The Place Where You Can Always Find Inspiration
I am consistently in awe of visual artists. The clarity and the vision they must have to recreate that picture in their mind's eye on paper, canvas, or, like in the picture above, a sidewalk. The skill that act requires, to translate that inspiration into something we can all enjoy, is amazing.
Tuning Into Creative Strengths
I've tried my hand at drawing a few times. My pictures were clumsy and awkward- I'm fairly certain a 4 year old could have done better. I grew impatient quickly, and stopped trying. I mean, if that was the best I could do, then why should I bother to continue doing it?
Writing on the other hand has always been my go-to means of communicating creatively. My parents, teachers, friends, and others told me often when I was younger that I was good at it. The stories I told moved them and that they wanted to read more.
So naturally- where did I focus my creative attention?
On my writing.
Incorporating the Practice
So for something like 25 years I've been slowly but surely honing that skill. It has been sporadic at times, but whenever I come back to it I hear the same feedback. That keeps me coming back to my writing chair over and over again.
And in the ritual of writing, of turning on the autopilot of my mind to create words for the page, I have always found inspiration. My mind knows what to do, and it's not unlike getting into the car and driving to the location of my choice. Sometimes I change my mind halfway there, but I always arrive at some destination thats interesting and new.
The Power of the Ritual
If you start reading articles, interviews, and blogs of writers, you'll see debate around the concept of "writer's block"- mainly does it exist or doesn't it?
Struggling to find the right words can be a challenge. Translating the jumbled image in my mind can sometimes be a real pain. That's the part that can turn me off. Not the inspiration, but the roadblocks my mind throws around formulating the story into something meaningful while still staying true to the muse. So I belive it's not an inspirational block, but a rather a tactical one.
If you bring consistency to your practice- whatever skill you practice, you will not only get better at it, but you train your brain to show up and adhere to the task at hand. For creatives, that is the act of inception.
If you need a little bit more help at times, then go find it. Read, doodle, or daydream. Turn your creative consciousness to "Open" and see what appears that fleshes out the tiny kernal of an idea that has been pinging around in your head.
Accept No Substitutes
It's an extraordinary process each and every time. The practice, the ritual you establish, is your secret weapon to being productive and prolific. (I've just re-released my writing practice workshop: The Writer's Battle Plan for anyone who needs some help establishing a solid writing practice.)
No matter what creative space you practice in, the underlying concepts are the same: show up, dump the inner critic, and let your creative energy loose. Don't let go until you are spent. Then come back tomorrow and do it again. And again. And again. Hold yourself to that standard and you will be rewarded.
Have you created your ritual? Add your thoughts in the comment section below.
(photo credit by Michael Caven)
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Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 8:43PM Christy Smith 4 Comments in Motivation, Self-Development, Writing tagged creativity, productivity
Reader Comments (4)
No matter what creative space you practice in, the underlying concepts are the same: show up, dump the inner critic, and let your creative energy loose.
Excellent advice Christy. I don't have a ritual, but it's an idea to ponder. I guess it's a bit like a habit, do it every day and you get better and also it doesn't feel like an effort all the time.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
As always thank you for stopping by and commenting Ryah- you really make a difference! I wish you and yours a Happy New Year as well!
I like the idea of a writing ritual. If I can just make myself sit down long enough, I can come up with something to write about and even flesh it out in one sitting, but I don't really have a practice right now. I really look forward to sitting with this idea. Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by Kathryn! Sitting down is the hardest part- no doubt about it. :) But the more I do it and watch how it works for others, I've become a huge believer in it. I'd love to hear more about your thoughts once you've had a chance to sit with it for awhile.