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We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something
From Amie McNee, the voice behind Inspired to Write, a manifesto on the vital, human importance of creating, with guidance for all artists in all endeavors, whether they're starting their journey or seeking a fresh perspective.
In We Need Your Art, Amie McNee calls artists and aspiring artists of all kinds to do the work they’re meant to create.
Using her own experiences as a novelist and the inspiration she’s shared as a creative coach, Amie guides you on why we need your art and how you can make it happen—starting with a two-week reset plan to help you kick-start your creative habit. This isn’t about writing your great novel in a month or painting a masterpiece in a flurry of inspiration. Rather, this process is about practicing small, sustainable creative steps every day over time—five hundred words of writing each day, a pencil sketch every evening—so that you avoid burnout, produce consistent, reliable content on your own terms, and begin to see yourself as an artist.
With frank and empowering conversations on the many issues creatives face, including impostor syndrome, perfectionism, procrastination, and the inner critic, as well as invitations to coronate yourself and celebrate your ambition, Amie provides the framework and encouragement you need to begin to take your art seriously. Each chapter also includes journal prompts that help you apply what you have learned to your new life.
We Need Your Art is a revolutionary reprogramming of everything we have been taught and told about being a creative, removing the shame and fear we may feel at dubbing ourselves artists and inviting us to create proudly, with celebration. This book is a warm hug, a pep talk, the wise teacher you always wanted, the loving parent you needed, and the fire in your belly that you need to get roaring.
In We Need Your Art, Amie McNee calls artists and aspiring artists of all kinds to do the work they’re meant to create.
Using her own experiences as a novelist and the inspiration she’s shared as a creative coach, Amie guides you on why we need your art and how you can make it happen—starting with a two-week reset plan to help you kick-start your creative habit. This isn’t about writing your great novel in a month or painting a masterpiece in a flurry of inspiration. Rather, this process is about practicing small, sustainable creative steps every day over time—five hundred words of writing each day, a pencil sketch every evening—so that you avoid burnout, produce consistent, reliable content on your own terms, and begin to see yourself as an artist.
With frank and empowering conversations on the many issues creatives face, including impostor syndrome, perfectionism, procrastination, and the inner critic, as well as invitations to coronate yourself and celebrate your ambition, Amie provides the framework and encouragement you need to begin to take your art seriously. Each chapter also includes journal prompts that help you apply what you have learned to your new life.
We Need Your Art is a revolutionary reprogramming of everything we have been taught and told about being a creative, removing the shame and fear we may feel at dubbing ourselves artists and inviting us to create proudly, with celebration. This book is a warm hug, a pep talk, the wise teacher you always wanted, the loving parent you needed, and the fire in your belly that you need to get roaring.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2025
635 people are currently reading
8250 people want to read
About the author
Amie McNee
11 books297 followersAmie McNee is an Australian author of both fiction and nonfiction whose work celebrates the courage and chaos of the creative life. She is the author of To Kill a Queen, a queer historical mystery set in Elizabethan London, and We Need Your Art, a manifesto for creatives. Amie has also independently published several beloved novels and journals for creatives, building a global community through her platform Inspired To Write. She lives between Sydney and Oxfordshire with her writer husband, James.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
March 15, 2025
The best self-help book I have read
I will keep this review short, but if like me you have a terrible job and don't think your art is as important as the day job, you need this book in your life. I am no longer a customer service rep in a call centre, I am an artist who currently has a day job to earn a living until my art career can pay for itself.
Easy to read, engaging, full of great advice. Buy it today.
I will keep this review short, but if like me you have a terrible job and don't think your art is as important as the day job, you need this book in your life. I am no longer a customer service rep in a call centre, I am an artist who currently has a day job to earn a living until my art career can pay for itself.
Easy to read, engaging, full of great advice. Buy it today.
August 25, 2025
As someone fairly comfortable with my own creative process, I was reading most of this book, nodding along, thinking “yes, good points, but I don’t struggle with this.”
Then the chapters on fearing failure and fearing success hit me right in the chest and anyway OUCH Amie why would you do that
Then the chapters on fearing failure and fearing success hit me right in the chest and anyway OUCH Amie why would you do that
March 10, 2025
I am still working on claiming the title of artist for myself as it's something I enjoyed in high school, put aside for 20 years, and have just started returning to in the past couple years. So there were pieces of this book that I didn't feel applied to my current level of engagement. However, many many sections really did speak to me around the fears and hesitations and resistance. I was highlighting sections. Reading this book helped me pick up my watercolor painting for the first time in several months - something I had been eyeing but was avoiding. I think that reading this book helping me return to an almost-daily art practice is about the highest praise I can give. Thank you Amie. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 11, 2025
All creatives need this book.
