What can I do in order tap into my creativity and to jump start my writing career?

Hi Zoe - what a fascinating spreadie you've got there in response to your question! I'm no expert but I see an interesting tension here between you rational, left brain that comes across so strongly in all these cards and the desire you express in the question to let your creativity run free. I am not sure the cards contain a direct clue but there's a wonderful book by Daniel Pink with very practical advice on how to tap your creativity - see: http://www.danpink.com/wnm.html
Best wishes, Hugh

The advice looks pretty straightforward to me. You've held onto the desire to be a writer despite the fact that it's not generally recognized as a good career choice. Right now you need to break it down into something logical and straightforward - possibly making a discipline of writing every day, if you don't already. Set a groundwork for your writing and creativity will follow. In the future, the judge may be someone who will act as a mentor to you, critiquing harshly but not without insight. You'll need to decide when s/he is right and when to listen to yourself.

I think Mercutio has hit it on the head. This is a call to discipline. Write every day. Even creative callings need a committed effort, and also sensible research.

It's probably harder than ever to make a living as a traditional author, but there are so many new business models developing. Blogging can put your work before people at no real cost to you, and then once you have a following, it can start to be your living. eg lulu.com enables you to produce a professional ISBN-d book with print on demand at no up-front expense. "Self publishing" used to be a dirty word, but now it's potentially a far more profitable choice than a traditional royalty-based deal with a major publisher.

I agree that it talks about discipline. It definately takes that to be an author. But I see concern about judging here too. Don't judge yourself too harshly, and don't let others do the same.

ZoeMoon -

All of the advice that you have been given is good advice. You do need to write every day, to blog, or perhaps journal - IOW, to do the work.

However - you may see this as work. My feeling is the part of who that Kng of Swords represents is not only the critical voice within you, but your fears of what other people thnk of your work, of not being able to get published etc.

Your question here is about tapping into your creative nature. I might use the Tarot as a story telling device. You can draw cards and write a story around them, you can draw cards to get you past difficult places in your writing, you can define your characters ... there are endless ways the Tarot can help you.

I am going to shamelessly promote soemoen else here - look up Tarotist Stephanie Arwen Lynch on the Internet. She is a fellow writer, and teaches classes connecting the Tarot and writing. :)

Thanks guys for your advice and insight!! I truly struggle with being disciplined,but I know that if I want to be a writer I have to devote the time and effort. I am highly critical of myself/writing and fear that others will think I suck which is silly on my part.

The internet is a big place. It's highly unlikely, with everything that's out there, that people will bother to read your work and then tell you that you suck. It's far more likely that the people who DO like your work will subscribe, follow your career and tell their friends and colleagues.

eg... I know that not everyone likes my decks. There are people who will never use anything but their Thoth, RWS, Marseilles etc. I'd never try to convert them. I just put my work out there, and trust that if I do the best I can, it will get judged on it's merits and hopefully find people who really get it.

You have to be brave, and also develop a thick skin to succeed in any creative endeavour, because there is nothing that you can ever do that will appeal to everyone.

My advice (and this is coming from someone who would like to be a QofW but is probably really far more a KofS) is to judge your own work as objectively as you can. Do your best, and aim to always improve. Be open to constructive criticism, try to avoid getting defensive, be willing to change and respond, but also be willing to stand your ground when you feel right about what you are doing.

I know it's not easy. One negative review will always stick in my mind more than twenty positive ones. But if you are serious and really want to live from your creativity, you just have to accept that and move on.

PS Sara is right - the wonderful Arwen is a great role model to look at. So are Janet Boyer, Leisa ReFalo, Bonnie Cehovet, Mary Greer and many others, some of whom visit here. Let's hope they add their own view of what it takes to be a tarotist/writer :)

Thanks Retro!!! I am very critical of myself and that is what I try not to do. I have written a few poems and gotten good feedback. You are right that not everyone will dig what you create. A thick skin is definitely what I need to develop. I am a Scorpio with Moon in Pisces so I guess that is why I am sensitive....lol.

I have visited Arwen's blog before and I think she is great :) I would love to learn more about using Tarot to create stories!