Muse

From One Wildly Creative Soul to Another

Rain Goddess Molly Anderson is a wildly creative soul from Durango, CO. She is a writer, artist, and creative arts instructor. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and successfully completed their Elementary Teacher Education Program. Her work has appeared in various publications, including The Durango Telegraph, Southwest Colorado Arts Perspective, Images, Voice Be Heard, The Four Corners Business Journal and On the Wings of Poetry.

"I believe that writing and creating artwork is my one sacred purpose in this life. I devote as much time as possible to achieving my creative goals. Although I juggle several part-time jobs and struggle with a busy schedule, I dream of a time in the future when I can belly-dance with The Muses all day. With this goal before me, I know I am unstoppable. I believe that everyone is an artist, whether they know it or not. Through workshops, classes, and private arts instruction, I share this belief with others, inspiring them to create fabulous poems, stories, and artwork." Molly blogs at: stealingplums.blogspot.com.

Muses and More

Creativity Under Fire

Strategies for staying creative at work, at home, and in the studio regardless of your situation or circumstance.

Juicy Journals & Wild Words Series

Treat yourself to articles, resources, and project ideas specific to creating juicy journals.

Multicultural Muses Series

Muses all over the world have inspired creative souls for generations, since the dawn of humankind. I hope to smuggle them across the borders to inspire artists and writers a little closer to home.

Creative Careers in the Arts Interviews

An interview series with an eye-opening look into the careers of artists, writers, coaches, and other creatives.

Nine Athenian Muses Series

An inspiring series exploring the variety of ways in which you can invoke each of the original Greek Muses in your own expressions of creativity while learning more about yourself along the way.

Kids at Heart Creativity Projects and Prompts

Join Molly in the Creativity Portal playground for freelance projects including food fun, artistic painting, collage, crafting, and poetry writing. A great inspirational series for teachers, parents, home-schoolers, and kids at heart!

Quickie Collage Workshop

Want to make a collage, but not sure how to start? Specific questions about materials, process, and themes? I can help!

Creativity for Busy People

I have become an expert at carving out tiny bits of time from even the most hectic day for my creative work.

Bringing Creativity and Spirituality Together

Different ways to blend the realms of the creative and the sacred, to let these two sides dance and discover one another.

‘I am not afraid. I was born to do this.’

By Molly Anderson | Posted 10/5/06 | Updated 8/13/23

Lily Blue My creative success story began with the first publication of my work, three years ago. Until then, I had always written and worked on creative projects for myself, without sharing my ideas with others. It was incredibly scary to send that first poem out into the world… but seeing my words in print was a thrill that lit me up inside like sparklers on the Fourth of July.

I'm addicted — I sent out more of my work, and have been published many times since. I am slowly working my way through the transition from day job to dream job — one day, I hope to support myself with pen and paintbrush, working full-time as a writer and artist.

I'm looking forward to the first solo exhibition of my visual art in March of 2007. I will be displaying original watercolor paintings and collage in my favorite coffee-shop in Durango, The Steaming Bean Coffee Company. I'm currently working hard to create new pieces to show.

This fall, I'm teaching art through the Shared School Program at Needham Elementary School. I love the classes, and the kids really inspire me. I am also offering creative journaling workshops at Namaste Health Center in October.

During the week of Halloween, I'll be staying in one of the yurts at Mancos State Park as part of their new Guest Artist Program. I worked as the Program Coordinator to help create this program. I also applied for and artists' residency, and was thrilled to receive my acceptance letter a few months ago. I have designed a creative journal for the artists and visitors to use, and I will also be planning some workshops in creative journaling for adults and kids while I'm there. I plan to fast while I'm in the woods, and create beautiful words and works of art as I seek solace for my spirit in the wide-open spaces of the Mancos State Park.

In November, I'll be presenting a workshop at WomenFest, an event sponsored by the Durango Women's Resource Center. I want to focus on a new theme, "Nature as Muse, Healer, and Guide." I hope to incorporate creative writing, watercolor, collage, and drawing into one fabulous workshop.

I am a regular writer for Chris Dunmire's Creativity Portal Web site. I have crafted articles for children and adults about bringing creativity into their daily lives. I just finished a series about the Nine Athenian Muses. Hot on the heels of that is a "Multicultural Muses" series. I bid Athens farewell, in an effort to seek inspiration from Muses all over the world, from every era of human history. This series will begin with a trip to Ireland to find Leanan Sidhe, the dark, delicious, and dangerous Faery Muse of Irish poets and musicians. I'm excited to begin this new journey, and I hope you'll join me!

I interviewed author and creativity coach Jill Badonsky as part of the Creative Careers in the Arts series, which takes a closer look at the steps to a successful career in the arts through a series of in-depth interviews with creative souls from many different fields.

What does the future hold for me? More fabulous surprises, dreams come true, and wishes granted. I have no doubt, no fear. As Joan of Arc said, "I am not afraid. I was born to do this." •