The ability to concentrate when you're not worrying about getting laid off, about where your kids are, about where your loved one is, or if you'll ever even find a loved one. I see so much distraction in the world that I could become a professional distracter. Get a yellow page ad, 800 number, monogrammed pens. Just hire me and I will help you miss the rest of your life in glorious obfuscation. But I'm not having that shit. And neither should you.
Knowing that you're wasting your creative talent is like walking a block downwind of a slow moving garbage truck. You could stop smelling the stench if only you'd just take off in a sprint to get ahead of it.
Additionally, you could read all of the self-help books in the world and it won't mean a stir-fried cat's ass if you don't have the will to apply theories to life. You might be wondering: am I trying to motivate you? Nope, I leave that to the people trying to make money off of others' desperation. I'm merely putting the writing in the sky. You can sit on your beach chair and get back to working on a nice tan. Have a fruity mixed drink with a little umbrella.
Because if you're happy with the way you roll your creative style, then by all means, share your methods of preparation here. But if you're not, then take a moment to think what you need to do to kick-start your creative chainsaw— be it a cup of coffee, magic elixir, gamma rays, or ultimately the basic conscious decision to do what you want without distraction.
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Mark Sahm writes and is trying to escape his 9-to-5 day job at Blogimus Prime. He believes he suffers from Creative Psychosis, but wouldn't have it any other way.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
What an image -- Lou Ferrigno Hulking out in your brain! Not for nothing did the British Empire come about after the assumption of tea- (and coffee-)drinking became a central ceremony in the culture...
2 - Lisa McKay
...or ultimately the basic conscious decision to do what you want without distraction
That would seem to be the key. Most of the other stuff comes under the heading of 'procrastination'. I do believe that most creative pursuits consist of more effort (read 'work') than inspiration, and the daily discipline of just doing it is what seems to elude most of us.
3 - Mark Sahm
DrPat, if only I could have a couple more brain-hulks every day, I'd be a content man.
Lisa, it also has something to do with being truly alive, and not just on auto-pilot because our daily routines are so engrained in us. While this takes effort as well, the daily grind rarely requires us to step too far out of our comfort zones. True creativity is always far away from that, which makes it hard to attain, but never impossible. Thanks for the comments.
4 - JELIEL
HYPE, the drink of brain-speed freaks. I pop one of those suckers when I need to type something up. Oh and put some Neil Young music on.
That was a great read by the way.
5 - Mark Sahm
Thanks Jeliel. I agree that some good music is necessary for whenever I write, that it helps lend a lyricism to some passages (without quoting that is).
6 - Phillip Winn
I loved, loved, loved the opening graf. Enjoyable article, thanks!
7 - Mark Sahm
Phil: I recommend you and the crew try that elixir before the next podcast. I guarantee a high energy show!