Want to read
June 20, 2025someone in the train is reading this and now i also want to
April 22, 2025
A book that is a very important tool (for any sort of creative) for years to come.
I cannot tell enough people about this book. Aimee, thank you for divulging the artist experience in a way that made me feel called out but also boosted my motivation (fantastic thing to listen to when creating) and helped me feel encouraged by a surrounding creative community (all of whom, come to find out, feel the exact same way).
Being years into my creative practice, with many highs and lows, it can often times feel isolating and a constant internal battle, but this book was a gift in itself to acknowledge the pleasure and pain art has brought into my life. It acknowledged the confusion and disorientation it can cause, but it also celebrated the reason why we have never been able to give up our craft.
This is a severely important collection of text I will forever reference as I continue to navigate my creative journey because after reading it - there really is NO excuse not to do it.
Do it. Make it. Be the artist. Oh AND she lowkey tells you how. 🤭
I cannot tell enough people about this book. Aimee, thank you for divulging the artist experience in a way that made me feel called out but also boosted my motivation (fantastic thing to listen to when creating) and helped me feel encouraged by a surrounding creative community (all of whom, come to find out, feel the exact same way).
Being years into my creative practice, with many highs and lows, it can often times feel isolating and a constant internal battle, but this book was a gift in itself to acknowledge the pleasure and pain art has brought into my life. It acknowledged the confusion and disorientation it can cause, but it also celebrated the reason why we have never been able to give up our craft.
This is a severely important collection of text I will forever reference as I continue to navigate my creative journey because after reading it - there really is NO excuse not to do it.
Do it. Make it. Be the artist. Oh AND she lowkey tells you how. 🤭
June 4, 2025
“Creativity is responsible, generous, and important.”
I am so emotional as I sit here finishing this audiobook (which is EXCELLENT by the way, and read by the beautiful author.) It was just so good. Every word. I will forever hype the wondrous word magician that is Amie Mcnee. I love her so much. I’ve been following her for years and have been eagerly anticipating this book, which exceeded all my hopes. If you want a book to light you on fire for your art, look no further. Amie approaches the subject with such a love and tenderness you truly feel her passion not just for the arts, but for YOUR art. She sets you straight in a way that is empowering and inspiring. She guides you with a power that is so soft and earnest yet also filled with so much personality, grit and fire.
Amie’s words and perspective make me feel so seen. So understood in ways that I have never been able to put words to. And I know she will do the same for you. If you are an artist, read this book. And if you are not a self proclaimed artist, read this book. I’m willing to bet that you have art brewing inside of you. Because you are human. And humans by our very nature create things. And like Amie says, we actually really need your art.
Amie if you ever read this review, please know I FREAKING LOVE YOU!!! Thank you thank you thank you.🩵
I am so emotional as I sit here finishing this audiobook (which is EXCELLENT by the way, and read by the beautiful author.) It was just so good. Every word. I will forever hype the wondrous word magician that is Amie Mcnee. I love her so much. I’ve been following her for years and have been eagerly anticipating this book, which exceeded all my hopes. If you want a book to light you on fire for your art, look no further. Amie approaches the subject with such a love and tenderness you truly feel her passion not just for the arts, but for YOUR art. She sets you straight in a way that is empowering and inspiring. She guides you with a power that is so soft and earnest yet also filled with so much personality, grit and fire.
Amie’s words and perspective make me feel so seen. So understood in ways that I have never been able to put words to. And I know she will do the same for you. If you are an artist, read this book. And if you are not a self proclaimed artist, read this book. I’m willing to bet that you have art brewing inside of you. Because you are human. And humans by our very nature create things. And like Amie says, we actually really need your art.
Amie if you ever read this review, please know I FREAKING LOVE YOU!!! Thank you thank you thank you.🩵
October 15, 2025
I’ve read a lot of books on creativity, but this one was a breath of fresh air. It’s practical and honest without being overly formulaic. It provides some great prompts for introspection about why you might be stuck creatively. I definitely think it’s more geared towards someone who has a specific artistic goal rather than wanting to cultivate an overall artistic life. The sections about giving yourself permission to have different capacity than other people was really refreshing and I loved how the author framed all the different ways perfectionism can happen in the creative process.
