I wonder sometimes if a (rare) downside to blogging is that it has turned my creativity into automation. I know how to write a post I like.
But am I creatively fulfilled?
I don’t think so. As much as I love blogging, I don’t think I’m creatively fulfilled by it often enough.
Deep Creations
The Christmas/New Year break I had my first real batch of time off in nearly ten years. Yep. First batch of time off to just be.
I drew.
I listened to TV commentaries I love.
I read scripts.
I woke up with a scene in my head & wrote part of a movie script.
I was free from the machine of creation. (The time passed too quickly.)
Now, this isn’t to say blogging is bad. Writing nearly every day is great practice and only helps long term.
(In related news, does anyone use Scrivener? I was using Celtx years ago but I don’t like how they’re set up now, so I’m looking at Scrivener.)
But I do feel it’s detrimental when you don’t get to do the deep creation. What I need to do is work on how to fit deep creation into my life. I don’t know if it’s too early to be thinking about this, seeing as I started a new full time job last week. Or is it actually the best time to think about it, because that way I will start the year off with good habits?
My glimmer of hope right now for creativity is that I bought myself this cute little thing last week. Yep, after killing my last laptop in April 2015, I finally have a laptop again!
I have a cute, functional 11″ MacBook Air again. Perfect for writing on the commute and blogging in front of the TV.
Tell me about how you fit creativity into your life. Do you have any tips?
I had a break over the Christmas period from blogging for the first time in ages and it was refreshing. Although now I’ve come back a bit less inspired than I was before. I’ve decided this year to only write when I feel the need to say something instead of keeping up with a full on schedule {because I think writing all the time was taking away my creativity too}. #teamIBOT
It’s really hard to strike the right balance sometimes, isn’t it?
Having regular breaks from blogging helps me enormously with my creativity. It clears my mind and it is amazing the blog post ideas that I start to have as a result. So jealous of your new laptop. I don’t have one and I want one! 😉
I spent sooo long without a laptop after drowning my last one! I can’t believe I made it through most of 2015 without one.
I think we do need time for deep creativity – blogging is so transient. Good luck with finding that time to go deeper into the creative process (and with the new full time job too).
I’ve been enjoying editing something like ten years of Livejournal posts recently; there’s something in there, I’m sure of it!
I haven’t written in ages. My book 2 is on hold. I need to write again. I think I’m stuck. I’m hoping to get unstuck soon.
It’s so easy to get stuck. I hope you get unstuck soon too!
I discovered decorative planning last year. My diary now gets it’s facelift every Sunday morning in preparation for the new week. Washi, stickers and more brighten the pages and then I add the practical stuff. Not only do I make something that looks fabulous, I actually use my diary for it’s intended purpose for the first time in my life. Double win for me. xx N
That sounds like not only great for creativity, but a great way to start the week!
You will never regret buying Scrivener. I love it so much. It does take a little getting used to, but you will be fine. 🙂
As for the deep creating… I get that. I’m working on another novel atm, but sometimes you need to be stretched. I loved my post today for no other reason than I had a prompt and I just wrote. No thinking about it, no structure or stress, I just pulled all that creativity out and did it. It may not be the greatest thing I have ever written, but it stretched me and I love that I could do it.
I say if the creative urge is there, then follow it. Even if you get a new job, keep following it. Those things, when ignored, just leave us frustrated.
I’ve downloaded Scrivener & I’ve just installed it! Already watched the how-to intro video so it seems pretty easy to use.
Prompts are fun too. I like being given random words and making them into a story.
Yes, I sometimes feel that the blog does not fulfill me creatively enough. I’ve thought about writing to a prompt on occasion. That can get the creative juices flowing.
I think that’s why I’ve been enjoying the weekly I Must Confess linkup, it gives me a topic to explore.
Scrivener – I have not heard of it. – But I’m about to check it out. Thanks!
I’ve heard of it but not used it! I think there is a free trial but it is paid software.
Ooooh! a new laptop! I use a Windows based Toshiba and today my blog is three years old so my laptop must be that too. Time for me to buy a brand new pink one soon I think. I’d never be able to figure out Scrivener. Good for you Ness.
Finally a new laptop haha. Happy bloggy birthday 🙂
I’m yet to get into a routine of writing daily so it still takes a lot of thought and effort to get some content down on paper. Before I left my corporate job, I found the only time my brain would switch into any sort of creative mode was when I spent extended time travelling overseas. It was amazing – creativity that I thought I didn’t have the capacity to possess, would just show up.
I think sometimes we just need to leave room for the creativity to happen…and too often, we don’t.
Sounds like you had a really fulfilling break.