks,
            Max

        • Dear Max,
          I think you are the very epitome of a “kick-ass go-getter!” Look at all that you’ve done, from clarifying what you want to do, to doing it, to a degree, in spite of fiendish amounts of internalized, ingrained criticism. You have already arrived at the right place by being here, in with people who will like what you’re doing, and not poison you with more shame!
          (There are several bumper stickers on my car. One says, “Imagination Is More Important than Knowledge.”)

          Reply ↓

    • Wow, Max! That is truly impressive, all the work and thought you’ve already put into your project!

      It’s the follow-through part, right? Me too. I’m eager to hear Barbara’s thoughts on this. My ideal would be to have collaborators to pass off the beginning stages to and have them complete the work. But finding collaborators who want to do the work part of the work, who are fine with me stepping off partway in, perhaps to come in at the end to help polish, that doesn’t seem likely. But perhaps I underestimate how much other people love the doing part but have no talent with the idea part?

      Reply ↓

      • I understand your delima. Finding people who share the passion, get the whole concept but are happy to do the work under guidance is tricky if its a creative endeavour.

        One of the reasons I discovered puppetry is because I was able to complete a whole production all by myself using puppets. My experience in amateur theatre made me want to go solo. But now I must take on board this isolation thing. Its tricky.

        Respect
        Max

        Reply ↓

        • But if we are your audience, and we’re waiting to hear about each step, then you’re not isolated. You’ve done so much already that I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to know when we get to find out what play you’ve picked, and what scene. Then I’d like to hear how you’re doing with creating the puppets for that scene. And maybe you can show us some photos so we can see what you’re doing. You won’t be isolated. No one here is going to give you a hard time, Max. I’m sure of it. And it would be exciting to be in a project where we get to enjoy what you’re doing, step by step. Try it.

          Reply ↓

          • I will try it. But for some reason, doing this in front of a supportive audiance is still scary. But I will try:

            I have business travel in September, so my time is limited, but I will set a deadline for the end of September to have that video uploaded and a link placed here.

            The negative critic in my head is going crazy and being very persuasive. But I can see its just trying to help by preventing me from making a fool of myself.

            Thanks for the encouragement Barbra.

            Respect
            Max

        • Dear Max,
          As I say, you’re ending the isolation, at least in part, by being here.

          Reply ↓

      • I know there are plenty of people out there who would love the doing part and wouldn’t want any responsibility for the idea part. Community theaters depend on that. I’ve had friends who were part of them. One, in NY, was fun for a married couple who are my friends. They enjoyed finding and bringing in furniture props, and painting them as requested. Others brought and sewed costumes. My older brother played Teddy Roosevelt storming up the stairs at the Alamo in Arsenic and Old Lace, and his wife helped people learn their lines. People love to be part of projects like this, Margaux. There were a number of retired people, and plenty of younger people too. I’m sure the same is true for art projects. Maybe you should try starting something to gauge the enthusiasm with http://www.Meetup.com

        Reply ↓

    • Max, I’m a film maker who struggles with the stuff you are struggling with; I’ve been in contact with Barbara and just knowing that she knows what I’m struggling with has allowed me to move forward with the actual MAKING of my film. I now have ACTUAL PARTS of the film made! And now I’m getting up every day and working on it: I’m focused, I am passionate, I am able to flow. I am feeling more creative and joyful than I have for *decades*.

      Count me in on being part of your Success team here! 😀 The films I am working on are about introducing a *massive* perspective shift in the consciousness of the planet and having someone like you around to create gorgeous puppetry that can help explain and express the concepts is an idea that I definitely get squee about! 😀 I LOVE puppetry and think that it is an artform that will definitely find its renewed and powerful place in the current paradigm shift: individuals are beginning to realise the limitations of technology in providing experiences that reach the heart, especially the flowering hearts of magical children. 🙂 I have magical children who make their own puppets, so I’m speaking from experience here.

      Picture me here in my kitchen doing the Snoopy dance of encouragement for you and all the other Creatives out there who are struggling to release their vision out into the world. *tappitty tappitty tap tap tap..*

      Reply ↓

      • Rimfire

        Thank you so much. Those words give me great hope. Suddenly, I am not alone; somebody else has similar experiences and insights. I would make you a Snoopy puppet that dances, but I never violate others copyrights.