April 18, 2025
See raamat on neile, kel on vaja motivatsiooni ja tõuget, et enda loominguga tegeleda (olenemata sellest, kas sa päriselt teenid ja/või igapäevaselt tegeled mõne kunstivormiga). Raamatus on head mõtted ja ettepanekud, ausad ülestunnistused ning minu jaoks mõtlemapanevad ideed.
Ainus asi, mis võib miinuseks olla, on mõned korduvad mõtted. Kuna kuulasin pikaajaliselt audiovormis, siis ennast nii väga ei häirinud.
Ainus asi, mis võib miinuseks olla, on mõned korduvad mõtted. Kuna kuulasin pikaajaliselt audiovormis, siis ennast nii väga ei häirinud.
April 4, 2025
This is probably one of the best books on creativity that I've ever read (and I have read a lot!). I loved Amie's call to action -- the world needs art and art is not a limited good (meaning, we could run out of a need for toasters, say, but we will never run out of the need for art and more art).
I loved her chapters on procrastination and perfectionism as well as her emphasis on choosing yourself -- to coronate yourself as Artist -- rather than waiting for gatekeepers or for external measures of success to coronate you. You are an Artist if you create art. The end.
This book showed up at an auspicious time in my life and I look forward to returning to it over and over again.
I loved her chapters on procrastination and perfectionism as well as her emphasis on choosing yourself -- to coronate yourself as Artist -- rather than waiting for gatekeepers or for external measures of success to coronate you. You are an Artist if you create art. The end.
This book showed up at an auspicious time in my life and I look forward to returning to it over and over again.
June 25, 2025
“Society needs more art. It needs to be bursting at the seams with art. Art is one of the most important tools we have for self development. Art is the culture changer of this world. Art is politically important. Art is the cosy respite for anyone going through pain. Art is the mirror for humanity. It is our place to alchemise trauma into growth, pain into healed wounds, joy into more joy.”
I first discovered Amie McNee by scrolling across her love notes to creatives on her Instagram @inspiredtowrite which quickly became and still is one of my favourite accounts. Her insta love notes and her overall messaging is particularly potent.
We Need Your Art is interspersed with her trademark love notes which support her powerful and thoughtful writing. To read We Need Your Art is like being consoled and supported by a close friend.
Love.
I first discovered Amie McNee by scrolling across her love notes to creatives on her Instagram @inspiredtowrite which quickly became and still is one of my favourite accounts. Her insta love notes and her overall messaging is particularly potent.
We Need Your Art is interspersed with her trademark love notes which support her powerful and thoughtful writing. To read We Need Your Art is like being consoled and supported by a close friend.
Love.
March 15, 2025
Format reviewed: Audiobook
I loved this book. It’s like a healing balm to the author soul.
Disclaimer: When I first heard Amie talk about this book, I was an indie author struggling with faith, motivation and trust in my own voice and whether there’s space for me as an artist (still am), and I instantly knew based on her marketing that this would be a book that could potentially help change that for me. It’s one of the few titles I’ve been eagerly anticipating this year. And I weren’t left disappointed.
First thing first, the audiobook:
I chose the audiobook because I simply prefer to listen when it comes to non-fiction. My dyslexia/ADD struggle with retaining factual stuff by reading alone. Beyond that, I’ve also listened to some podcast snippets by Amie, and I’ve always found her voice soothing with the right amount of “you can do this” energy. The audiobook is no different.
Listening to the audiobook is like being sat in a deep conversation with a motivational friend or your own personal cheerleader. The one that makes you believe that everything is possible. If I’d listened to this two years ago, it probably would have been the thing to have me nodding my head, fist pumping the air, and dive into self-publishing with the courage of a lion. Now, two years later and gunshy from the industry/nature of the commercial market, I’m more like a fawn listening with tentative steps wondering if it’s all a trap. But I will say this; Amie managed something in 6-something-hours that the self-publishing experience had nearly wiped out of me:
She made me hopeful that I could believe again. That I have purpose as an artist beyond the commercial sphere and numbers. And that I’m not wrong for feeling frustrated with the current culture within the industry. And I kind of wish that I’d also have had the ebook version to take notes and highlight the numerous quotes I’d like to have had easily accessible after.
Content:
You know when you’re browsing through a podcast and audiobook and pondering which episodes/chapters you could skip or are excited to listen to? Well, every single chapter had me excited.
