i am working on a really simple project – putting the ideas and exercises of my creative visioning workshop into an e-guide for people who can’t come to the in-person workshops. i want this e-guide to contain the same inspiration and creative energy that my live workshops contain, but i’m not sure how to do that right now.
today i noticed that i have been waiting for a big wave of creative inspiration to roll in, pick me up, drop me down into “the island of phenomenal inspirational writing skills” and leave me there just long enough to get this done.
yikes.
that would be fantastic, and if this waves rolls along i will happily jump in but really – how useful is it for me to just wait for that inspiration to come along?
ok no more waiting. i start writing.
and without that giant wave of inspiration, my writing is forced, kind of boring and way too convoluted. and a part of me sees this as a sign of failure. i start to think of ways around this. like maybe i can videotape the creativity workshop i am doing in january and offer a video instead of an e-guide?
inspired bird, from an art journal page
and then i remember. with visual art i don’t wait for inspiration and i pay no attention to what my work looks like as i start out. the ugliest beginnings make the best paintings in the end. i know that, i don’t even stop to consider that i have failed, i just keep going. i know that as long as i keep going, inspiration will come. action first, then inspiration.
but when it comes to writing i get stumped here, every time. i want the inspiration to come before i am willing to take action.
but if i just do it, write a first draft no matter how awkward it all is, once it’s out i can shape it and make it pretty and inspiring and everything i know it can be. the magic can happen in the editing. but i have to give it space to just come out first.
and now, off i go, to make a fresh cup of tea and sit down and let these ideas out bringing this knowing with me – that once i start working, at some point that big beautiful wave of inspiration will roll in and bring me where i want to go. inspiration comes to those who are not sitting around waiting for it.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, Andrea!
We’re friends on facebook. I am so in the same place you are! I developed a creative journaling workshop that I have taught at a local college and with a group of artists. I am in the process of trying to decide where and how to take it further. Like you, I’m thinking of an e-course but I don’t have a clue where to begin. I feel that a large part of the success of my journaling couse centers around the sharing that goes on between the participants, and I worry that most of that will be lost in electronic format. So…..do I make very time consuming adjustments to the couse to make it more exciting? Will I be biting off more than I can chew by setting up some type of e-course? What if I just did my course like a home party and went place to place? The questions are endless………
Anyway, I just thought since misery loves company, you would somehow benefit from knowing that there really is someone out there facing the same difficulties that you are facing at the moment. Keep in touch – maybe we can inspire one another. As they say, “there’s strength in numbers” :o)
Take care,
Angelia
Hey Andrea -
Whew! I can so understand where you’re at – but you’ve got a very important element already, that most lack. You know that just beginning will lead you somewhere – which is important. A lot of people sit and just stare at the blank page, waiting for that inspirational hurricane to hit. When it doesn’t? They quit – which you already know is the key to never reaching your goal. If you just start – even if you seem to be going in the completely wrong direction – you will eventually get to where you need to be. It can sometimes just take a little time to loosen up the creative spillage.
So hang in there. Whatever you come up with will be spectacular. How do you know that? Because you’ve lost the impetus of inspiration before – and just look what’s come out in the end. Absolute beauty and amazing creations you never saw coming. You’ve just got to hang with it. With breaks in between, so you don’t get frustrated and sick-to-death of it. You’ll rock this – I have no doubt!
xx,
Katherine (from Facebook)
Just start. Good advice!
(visiting from Creative Every Day)
I’ve been feeling that same way!! Like you, I just sat down and let the pen move to see what would come. And while I have a long way to go, I feel much better knowing that I got started.
Hi Andrea,
I get the same thing–it’s much easier for me to start a piece of art than to write. ugh.
I love your statement: “the ugliest beginnings make the best paintings” I may have to write that up and tape it to the fridge :) Good luck with writing your e-guide, i bet it comes out great.
cheers.
i hope you enjoyed your tea and the clear inspiration that does overflow from your insides…lovelove what you do!