Category: Inspiration

In Creativity, as in Golf, Just Keep Swinging

A teacher once said to me, “Sometimes the best that people can give you is what they’re giving you in this moment. Don’t judge too harshly.”

That’s good advice, especially when wrestling with the creative muses. If you’re trying to make something beautiful happen, and you’re stumped, don’t be too hard on yourself. Realize that perhaps this is the best the creative gods can give you today.

And, realize you’re doing YOUR best.

Nobody sits down to write for example, with the thought, “Boy, today sure would be a good day to sit and stare at a cursor blinking on a blank page!” Sometimes, it’s just not your day.

But creating is a lot like golfing. See, in golf, you go out there on a crisp morning full of hope. You stretch, enjoy the smell of freshly mown grass, and drive up to that first tee filled with anticipation. You set the tee in the ground, place that new white ball ever so gently, waggle (yes, waggle), get firm in your stance, and…duff. Then swear. Then listen to the melodic sounds of friends laughing at your expense. Ah, the joys of sport!

This continues on for hours until you reach the 18th hole (it’s always on 18 where this happens). You find the groove. You hit the perfect shot right on the sweet spot. The ball sails into bar room legend, and you feel a rush of euphoria such that you’ve never felt before. Even your worst golfing critic in the group puts down his beer and says, “Nice shot!”

It’s that one moment that brings you back for more. That one sweet swing gives you the push you need, in order to remember why you love the game, even though the 90 previous shots drove you mad.

I think creativity is so much the same way. We can struggle for days to find something meaningful in the creative life, but when we get that one great photograph, write that one great paragraph, or sketch the perfect shape, it leaves us wanting more–no judgments and no doubts.

Because sometimes the best we can do is really our best.

In those other times? Well, all I can say is just keep swinging–and don’t judge too harshly.

To Defeat Writer’s Block, Use the Rule of Two

I’ve been wrestling with a new manuscript lately, and the first issue was this: do I tell the story in first or third person?

It led to a pretty big case of writer’s block, so I called a trusted advisor and we processed it a little bit. Wrestled the block together. I didn’t have a definitive answer when I hung up the phone, but I had a new way of looking at the situation.

If you feel stuck when writing today, process it. Talk to somebody about it.

I think of it as the Rule of Two. You type with two hands, so why not get two heads involved in the writing process on occasion? I’ve found that people are pretty nice about this. Every time I think I’m imposing, I actually find people quite willing to help. It’s not about sharing credit or stealing ideas. Rather, it’s about bringing stuck points into the light of day so that others can give us a new way of looking at the situation.

Sometimes it’s a simple word-choice problem. Sometimes it’s a plot point that can change your character’s destiny. No matter how small or large the stakes, getting another opinion can work wonders.

See, that’s the paradox of writing: it’s a solitary pursuit often  made better by sharing with others.

You don’t need to share with a great literary critic or famous author. Talk it out with your dog. Call you mom and try to describe the scene you’re struggling with. Meet a friend, buy him a coffee, and bounce some ideas. Find a writing blog and ask for help from the community in the comments section.

It’s about opening up. It’s about letting some light in through the oft-closed door of the mind. It’s about seeing the elements of your creation through someone else’s eyes if you’re mired in writer’s block or too close to make the call.

The rule of two, folks. Doesn’t work for everyone, but I’ve found it quite helpful in life and writing.

Just my two cents.

How do you get unstuck?

Mark Twain Inspires Us to Just Start!

I ran across a quote today attributed to Mark Twain (this is the Internet, so who knows…it could be something someone’s grandma said a few hours ago).

It said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

I like that. I have a few new creative projects in the works, and, quite often, the hardest part is that first step.

Let me give you a tip: if you’re considering a new blog, go get the domain name you want! If you want to write a new book, just sketch a character.

Do something. Get started. Take the very smallest step you can take to feel like you’re making some progress!

If you do, it’ll make Mark Twain (or someone’s grandma) very happy.