From overcoming procrastination, perfectionism, comparisonitis, and burnout, to building an abundant practice and reminding ourselves of the value of art — there wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t relevant to an author whose outlook on the world and craft has been rather bleak of late. Even the section on finishing – which, having published 4 titles in 2 years, was the single issue I didn’t think I had – forced me to face some hard truths, and I kind of feel like WE NEED YOUR ART should be the bible every artist (authors in particular) keep on hand for whenever they start to lose their way. This book gives you permission *not* to be perfect or achieve everything perfectly, and I think we need more of that in the world.
There are, of course, things I find myself questioning and still not too certain I’d readily believe (such as the market not being oversaturated – even if readers won’t tireof a genre/trope, there’s still the limitations of time and I’ve seen one too many great books “miss their window” and be forgotten in reader’s ever growing TBR piles), but as mentioned earlier, the point is Amie makes me want to believe. Amie reminds you and makes you feel less crazy for believing that art isn’t supposed to fit one single mould. That art is supposed to challenge, push boundaries and even cause discomforts, and most importantly of all: you can’t please everyone.
Invigorated by this, testing Amie’s two weeks reset challenge made it all the more easier to get started, and I’m super excited to say I’ve already gotten 1K words down a day as a result — without spending hours trying to force it.
In summary:
I committed the ultimate bookish-cardinal sin with this book, by going in with super high expectations. It could so easily have gone wrong. But it didn’t. No, it won't immediately make me write the perfect book or break through the wall and become the most confident of artists. But the book never promised it would do that, either. It only promised that it would get me started. And it did.
5⭐️s from me, and I’d particularly recommend it to authors, writers and even readers curious about the pressures and challenges going on behind the scenes in the makings of their favourite books.
I loved this book. It’s like a healing balm to the author soul.
Disclaimer: When I first heard Amie talk about this book, I was an indie author struggling with faith, motivation and trust in my own voice and whether there’s space for me as an artist (still am), and I instantly knew based on her marketing that this would be a book that could potentially help change that for me. It’s one of the few titles I’ve been eagerly anticipating this year. And I weren’t left disappointed.
First thing first, the audiobook:
I chose the audiobook because I simply prefer to listen when it comes to non-fiction. My dyslexia/ADD struggle with retaining factual stuff by reading alone. Beyond that, I’ve also listened to some podcast snippets by Amie, and I’ve always found her voice soothing with the right amount of “you can do this” energy. The audiobook is no different.
Listening to the audiobook is like being sat in a deep conversation with a motivational friend or your own personal cheerleader. The one that makes you believe that everything is possible. If I’d listened to this two years ago, it probably would have been the thing to have me nodding my head, fist pumping the air, and dive into self-publishing with the courage of a lion. Now, two years later and gunshy from the industry/nature of the commercial market, I’m more like a fawn listening with tentative steps wondering if it’s all a trap. But I will say this; Amie managed something in 6-something-hours that the self-publishing experience had nearly wiped out of me:
She made me hopeful that I could believe again. That I have purpose as an artist beyond the commercial sphere and numbers. And that I’m not wrong for feeling frustrated with the current culture within the industry. And I kind of wish that I’d also have had the ebook version to take notes and highlight the numerous quotes I’d like to have had easily accessible after.
Content:
You know when you’re browsing through a podcast and audiobook and pondering which episodes/chapters you could skip or are excited to listen to? Well, every single chapter had me excited.
From overcoming procrastination, perfectionism, comparisonitis, and burnout, to building an abundant practice and reminding ourselves of the value of art — there wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t relevant to an author whose outlook on the world and craft has been rather bleak of late. Even the section on finishing – which, having published 4 titles in 2 years, was the single issue I didn’t think I had – forced me to face some hard truths, and I kind of feel like WE NEED YOUR ART should be the bible every artist (authors in particular) keep on hand for whenever they start to lose their way. This book gives you permission *not* to be perfect or achieve everything perfectly, and I think we need more of that in the world.
There are, of course, things I find myself questioning and still not too certain I’d readily believe (such as the market not being oversaturated – even if readers won’t tireof a genre/trope, there’s still the limitations of time and I’ve seen one too many great books “miss their window” and be forgotten in reader’s ever growing TBR piles), but as mentioned earlier, the point is Amie makes me want to believe. Amie reminds you and makes you feel less crazy for believing that art isn’t supposed to fit one single mould. That art is supposed to challenge, push boundaries and even cause discomforts, and most importantly of all: you can’t please everyone.
