Thanks for all the tips and insights, folks. I'm thinking about this more and more, and I've come to the conclusion that this ol' creativity thing is a big factor in my current struggle to define who I am and what I'm doing with my life. I think it's more than just about career and income. It's about me in general. I've still haven't adequately dealt with some past heavy issues that I need to clean up on or finish up with. I think my approach to this creativity issue is probably the best place to start.
Or, perhaps, the best place to return to. Whenever I think back to the times when I was the most energized and felt most like myself, they were the times when I was most creative. Whether this was related to writing/literature, photography, sketching, painting, acting, playing the guitar, or even simply doing anything freeform, these were the times when I felt most alive. The artist in me has almost died from neglect and I think it's been getting to me without my knowing. In hindsight, I perhaps should have even pursued art more seriously starting in high school (and, according to other evidence, even before that) when I was more steeped in it. I just never took it as something serious or something I could do at a high level. I think that was a mistake. I didn't have it drilled into my head that if I really wanted something, you really work at it. Don't think for a moment that I don't take responsibility for where I am now, but I hope you understand my dilemma. For years, no one lit a fire under me. And now, here I am trying to figure out how to do it myself.
Somewhere along the line, I forced myself to be practical: do something that will get you a job. And that's where I went off to business school. It wasn't at all bad. I excelled at it, probably because it allowed me to be creative in many different ways, and I picked up a number of skills that are quite useful in virtually all aspects of life.
Before that, I did consider going into design or art school, but I was too afraid that I wasn't good enough or that it wasn't a viable career option. I didn't have any support from my family when it came to this stuff. They were just relieved I didn't drop out of high school like so many others in my family.
I've been slipping for too long. I need to wake up. Even if it's just as a hobby, I need to be creative once again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by redsneaker
There's also a book called The Artist's Way that is pretty decent at getting your mind working creatively again.
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Actually, I have that author's followup
The Vein of Gold. Apparently the difference is that the former is meant for you to discover the artist within you, while the latter is to reignite your creative passion. Both elements are in the latter book, but it focuses on the second aspect, of course. It's been sitting on my shelf for years. I picked it up after a bad life event, but apparently I wasn't ready for it yet. I'm going through it again to see if it catches on now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wes Mantooth
As for where to begin just dive into it. For your guitar playing spend time going over what you know (scales, chords, old songs) and try to get a feeling for the instrument. What have you mastered? What do you need work on? Maybe take a course on music theory to expand your song writing abilities. Take lessons to help with your singing. All of this might also help with your creative drought as it forces you to look at your instrument differently while giving you inspiration to try new things.
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I have a fairly good library of books that will teach me the nuts and bolts. It's just a matter of making the time and being dedicated to it. I'm doing it off and on, but I need more on than off, currently. I need to pick some goals and go for it. I tend to overwhelm myself with things like this. I should just decide that I want to play Beatles tunes and go with that for a while, while studying theory, etc., on the side.
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Originally Posted by genuinegirly
Pick out your favorite pencil/pen/paper/desktop theme and get moving.
Create a special "place" to be creative, and designate a specific time regularly to devote to your craft. Separating it in space and time from the every-day allows it to take on a life of its own, freeing it from the mundane hum.
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I just discovered my favourite pen (a fountain pen) is dead. For some reason, the rubberized coating on it decided to melt into a sticky residue. Maybe I'll get a new one.
As for spaces, I'm currently in the process of gaining a bigger table all for me. And it's in the "den," which is mainly my area. In a sense, this will soon be a great room for doing various things. It will be my "room of one's own."
Quote:
Originally Posted by clavus
Turn off the TV. If you have not done anything creative, and the day is winding down, do not succumb to the siren song of the TV. Get in an hour of creative time first.
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I don't watch TV. However, just yesterday I decided to let my
World of Warcraft account lapse in a few days. I deleted the software, and I have no hardcopies lying around. I have other games on my machine, but they aren't as time-consuming as the King of Time Sinks.