Creativity, where does it come from? The sources are as varied as the people who use them. Some find inspiration in the people around them, some from nature. Many of us are inspired by our faith, some turn to other’s creative endeavors, such as paintings in a museum, or music, or poetry. Most of us use a combination of those things.
One thing that most of us hold in common when it comes to “catching lightning in a bottle”, it isn’t always easy. Whether writing songs, writing plays, directing, dancing, singing or acting. Whether designing for the stage, working with recordings, shooting video or film, we are all dependent on that divine spark of inspiration to do our very best work.
As a veteran director, playwright, designer and actor I too fall victim to “writer’s block” in just about every facet of my creative life from time to time. So, what do you do when the muses are not speaking? What happens when you don’t know what comes next? Let me take you on a little journey to explain the process I usually find myself in.
Phase one: Inspiration! This is the part where it sometimes feels like a message from heaven has come through loud and clear, the vision is sharp and the adrenaline is rushing! The planning phase takes off with a bang and progress is quick and steady. During this initial burst of creative energy it is a good time to set a firm foundation. Don’t be tempted to shortcut any of the hard work, dot your Is and cross your Ts. Making sure to do solid prep work can help you to survive the next step.
Phase two: Death of a Dream! This part stinks! It feels as if the enemy of all that is right in the world has come and stolen the inspiration you were feeling just moments or days before, it feels like you will never finish. It may be sparked by something someone says, some innocent comment from an “unbeliever” that causes you to question yourself, your ideas, the project, the very nature of creativity. Or it may be that one piece of the puzzle just didn’t fit like you thought it would. It is important to recognize that this may occur at some point during any project that takes more than a few minutes or hours to complete. Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your gift, it is in these challenges where we find out who will truly be a creative genius and who just likes the sound of it. Keep going, don’t give up! Don’t destroy your work! If you need to, and can, take a day off, walk away, go do something that requires less creative energy, have some fun. Sometimes even just a few minutes may do it, then come back with a clear head and assess the situation. Take a cold hard look and be willing to recognize that while the idea is good it isn’t perfect and that’s okay.
Phase three: The Grunt Work! Take inventory, how much of the project is left to complete? If you are like me you’re probably way past the point of no return, you have invested too much time and too many resources to scrap the whole thing and start over. See what needs to be done, don’t limit yourself here, come up with as many possible solutions to this roadblock as you can, you never know what bad idea may birth the solution, write it down, sketch it out, speak your ideas aloud, bounce them off of someone else. Now pick one and commit to it! This is the part Edison talked about when he said “Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration!” As you begin to work through the problem areas you will find that your original enthusiasm is there somewhere, find it and finish the job!
And after you do, take a few pictures, outline your process and send us an article to: Markrmorris2@sbcglobal.net, make sure to check back often and let all your creative friends know we are here to help at dramorama.com!
One thing that most of us hold in common when it comes to “catching lightning in a bottle”, it isn’t always easy. Whether writing songs, writing plays, directing, dancing, singing or acting. Whether designing for the stage, working with recordings, shooting video or film, we are all dependent on that divine spark of inspiration to do our very best work.
As a veteran director, playwright, designer and actor I too fall victim to “writer’s block” in just about every facet of my creative life from time to time. So, what do you do when the muses are not speaking? What happens when you don’t know what comes next? Let me take you on a little journey to explain the process I usually find myself in.
Phase one: Inspiration! This is the part where it sometimes feels like a message from heaven has come through loud and clear, the vision is sharp and the adrenaline is rushing! The planning phase takes off with a bang and progress is quick and steady. During this initial burst of creative energy it is a good time to set a firm foundation. Don’t be tempted to shortcut any of the hard work, dot your Is and cross your Ts. Making sure to do solid prep work can help you to survive the next step.
Phase two: Death of a Dream! This part stinks! It feels as if the enemy of all that is right in the world has come and stolen the inspiration you were feeling just moments or days before, it feels like you will never finish. It may be sparked by something someone says, some innocent comment from an “unbeliever” that causes you to question yourself, your ideas, the project, the very nature of creativity. Or it may be that one piece of the puzzle just didn’t fit like you thought it would. It is important to recognize that this may occur at some point during any project that takes more than a few minutes or hours to complete. Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your gift, it is in these challenges where we find out who will truly be a creative genius and who just likes the sound of it. Keep going, don’t give up! Don’t destroy your work! If you need to, and can, take a day off, walk away, go do something that requires less creative energy, have some fun. Sometimes even just a few minutes may do it, then come back with a clear head and assess the situation. Take a cold hard look and be willing to recognize that while the idea is good it isn’t perfect and that’s okay.
Phase three: The Grunt Work! Take inventory, how much of the project is left to complete? If you are like me you’re probably way past the point of no return, you have invested too much time and too many resources to scrap the whole thing and start over. See what needs to be done, don’t limit yourself here, come up with as many possible solutions to this roadblock as you can, you never know what bad idea may birth the solution, write it down, sketch it out, speak your ideas aloud, bounce them off of someone else. Now pick one and commit to it! This is the part Edison talked about when he said “Genius is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration!” As you begin to work through the problem areas you will find that your original enthusiasm is there somewhere, find it and finish the job!
And after you do, take a few pictures, outline your process and send us an article to: Markrmorris2@sbcglobal.net, make sure to check back often and let all your creative friends know we are here to help at dramorama.com!