Invigorated by this, testing Amie’s two weeks reset challenge made it all the more easier to get started, and I’m super excited to say I’ve already gotten 1K words down a day as a result — without spending hours trying to force it.
In summary:
I committed the ultimate bookish-cardinal sin with this book, by going in with super high expectations. It could so easily have gone wrong. But it didn’t. No, it won't immediately make me write the perfect book or break through the wall and become the most confident of artists. But the book never promised it would do that, either. It only promised that it would get me started. And it did.
5⭐️s from me, and I’d particularly recommend it to authors, writers and even readers curious about the pressures and challenges going on behind the scenes in the makings of their favourite books.
March 29, 2025
I'm sorry but this book wasn't exactly my cup of tea.
Don't get me wrong, it is nice, but I just didn't really profit from it: The journaling prompts seemed rather superficial to me and didn't lead to great insights about my life. Many of the issues described by Amie (perfectionism, procrastination, the inner critic) are things I have already overcome years ago, so I guess I just don't have enough problems to resonate with this book. I regularly take time to work on my book and my music, I'm not afraid to finish projects, and I'm way beyond giving a fuck about what people think of my art. Good for me, I guess.
This book is for you if:
- you think you cannot be an artist and/or feel like you're not allowed to do art
- you think doing art is selfish or bad
- you find it hard to establish routines and spend a lot of time waiting for inspiration/motivation
- you start a lot of projects but never finish
- you are blocked by perfectionism and/or a strong inner critic
- you don't know yourself very well yet and like discovering yourself by journaling
...
Still, if you struggle a lot with such issues, I recommend that you find a good therapist. On the long run, this will help you more than endless journaling.
Don't get me wrong, it is nice, but I just didn't really profit from it: The journaling prompts seemed rather superficial to me and didn't lead to great insights about my life. Many of the issues described by Amie (perfectionism, procrastination, the inner critic) are things I have already overcome years ago, so I guess I just don't have enough problems to resonate with this book. I regularly take time to work on my book and my music, I'm not afraid to finish projects, and I'm way beyond giving a fuck about what people think of my art. Good for me, I guess.
This book is for you if:
- you think you cannot be an artist and/or feel like you're not allowed to do art
- you think doing art is selfish or bad
- you find it hard to establish routines and spend a lot of time waiting for inspiration/motivation
- you start a lot of projects but never finish
- you are blocked by perfectionism and/or a strong inner critic
- you don't know yourself very well yet and like discovering yourself by journaling
...
Still, if you struggle a lot with such issues, I recommend that you find a good therapist. On the long run, this will help you more than endless journaling.
October 16, 2025
This nonfiction book by Amie McNee is a love letter/kick in the ass for creatives that begs us to “stop messing around and make something.”
It was recommended to me by another writer friend who I am in awe of (she just published her first novel!) and it was the perfect companion for my solo writing retreat in Bayfield, Wisconsin amongst the colorful leaves and soft waves of Lake Superior.
I highlighted practically every page and believe this book has earned a permanent spot nestled between “Big Magic,” “The Artist’s Way” and “The Creative Act: A Way of Being.”
Thanks for the one-two pep-talk/kick-in-the-booty punch, Amie. It could not have come at a better time.
It was recommended to me by another writer friend who I am in awe of (she just published her first novel!) and it was the perfect companion for my solo writing retreat in Bayfield, Wisconsin amongst the colorful leaves and soft waves of Lake Superior.
I highlighted practically every page and believe this book has earned a permanent spot nestled between “Big Magic,” “The Artist’s Way” and “The Creative Act: A Way of Being.”
Thanks for the one-two pep-talk/kick-in-the-booty punch, Amie. It could not have come at a better time.
July 8, 2025
I really struggled to finish this book and almost went with the authors advice of 'finishing the work at 80%'. I struggled because the content started to lose me quite a bit and I felt like I was just hearing a rant, going in circles. I started to get lost too because a majority of the content was about how art and anything in the arts is not as widely accepted around the world as a wise or popular career choice- but that's not been my experience personally in my upbringing or life so much. Yes, I do sympathise with the artistic struggle and can see how relatable it is given my own line of work and passions, however not that fierce. I suppose art has always been an ingrained, encouraged and supported part of myself and my community that I don't relate with the inaccessibility or folly of the career choice- does that make me privileged? I did however like the 2-week reset the author spoke about. The idea of setting out a very achievable, creative goal for yourself, and then halving the expectation. For example: practicing guitar for 10 minutes a day for two weeks. Halve that time to 5 minutes for 2 weeks and don't go overtime. The practice of it is designed to keep you consistent and disciplined in setting a goal and sticking to it. I thought this was a creative take on goal setting and one that I quite like and see myself using. This was probably the only major point I could take away from it, that had something tangible for me to work with.
