I recently read something by Stephen King where he said that creativity is like finding a string in the grass. You never know where it's going to go. You just sort of spot it and follow it to see what it leads to. Often it goes nowhere, but when it does, it's an awesome thing. And, knowing where the string leads before you even follow it takes all the fun out the process, and often the end result seems stifled.

Another analogy he once said is like discovering the tip of a fossile in your backyard. You get excited by the prospect of finding anything at all, even though you have no idea what it is until you begin the process of unearthing your discovery. It's definitely all about the fun of finding out what you've got, but you never really know until you're done digging.

I used to do these pencil drawings where I'd begin with a blank sheet of 8 1/2 x 11, and just start where it seemed like a hot spot at the time. Whether it was on an edge, a corner, or even smack in the middle somewhere, and the results were never the same twice. Sometimes I'd stop in one area and begin again in another, but no erasing allowed. Sometimes the whole page would end up filled, and other times I'd know just when to stop, justifying alot of blank space as part of the concept.

I'm no expert, tho. I consider myself primarily a musician, however to me, filling up a space continuum is alot EASIER than a time continuum. And writing, like, music, is definitely more of a time context. But who's to say when you start writing that it's the first chapter and that all else must follow? Maybe you come up with a hot little piece of something, but realize that it's actually chapter 5 or 6, you know?

Hey, thanks Gangta! I'm thrilled to see an intelligent thread for a change. Usually I loathe posting cuz all people wanna know is the color of your butt fungus on any given day or what makes your life suck. Nice when somebody uses a forum to actually inspire something worthwhile, huh?

I'm speaking more to the visual artists and writers than to the musicians, but everyone should chime in.

As I get older and more mired in responsibilities and family medical dramas and all the boring, high-maintenance stuff that comes with being an adult, I feel like it gets harder and harder to plug into that part of my brain that is random and whimsical and stream-of-consciousness-friendly.

Is imagination a location that needs clear cut, regularly-weeded paths?

Or is it more like a muscle that needs worked out regularly?

I don't think my imagination has died away. I still have it. It just feels buried beneath a bunch of junk in my head.

Has anyone sorted through their junk and found a way to keep accessing their imagination? Any exercises? Any habits or changes in ways of doing things?

Anx said:

Your wacky comments are indication that your imagination is in tact. Sometimes being in a place where stream of consciousness work flows freely you are also in a place of vulnerability...at risk of getting "caught up" in the work.

Discipline and imagination don't always go together. So maybe it frightens you to go to a place where you know you are at risk of being held captive, especially as grown up life seems to need you more. Crazy dilemma.

anon said:

well, i think i'm good with responsibility, but my mind needs to be centered and focused in that world. and i think i'm good with imagination, but i need to let myself go to that place and commit to it as well.

it's why other than little goofy comments on the org, i can't do creative writing at work. i have to be able to go deep into the writing and when i get jerked out of it with the stuff they pay me to do here (heh), it completely ruins my flow. some people can write at work. i don't know how they do it.

on the other hand, it's really difficult to write at home, because i feel a complete lack of structure. writing at a coffee shop or at the library is helpful, though deadlines are the best thing in the world for me.

anon said:

well, i think i'm good with responsibility, but my mind needs to be centered and focused in that world. and i think i'm good with imagination, but i need to let myself go to that place and commit to it as well.

it's why other than little goofy comments on the org, i can't do creative writing at work. i have to be able to go deep into the writing and when i get jerked out of it with the stuff they pay me to do here (heh), it completely ruins my flow. some people can write at work. i don't know how they do it.

on the other hand, it's really difficult to write at home, because i feel a complete lack of structure. writing at a coffee shop or at the library is helpful, though deadlines are the best thing in the world for me.

Hey Anx, have you ever read (or heard of) The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron? It's like a self-help book for creativity. She talks about "Artist Dates" where you go out once a week and treat your "inner artist" to some fun, like visiting a museum, going to see a movie, shoping at antique stores... anything that inspires you. The important thing is to do something you want to do and do it alone. I don't do this enough myself...

Imagination is synonymous with creativity, and I had to learn there's a difference between creativity and creating.

http://www.amazon.com/Cre...F8&s=books

This book helped me a lot many moons ago.

And don't forget drugs!
[Edited 1/18/07 23:32pm]

I recently read something by Stephen King where he said that creativity is like finding a string in the grass. You never know where it's going to go. You just sort of spot it and follow it to see what it leads to. Often it goes nowhere, but when it does, it's an awesome thing. And, knowing where the string leads before you even follow it takes all the fun out the process, and often the end result seems stifled.

Another analogy he once said is like discovering the tip of a fossile in your backyard. You get excited by the prospect of finding anything at all, even though you have no idea what it is until you begin the process of unearthing your discovery. It's definitely all about the fun of finding out what you've got, but you never really know until you're done digging.

I used to do these pencil drawings where I'd begin with a blank sheet of 8 1/2 x 11, and just start where it seemed like a hot spot at the time. Whether it was on an edge, a corner, or even smack in the middle somewhere, and the results were never the same twice. Sometimes I'd stop in one area and begin again in another, but no erasing allowed. Sometimes the whole page would end up filled, and other times I'd know just when to stop, justifying alot of blank space as part of the concept.

I'm no expert, tho. I consider myself primarily a musician, however to me, filling up a space continuum is alot EASIER than a time continuum. And writing, like, music, is definitely more of a time context. But who's to say when you start writing that it's the first chapter and that all else must follow? Maybe you come up with a hot little piece of something, but realize that it's actually chapter 5 or 6, you know?
[Edited 1/17/07 11:55am]

Untouchable said:

I have read this book. It's interesting. The first half is kind of an auto-bio on Stephen King, the second half is a 'writing 101', in which the Master of Macabre shares his insight for the craft with us.

"Writing is like uncovering a long, lost fossil."

novabrkr said:

I know you're joking, but it's a tragedy that many creative people have fallen into addiction because of the myth that drugs will somehow transform you into a genius. In the 40's/50's,many jazzmusicians believed heroin would turn them into virtuosos like Charlie Parker. Listen to a Keith Richards solo and you know that ain't exactly true Hallucinogens won't turn you into Hendrix either, as thousands of shitty psychedelic records have proven. And coke will make you think any crappy idea is fantastic - pity that most of your audience won't agree. It's not up to me to tell anyone how to live their lives. But don't buy into the lie that drugs are the solution to creative challenges. The only way to be creative is to work hard, have the courage to be yourself and express your own personality.

And Anx is no where to be found....too much advice Anx, or did ya
forget you put a thread in here?

obsessed said:

Anx has a tendency to ask a really profound question and then let us wrestle with it.

He's like the Deist form of God that way.