SARK is the pen name of artist and prolific author Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy. She's been inspiring others with her work since the early 1990s when she published her first book, A Creative Companion.

She's a shining example of a person who walks her walk - a free spirit making a living at what she loves to do. But one of the reasons she's been so successful is that she has experienced the same insecurities so many artists have while staring at a blank page or computer screen.

She's developed techniques to help deal with the inner critic most of us have - the one that asks us "Who are you to think you can create anything?". SARK is inspiring not because she tells people that their inner critic will go away but because she shows people how to question the assumptions they've made about what is and isn't creative.

It all started in SARK's magic cottage. This is a real place that used to be a tool shed and is where she pushed herself past her procrastination. She had done many odd jobs throughout her life avoiding her true calling and telling herself she wasn't good enough. Luckily, for her fans she didn't give up on herself. She still lives in her magic cottage.

Give in to the nap urge! At least some of the time. SARK says naps are good for the soul. She actually encourages you not to beat yourself up over your procrastination.

Through writing techniques (mentioned below), she teaches you to tackle procrastination. But there are times when you need to step back and take a break, and she doesn't want you to get too hung up on that.

The first book I read by SARK was Succulent Wild Woman. As with all of her other books, she is deeply honest about herself and where she's been. She shared her story of being a survivor of sexual abuse and how creativity healed her.  She was honest about her imperfections and how she eventually came to accept them. As a survivor myself, I appreciate her candor about such a painful subject.  She has a compassionate spirit and wants to help others heal from those things that hold them back from being creative.

SARK may seem fluffy to some. But she doesn't just encourage positive thinking and covering up your emotions. In fact, she encourages you to be honest about what is hurting you. She doesn't think you should wallow in it but encourages you to acknowledge that some days will be better than others. As she likes to say, we are all splendidly imperfect.

SARK's style is whimsical and child-like. It isn't for everyone. But her playful spirit is the attraction for her fans. She proves you can come out on the other side of painful experiences.

She creates each book by hand with markers, pencils, paints and paper. Her How to be an Artist poster was created in this way during a time that she believed she had nothing left to lose. She created several by hand and went around to shops selling them. The poster was a hit, and she started down the path of living her creative life.

She's an inspiration for people who think they can't create art or don't believe they have a story to tell. From fiction for children to writing your memoir, she challenges you to question those old beliefs about yourself. Art isn't created by perfect people who never have a bad day.

"Ultimately, writing is more fun than resistance once you learn to access your inspired self, who is always ready to write." ~ SARK from Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper

Since one of the most common excuses people use to avoid writing is not having enough time, SARK invented the MicroMOVEment technique for procrastinators. This is a way of taking baby steps towards a larger goal. That goal can be a novel, daily journal writing or simply a way to begin to challenge that inner critic or procrastinator.

In many of her books, especially those on developing your own creativity, she provides exercises to spark your imagination, even if it's just a paragraph or two. She wants you to be focused on the action of creating and not so much on the end result.

Besides being true to herself and her art, SARK is a businesswoman extraordinaire. Her books have become bestsellers and her words and images also grace posters, greeting cards and a host of other products.

But it's not only merchandise she offers. She is a public speaker in demand. She gives workshops on living your creativity. Her website, Planet SARK, is the portal into a world of support and encouragement for people moved by her message. You will find an inspirational hotline, a community forum and resources for writing. Visit the links at right for more information.  You'll find yourself immersed in a world that inspires your creativity.