October 4, 2025
This book was a very interesting read, and gave me so much to think about, with unexpected insight into my own processes and challenges.
Highly recommend, even if you don’t aspire to be/consider yourself an artist.
Highly recommend, even if you don’t aspire to be/consider yourself an artist.
June 11, 2025
I admit I find McNee's Instagram equal parts inspiring and irritating - every time she uses the phrase "Muggle jobs" I experience a full body cringe, hating that phrase for multiple reasons - but I like her core message and was pleasantly surprised by this.
it's clearly designed to appeal to the Instagram crowd - there are lots of full page slogans - but it's also eloquent and open about the creative journey with some really useful journalling prompts and very solid advice. I can see myself returning to it
it's clearly designed to appeal to the Instagram crowd - there are lots of full page slogans - but it's also eloquent and open about the creative journey with some really useful journalling prompts and very solid advice. I can see myself returning to it
October 30, 2025
Even though the author indicates her proclivity for F-bombs and their removal from the book, they are not all gone, and there is plenty of other cursing. Be forwarned. I found some of her information interesting and inspiring, but the cursing was enough to keep me from coming back to this book or pursuing other books or information from this author.
Some random quotes:
~Procrastination is simply evidence that we are in some way afraid.
~We are a creative congregation. We are in communion, and ideas are contagious.
~You are a permission giver. You lead the way. Your impact goes beyond the art you make and carves out space for other people to consider themselves creative.
Some random quotes:
~Procrastination is simply evidence that we are in some way afraid.
~We are a creative congregation. We are in communion, and ideas are contagious.
~You are a permission giver. You lead the way. Your impact goes beyond the art you make and carves out space for other people to consider themselves creative.
December 19, 2025
Loved loved this book ! Thank you Amie ❤️
I first came across Amie McNee through substack, and I had absolutely no idea that she was a published author as well. Her words have always resonated with me soo much , so when I learned that she has this book published and under the title “ We need your art” I immediately jumped in! My life really changed when I started to incorporate more creativity into my life( about a year and half ago), I fell in love with it more, i built a little life of my own. I did however always felt a bit like an imposter, like I was cheating because I wasn’t creating “real” art, because I needed to learn the basics first; like how dare I just lay out some colors on my sketchbook and say that I am a creative person. But honestly most importantly you can literally apply all those lessons and the things you take away from this book to your life, because life itself is a creative journey. This book was like a gentle hug and a reminder that I’m actually rubbing the world off and the people who’ll find themselves in it of my art🤍. Every time you share your art you’re being generous and helping the people who need it even if it’s one person, you never know who it’ll land on and what it’ll mean to them✨.
Also I loved the journal prompts at the end of every chapter. Unfortunately I did very few of them, but I plan on getting a journal just for that, cuz just reading them out loud and having those questions ( journal prompts) in the back of my head throughout the day/week made me soo curious and it made me just overall more aware and present 🤍🤍✨.
I first came across Amie McNee through substack, and I had absolutely no idea that she was a published author as well. Her words have always resonated with me soo much , so when I learned that she has this book published and under the title “ We need your art” I immediately jumped in! My life really changed when I started to incorporate more creativity into my life( about a year and half ago), I fell in love with it more, i built a little life of my own. I did however always felt a bit like an imposter, like I was cheating because I wasn’t creating “real” art, because I needed to learn the basics first; like how dare I just lay out some colors on my sketchbook and say that I am a creative person. But honestly most importantly you can literally apply all those lessons and the things you take away from this book to your life, because life itself is a creative journey. This book was like a gentle hug and a reminder that I’m actually rubbing the world off and the people who’ll find themselves in it of my art🤍. Every time you share your art you’re being generous and helping the people who need it even if it’s one person, you never know who it’ll land on and what it’ll mean to them✨.
Also I loved the journal prompts at the end of every chapter. Unfortunately I did very few of them, but I plan on getting a journal just for that, cuz just reading them out loud and having those questions ( journal prompts) in the back of my head throughout the day/week made me soo curious and it made me just overall more aware and present 🤍🤍✨.
