The Creativity Library: Your Invitation to Create in the Margins (Intro and Lessons 1-2 with Devotional)
A FREE Self-Paced Generative Writing Course for Paid Subscribers, created by Prof. Kimberly Phinney (also on sale NOW for ALL subscribers)
Welcome, my friend. I’m Kimberly Phinney, professor, poet, and counselor, and My Way Back is a weekly newsletter from TheWayBack2Ourselves.com, a literary journal, podcast, publisher (The Way Back Books), and creative community. I’m writing a book on art, faith, and belonging with Baker Books, and I share a lot on those topics here. If you’re new, WELCOME! You are warmly invited to subscribe and join our rooted community. And don’t miss our third annual CULTIVATE RETREAT, meeting this summer in Greenville, SC, from June 19-21. We’d love for you to join us. There are only 25 tickets left.
Hi, friends.
I have some BIG news! And, yes, I may have lost my mind. But honestly? I don’t mind one bit. I want to make my NEW writing course accessible to everyone!
I wrote an extremely comprehensive writing course that sold like hotcakes in 2023 and 2024 called How to Grow Your Writing Life. If you don’t know, paid subscribers can access this 4-week course for FREE in our post archives. Since then, I have written a brand-new course over the past two years or so as its companion. It’s called The Creativity Library, and today I am excited to tell you that all paid subscribers will also get this course for FREE over the next couple of months. This writing course is GENERATIVE, and I created it for every kind of writer (at every level) so they can be supercharged in their creative work and craft as they CREATE IN THE MARGINS of their busy lives.
Here’s what you get in the course:
Students will enjoy the following offerings in this self-paced course that can be completed in as little as a month or over the course of a year if all the book recommendations and prompts are completed:
- 10 themed immersive creative writing prompts with book recommendations & poetry to inspire your content & craft
- 18 proven creativity hacks & practices to get you creating more in the margins
- 3 “created to create” devotionals with prayer & journaling opportunities
-a liturgy for creatives & their work
-a catalogue of creativity resources & products curated just for you
-students wander through Kimberly’s childhood library with her, as their prompts are inspired by the various sections: Geography, History, Literature, The Fine Arts, Nature, and Religion
Here’s a FREE sneak peek for EVERYONE because I know how valuable this course is!
Hello, friend.
I am so glad you are here. Before we dive in, I want to share the heart and inspiration behind The Creativity Library.
Since I was a little girl, libraries held a deep sense of wonder. Walking into the old multi-storied library of my childhood presented endless possibilities to my young mind. The stairs creaked, which obviously meant magic was happening around every corner. The myriad books, striped in every color, held stories and worlds inside that promised to swallow me whole—in the very best way, of course. And that old earthy smell of a well-loved book felt like home and escape all at once. The possibilities to explore, learn, and create felt endless.
Have you ever felt that way about a sacred place from your childhood? It’s this very feeling—inspired by my memories of that historic library nestled down by the bay—that cultivates this collection of prompts and creative opportunities. I can’t wait to take you by the hand, as we roam aisle after aisle, through the library of my youth and the library of your mind.
Won’t you join me in this generative course designed to help you create meaningful work and get a jumpstart on your next creative project? Grab some paper, your favorite writing utensil, and settle into your best writing spot (maybe your writer’s desk, a comfy place on the couch, or your favorite cafe?) and turn the page when you’re ready. The magic of The Creativity Library is waiting just for you!
You belong here,
me
You can access the course in two deeply discounted ways:
Paid subscribers will get it FREE over the coming weeks, with a new PDF lesson released right here on Substack. The FIRST free installment is behind the paywall at the end of this post. You can become a paid subscriber for just $8 a month if you’d like the free access. All paid subscribers have access to my archives and FREE attendance to Poetry University (as well as all previous courses), which meets monthly on Zoom (live and recorded). If you are already a paid subscriber, enjoy this FREE course. This is my way of saying thank you to our wonderful nearly 90 supporters of my work here!!
Followers and subscribers can get the course NOW for a DISCOUNT for the SUMMER at our website here: The Creativity Library with Prof. Kimberly Phinney
A little about me: Hi, I’m Kimberly, in case we haven’t met yet. I’m a national award-winning educator and professor with over 20 years of experience. My B.S. and M.Ed. are in English Education and English, and my doctorate (candidate) is in Community Care and Counseling. I have two best-selling poetry collections: Of Wings and Dirt and Exalted Ground. My poetry has won several awards from major Christian magazines and journals. I am writing a book on art, faith, and belonging with Baker Books, and I am also the founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of TheWayBack2Ourselves.com. I am hopeful that these unique experiences will translate into your growth as a faithful creative and writer.
I hope my course deeply blesses this community. At the end of the day, I will always be a TEACHER first, and this is my way to keep teaching and giving back in a way that is accessible to all! I can’t thank you enough for being here! You have truly given my life such purpose and richness. If you take it, I would LOVE to hear from you! You can email me at thewayback2ourselves@gmail.com and chat in our My Way Back Community here on Substack. Lesson 2 will be published in a couple of weeks! Can’t wait to share it.
As always…
You belong here,
me