Question:
I don't seem to have a great attention span - I don't get lost in my work. Is that because I'm not confident in it, or not passionate about it, or just ADD? I would love some advice on how I might coax myself to be more prolific.
My Answer:
Who knows if you have ADD, but I know that we are living in very distractable times. I get distracted all the time. I bounce from one thing to the next. Like improv. I am currently working on an illustrated book that allows me to use collage, drawing, painting, calligraphy, writing…so I can play with many media.
Perhaps Nothing Is Wrong with You
I say quit thinking something is wrong with you. This is why I hate the idea that there is one way to create, and if you’re not doing it that way, or experiencing what others do, you’re wrong. That kind of thinking is gremlin fodder.
This is why I am so committed to helping creative people find, acknowledge and embrace their own process. What works for them. Shedding expectations and doubts. Playing in the creative zone freely.
Live Wrong-Free for a Week
Do what works for you. Give yourself a week to live in the land of ‘nothing wrong with me or what I’m doing.’ I can say this because I know you are unlikely to kill or steal or hurt anyone and say, ‘Cynthia said I could do no wrong!’.
Try it. Try a wrong-free week.
Find Your Creative Edge
Another thought. I still am not saying you have to be completely engrossed in your work for it to be legitimate. But if you are bored, that’s another thing. It could be that you need to challenge yourself more. Find your creative edge.
Look at one technical element to your work where you could buff up your skill level. For instance, I love doing calligraphy and I am CRAP at spacing. So I’ve been practicing spacing, playing with different ways to make sure the letters are evenly distributed on the page. No glaring white margin at the end.
This is a way to take a weakness and use it to be more fully engaged in my work.
So look to your own art. What’s an edge for you? What’s the next element of your work to be developed. Focus on that and see how engaged you become.
What do you think, reader? Does one have to be engrossed, in the flow, to experience satisfaction and progress? Or can we operate differently?
Where are you stuck creatively? Send me an email with your question, with Creativity FAQ in the subject line, and I'll post my answer on the blog.
Great post, Cynthia. I particularly love the "live wrong-free" idea, and it can be so easily extrapolated well beyond creativity. What if we assumed that our way of doing things was "right" if it was "right for us" -- while at the same time not being wrong if it was wrong for someone else. Assuming no malice aforethought or harm to others this would mean the end of war. The end of partisan political bickering -- ah, what a wonderful (and creative) world it would be.
Posted by: Pidge | January 13, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Our culture seems to admire those who can multi-task, as if doing lots of things all at once is something to be admired. I call it being 'bizzy', that is, dashing about in a frazzle so that you can measure up to a pre-conceived standard.
Try divesting yourself of anything you don't truly love to do. Easing your 'to do' list will help calm your mind.
I also set a timer. That way I don't worry about time.
Both of these things have helped me to be able to focus on creative endeavors more comfortably.
Posted by: Patricia | January 13, 2009 at 02:20 PM
Great advice! We all have different ways to thrive and it's hard to find what works for you with so much pressure from everyone else to work and live a certain way.
I, for example, do not write every day and yet I have 4 books published, and 3 coming out in the next two years, plus many articles and blog posts. I write when I feel like it.
I love the idea from the book Refuse to Choose about having "rotating priorities"... I put all of my projects on post it notes so I don't forget any, but I move the one that is calling to me to the top and work on it until I lose interest and get drawn to something else.
Deadlines are also very motivating to me. :-)
Posted by: donna Druchunas | January 27, 2009 at 02:08 PM
wow - so on point today when I am feeling totally restless and unfocused and want to just go outside the house and wander around. Since I can do no wrong, I guess that's what I'll just go and do...and maybe even take myself to lunch!
Posted by: tammy vitale | January 28, 2009 at 09:38 AM
I wish I had read this post when I was making my New Year's resolutions. Now that we're well into February, I've finally found ways to expand the methods to meet my goals (becoming healthier, writing creatively more often) by using a version of your "wrong-free" suggestion. Nice to see it works for others too!
Posted by: Megan | February 16, 2009 at 12:09 PM
You've all inspired me with your comments. I am glad to see that this struck a chord with you. I find that the wrong-free method is one that takes continual refreshing. I have used it a lot this last week.
I love the timer, too. It is a magic tool for the creative person.
Thanks for reading and commenting, all!
Posted by: Cynthia Morris | February 20, 2009 at 01:27 PM