April 16, 2025
I am not one to usually write a review but I needed to for this one. In a time when AI “art” feels like it’s taking taking over and once again artists are being pushed to the side and just generally under-appreciated in the LIFE they put into their art — I really needed this book, right now, in this moment of time. It made me reconnect with what art is all about and how healing it is for each creator. I (surprisingly) cried a lot through this book, saddened by my own art that was not made because of doubt, fear, impatience etc,etc. And even brought up some traumas for me that I didn’t really know I had in regard to my perfectionism, procrastination and making art in my childhood.
I think everyone should read this book, whether you call yourself an artist or not. Art can mean so many things but art is part of our collective humanity. It is exactly as the title states: we need your art!!!
I think everyone should read this book, whether you call yourself an artist or not. Art can mean so many things but art is part of our collective humanity. It is exactly as the title states: we need your art!!!
October 10, 2025
I highly recommend this book for any creatives that are struggling to create and struggling to celebrate their finished creations.
Its one of those things that I think the more you hear encouragement and ideas on how to keep your creativity up the more you feel confident in creating!
Overall, felt really beneficial! I may purchase a copy for myself to look back on when I need to remind myself of things
Its one of those things that I think the more you hear encouragement and ideas on how to keep your creativity up the more you feel confident in creating!
Overall, felt really beneficial! I may purchase a copy for myself to look back on when I need to remind myself of things
May 8, 2025
Utterly adored this creative self-help book! I listened to the audiobook which I think is the best way to experience this as Amie is so passionate it's infectious. She's the best creative cheerleader and coach you could ask for. I especially loved the journal prompts at the end of each chapter to help you dig deeper into your own creative practice. Definitely recommend this to any struggling artist/creative who thinks their art is a waste of time. Spoiler alert, it isn't! We need your art!!
December 3, 2025
I went in thinking, "y'know, what's one more book on creativity?" but this book has truly changed me.
I really think the portions on perfectionism and making bad art were something I needed to hear. same with the fear of failure, and HEAVY on the fear of success!
if you read one self help book on being an artist, let it be this one!
I really think the portions on perfectionism and making bad art were something I needed to hear. same with the fear of failure, and HEAVY on the fear of success!
if you read one self help book on being an artist, let it be this one!
March 13, 2025
Truly Impactful!
I read this nonfiction book like a fiction book that would keep up late at night reading. I wanted to read everything and I couldn’t stop.
I did stop briefly to do a bit of the journal prompts. I still have many more to do, but I’m excited to do so. The prompts so far led me to journal so many pages. These prompts have unlocked something within me. I can’t wait to see what happens next in my indie author career, thanks to this book.
I also noticed some similar themes within this book to my nonfiction book WRITING MATTERS AND SO DO YOU. I’m thankful that my book can be a Comp Title cousin to this amazing book.
I read this nonfiction book like a fiction book that would keep up late at night reading. I wanted to read everything and I couldn’t stop.
I did stop briefly to do a bit of the journal prompts. I still have many more to do, but I’m excited to do so. The prompts so far led me to journal so many pages. These prompts have unlocked something within me. I can’t wait to see what happens next in my indie author career, thanks to this book.
I also noticed some similar themes within this book to my nonfiction book WRITING MATTERS AND SO DO YOU. I’m thankful that my book can be a Comp Title cousin to this amazing book.
May 22, 2025
I loved this book so damn much. It was a fresh perspective on a lot of topics involving art and one's creativity. I think everyone needs to read this book because at the heart of it, we're all creators.
June 12, 2025
Amie is a creativity coach to us all, and this book is the culmination of her work. Whether you’ve only ever had an idea or inkling to create art, in any form, or been creating for years, this book will support you through the journey.
October 16, 2025
This is the perfect book for me right now. It talks about the different reasons why we might be avoiding making art, some of these hit clise to home. A book I will dip into now when I'm looking for inspiration or motivation. Probably a 3.5 for me, as there was some repetition.
October 25, 2025
Listening to Aime talk about creativity is always amazing! I got so much from this. While it didn't get me back into creativity (at the moment) it was still wonderful to listen to for so many other reasons.
December 24, 2025
A radical and inspiring book for everyone in their creative journey, regardless of their proficiency. This has been a source of encouragement and motivation for me when I was in a creative slump mid way into the year.
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