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The Artist's Way is loosely structured after a 12 Step program - there are 12 chapters, each focusing on a different element of creativity and the conditions that allow it to flourish. Each chapter has some readings related to its topic, and then a few writing exercises or activities. We'll tackle one chapter at a time, meeting for two hours once a week to discuss how the week's experience went for each of us.

Week 1: Creating the container and getting acquainted

with the Basic Principles and the Basic Tools
Week 2: Recovering a Sense of Safety
Week 3: Recovering a Sense of Identity
Week 4: Recovering a Sense of Power
Week 5: Recovering a Sense of Integrity
Week 6: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Abundance

*** 1 week break, to allow for extended time

to work with any of the material if needed***

Week 8: Recovering a Sense of Connection
Week 9: Recovering a Sense of Strength
Week 10: Recovering a Sense of Compassion
Week 11: Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection
Week 12: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy
Week 13: Recovering a Sense of Faith
Week 14: Wrap Up

The Artist's Way can be done as a self-directed program, just you and the book.

The benefits of doing it in a group are accountability (actually working with it instead of wanting to but then...not) and the beautiful supportiveness that can be found in other people. There's something about speaking your truth to a group that just hits harder than saying it to one person, or no one. Other people can also sometimes point out a theme or an angle to your thoughts that you'd miss on your own.

The book has a spiritual center, but it's of the "choose your own Higher Power" type. No belief in the Judeo-Christian God, or really any god, necessary.

The author recommends allowing about an hour a day for Artist's Way time, 7-10 hours per week. But like anything, you can put into it the amount of time you have and still get more benefit than not doing it at all.