Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood

by Ashlee Gadd

Book Overview

Too many women believe the myth that motherhood and creativity are opposing pursuits. But if they look deeper, says artist and mother Ashlee Gadd, they'd discover how using their creative gifts in the midst of mothering enriches both experiences.

Sharing practical, hard-won lessons from years of creating in the margins of motherhood, Ashlee equips women to discover the sacred connection between creating and mothering--without...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764240048
• ISBN13: 9780764240041
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A must have for all creative moms!

As a mom of three and a writer in my spare time, I often struggle with giving myself permission to be creative. Pouring time into something I want to do, as opposed to something I have to do, seems like such an extravagant way to use my small slivers of free time. Shouldn't I be doing something productive instead? Enter "Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood" by Ashlee Gadd. With an encouraging tone that makes it feel like you are sitting down for coffee with your best friend, Ashlee walks her readers through the reasons creativity is not only necessary for our wellbeing as mothers, but a calling from our Creator.   I have been following Ashlee's work through Coffee + Crumbs for years, so I knew I would love this book, but I was truly blown away by the beauty of her words. The book is visually stunning and each chapter ends with a creative exercise and journaling prompt. She also highlights and supports other women who are mothers and creatives throughout.   When I finished the last page, I was simultaneously crying and cheering, feeling so thankful for the breath of fresh air this book was to my creative life. I will re-visit the words of "Create Anyway" often in the years to come.   "When God calls us to write, we write. When God asks us to sing, we sing. As artists made in the image of the ultimate Artist, we paint and draw and sew and sculpt, not bitterly or lazily, but with enthusiasm, devotion, and a sense of joyful eagerness to participate. Because when we link arms with our Creator to do what He uniquely designed us to do, we usher a bit of the Kingdom into this world—and God gets the glory for it.” - Create Anyway, pg. 113

The Spark You've Been Waiting For

Ashlee’s ability to parallel the journey of motherhood and pursuing creativity is incredible. Drawing from her own relatable experiences, she shows us how we are constantly being called to create, not just for profit, but for the pure joy of being more than a simple consumer in this world. She so clearly identifies the pitfalls we each face as we pursue any means of creativity and helps to navigate simple but deliberate mental shifts to overcome the hurdles that make us feel like we are unworthy and unable to put forth anything of substance. While many books of this nature are flowery and verbose in their wording, almost to the point of being aloof and and un-relatable, Ashlee’s carefully crafted chapters are written in such a way that it is more like reading letters from a friend, encouragement from a girlfriend who’s voice you can hear in your head. I will definitely be buying more copies of this book to share with friends who need these reminders and that gentle nudge to Create Anyway.

A must-read for every creative mom

I often struggle to read non-fiction books on writing and creativity. They all sound great on paper, but it’s hard to put their words to work in real-life. I loved Ashlee’s book on creativity because not only were her words an encouragement, but the journal prompts and writing exercises met me right where I am—in the thick of motherhood and pursuing a creative life. Each chapter had me nodding along, feeling like she had written it just for me. In the past, I often saw my writing life as black & white, something that had to be separate (in time & space) from my kids and mothering. But Ashlee’s stories, examples, and words reminded me that pursuing both—alongside each other—makes each one better. I’ll come back to this book again and again.

Let this book bless you and inspire you.

I’ve followed Ashlee for nearly as long as I’ve been a mom, and this book is one I’ve been looking forward to for a while. With a baby and a toddler to take care of, it feels like all my creative passions have been pushed to the back burner time and time again. This book is an encouragement to create, an inspiration to create, and a reminder of why I love to create. Lately I’ve been feeling a tug to start creating things again, and the words in this book could not have come at a better time for me. Create Anyway has been just the message I needed to hear to inspire me to write down the words on my own heart, to pick up my crochet hook again, to put seeds in the ground and see what blooms. If you’re a mama and a maker of anything, be it songs or cakes or paintings, this book is for you. Let this book bless you and encourage you to bless the world with the creative gifts God has given you! “This means where God calls, we go. When God calls us to write, we write. When God asks us to sing, we sing. As artists made in the image of the ultimate Artist, we paint and draw and sew and sculpt, not bitterly or lazily, but with enthusiasm, devotion, and a sense of joyful eagerness to participate. Because when we link arms with our Creator to do what He uniquely designed us to do, we usher a bit of the Kingdom into this world—and God gets the glory for it.”