        Can I ask you to mail me at XyzorMax@gmail.com to have an off-line correspondance?

        Respect
        Max

        Reply ↓

        • Sob, okay be like that, Max. Leave us out in the cold. Lucky Rimfire!

          We’ll have to find someone else to show the power of support in this blog/comment format (or I can just tell you the story of our budding canine hydrotherapist who couldn’t start, got backed by all her Hanging Out gang in comments, just like these, went to her first class (on the other side of the continent!) and now can’t be stopped.) 🙂

          So I totally forgive you if that’s what you need to get rolling. On the August call with you I’d like to investigate a couple of things you said earlier, not just for you but because they’re common to everyone who fears being everything they can be. They’re about how scary it is to go for your dream even with a supportive gang of people behind you –that’s very important — and how the Inner Critic has gone crazy trying to stop you. Both of those are very familiar to everyone who’ll be there. If I discuss it with you, the unexpected solution to those problems will help everyone so much. I’m glad you’ll be there, Max.

          Reply ↓

          • Ah. I will not leave you all in the cold. My intention was to discuss technicalities of filming puppets with Rimfire (and not bore the wider audiance with that). So let me make it clear to everyone – I am wide open to keeping this conversation going in the blog (as well as emailing privately with anyone who prefers that mode).

            My day job is in a very technical field, so I am most unused to writers block or creators block and that sort of thing. It mystifies me – yet here I am. I know *what* to do and *how* to do it. I have all the tools and materials. I even have the *time* to do it. But somthing in me runs and hides at even the thought of doing it. Suddenly I get an overwhelming urge to surf the net, read my books (I am a scanner with a whole library in my house), go walk the dogs, or (worst of all) catch up on season two of Walking Dead (and critique the special makup involved).

            So its incredibly powerful to hear others admit they have the same problem. Its even more powerful to hear you speak as if you even have a solution to this mysterious afliction!

            So yes, I look forward to exploring the issues you raise when we are on the call this weekend. If there is any homework you want me to do in preperation, just let me know.

            Respect
            Max

    • So I am working to create this charity puppetry cabaret event called a ‘puppet slam’. And as a result, I am finding one of the key blockers for me – production. My touchstone (as defined in Wishcraft) is the designing and making of the puppets and the props and (to a lesser extent) manipulating them in a live show. Think of a tiny version of ILM or the Creature Shop – and you have it.

      But organising venues, posters, marketing, finding performers, selling tickets and all that ‘production’ stuff puts me off big time – it’s not my strength and I get no joy from it. In fact I dread it. As I am now discovering as I try to get this show off the ground. Sigh.

      So, if there was a team of creative people who needed puppets for a show they were producing or a movie or TV program or training gig – THEN I would be as happy as a pig in muck working with them to design and build and manipulate the characters that will bring their story to life (or I could develop the script from scratch – I love writing and story-telling). If they looked after all the production stuff and left me to work in my workshop – interacting together to refine design and story-telling details – and then I just showed up for rehearsals and the final show – now THAT would be my ideal way to work. The idea of such work gets me all enthusiastic and energised and eager to get started.

      But only by trying to set up this gig have I discovered this. But now I know. Finding such a group of creatives may not be easy – but at least now I know what I am looking for!

      Meantime, I am doing all I can to get the slam off the ground – but its proving to be a slog. Once it is organised, I will have a deadline and a kind of ‘design brief’ to work on – and then I can get all happy and busy in my workshop to deliver my part of the show.

      Once again Barbra, your writing has been a great help to me on my journey – many thanks!

      Respect,
      Max

      Reply ↓

    • Dear Max,
      You do know, of course, that the Muppets and Sesame Street are taken very, very, seriously. The criticisms you have received have become ingrained, so that now, instead of someone else saying them, you are saying them to yourself. I, for one, am vitally interested in folklore and am familiar with Thai puppetry. They tell the legends of their civilization by means of puppetry. What more serious pursuit could there be? And why do we have to be so almighty serious all the time? What’s the matter with being goofy, or funny? I certainly do hope that you can get into the class.

      Reply ↓

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.