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I love this thread. So many new perspectives and great explainations of what it is to be creative!
Back to the math problem concept: Perhaps doing a simple task that you are successful at breaks the repetition of, "I can't... I can't...." or whatever is going on at that time that is dead weight.
Certainly the sharper the focus, the more creativity moves, and the more work gets done.
Richard reminded me of something similar to the 'shitty first draft' concept: I had a music director that got fed up with everyone being too timid about singing the wrong note or starting in on the wrong verse and basically not singing at all. He said, "Just sing loud and bad!" I thought, "well, if that's what you want, I can do that!" It was very liberating, and you end up singing better because you aren't panicked and insecure.
I've been told stress is the number one damper on intuition. Perhaps creativity is sensitive to stress as well.
Lindsey
I don't think creativity dries up. For me, it moves around. Sometimes it's music, sometimes it's different instruments in music, sometimes it's writing, sometimes technologies (tractors, guitars, studio, repairing things), sometimes gardening and farming, sometimes carpentry and remodeling. Sometimes it's relational, sometimes it's just sitting and enjoying or sorting through the Louvre, the hobo alley, the detective, romance and/or war stories in my head.When I was younger I tried to control it. For me, it's best if I just follow it. When I try to control it, force it, Creativity seems to get pissed off and shut down; move on to other doors that are more open.A technical trick with creativity is the "Shitty First Draft" that works great. Got this from Ann Lamont in her excellent book, "Bird By Bird". With the shitty first draft you TRY to write the shittiest thing you can write. Really put an effort into doing bad music, bad writing, bad whatever. This takes down the guard, the sergeant at arms, the draconian vice principle in our minds. When the sergeant looks away because he thinks it's safe, creativity begins to flow in the midst of the shitty writing, music etc.This works for me, but what works best is following the butterfly of Creativity where she takes me. Attachment to ideas, concepts, ideals, goals, agendas always bog me down. When I force art, it rebels. If I wait for the passion, it is how it's supposed to be, it's huge, breathless fun... and the work is worth doing. It takes patience.But sometimes things are quiet and I don't mind that. The danger here is a life of puttering, because puttering is so easy and calming. But I find that if I keep my antennae attuned to the passion it always comes, but always when IT wants to, not when I necessarily do. Maybe this is a particular blessing. I don't know. I don't think so. I've worked with a lot of artists and watched this process rinse and repeat with many.I think the secret is knowing yourself, which is no secret at all.What are your deep motivations? For me, the passion usually comes out of those motivations. Out of the passion comes art that's worth doing. All humans are artists if their antennae are in good form. A lot of our antennas are kaboshed by culture.This topic is very dear and way too fascinating for me. I could go on and on! Shut up Richard!
On Nov 2, 2011, at 6:56 AM, Milo wrote:I go online and read a random article. Or, if this is not possible, I read a book. I like to order a couple every year and just let them sit there, waiting for situations like this. Give it a try, it really helps.
On Sun, Oct 16, 2011 at 4:30 PM, BC <compguy2@comcast.net> wrote:I'm sure this has been covered in the past before my time here. Perhaps it's a good thing to take a fresh look at the phenomenon and coping strategies from time to time.
What do you do when the creative flow diminishes into a creative drip and then seemingly dries up completely? You sit at your instrument to come up with some new ideas and......nothing!
You have a vague sense that your passion is just not there. You might even feel "cludgy" and awkward at the instrument. Aside from letting time pass, would anyone like to share their strategies for minimizing time spent in the creative desert?
Brian