Planners for Creativity
Making art, I think, is the closest we get to magic. What else would you call taking an emotion and turning it into something physical for another person so they can experience that feeling, too? And maybe transform their experience into something new for someone else? Magic. Maybe it’s ironic that these transcendent moments of creation aren’t possible—at least for me—without something as ordinary as a planner.
If, at its most unromantic, making art is about turning an idea into something physical, then planning can break the process down into actionable steps. I see planning as a combination of strategy (goal-setting, setting intentions, envisioning a big picture or final product) and tactics (scheduling and maintaining the day-to-day habits that make the goal achievable). Planning an art project or creative practice can feel daunting, but luckily there are lots of planners and workbooks that can help, including ones specifically for artists. Here’s a round-up of some of my most trusted, tried-and-true planners, and the planning strategies I use to manage my creative practice.
Note: These reviews are not affiliate links or sponsored ads, and are based on my own experiences.
This has been my daily planner since 2015. The monthly calendar is big enough for me to schedule important dates and deadlines for work and home. The daily planning pages include a schedule and to-do list (as well as reminders for Dinner and Daily Gratitude) with a light gray font so it’s easy to modify with my own prompts. I structure my days into categories: What am I doing for self-care? What am I doing for work? What needs to get done at home?
Creative coach, Nicola Taylor, developed a planner specifically for artists who are creating, selling, and promoting their own art. This planner has robust worksheets to walk you through developing a business plan, then monthly and weekly calendar spreads to put your plan in action. I also love how each month concludes with a reflection on managing a creative business including craft, sales, and self-care.
A Weekly To-Do List
I use a legal pad or an undated weekly planner to write a to-do list for my work assignments. Managing my creative business has 3 areas of focus:
Production: What am I creating/writing?
Engagement: Who am I sharing my stories with? How am I fostering community with readers?
Administrative: What are the systems that make it possible for me to create and share my work?
Each week, I tend to 1-2 projects in each category and itemize all the tasks needed to complete the project in a to-do list. This list helps me assign specific tasks for each work session throughout the week.
This is a fun planner for astrology enthusiasts: a monthly/weekly calendar that includes a comprehensive astrological reference guide, planetary movements and retrogrades, moon phases, and prompts for reflection and intention setting. I use the Magic of I as a guide for my journaling and help set my intentions every month.