Creative For A Second is a book containing art from people with CFS/ME (chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis). This infectious neurological illness affects an estimated 0.5% of the population, including many young people. Its severity varies widely, with some of the affected able to work/study and others so sick that they have to be fed by a tube. Some sufferers even die.

Many people with CFS/ME find creativity an important outlet and continue working on visual art and written work despite symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, vertigo, chronic pain, vision disturbances and cognitive impairment, even through being bedridden. Art can make it easier to communicate and explore feelings of disability, isolation and loneliness - but also to maintain an identity which isn't just based on being ill and to enjoy those parts of life one can still participate in.

The project was started in late 2006 by Kirrily Anderson (~kirrily), a talented designer and artist who got CFS/ME in 2005. A variety of art and writing is featured, including drawings, photography, paintings, calligraphy, photo manipulation, space art, jewelry, quilts, and poetry. E.g. from me the book contains a poem, an acrylic painting and an ASCII picture. Some other featured Deviants include ~Mournsong and =VelvetMist. For each artist a short biography is also included.

The beautifully laid out book can be viewed online in its entirety at http://www.creativeforasecond.com. Printed copies can be purchased in a few months.