My creative credo
I wrote this this morning, because I’m tired of not being creative for various reasons. I firmly believe all of these to be true; this is me giving myself permission to live by them.
In no particular order:
- Creative work doesn’t have to spring fully-formed from my head.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect at all.
- Learning is as important as doing.
- What I did right is way more important than what I did wrong.
- Mine is the only judgment that counts.
- I can be creative in more than one way.
- Just because it’s been done before doesn’t mean I can’t do it again.
To a point, I agree with you entirely. BUT… there are a few exceptions, if you don’t mind me adding them :)
4. “Learning is as important as doing”–can you combine the two? Often it is by doing that we learn :) You can take what you learn and apply it–actions ALWAYS help you learn to do something new. I’ve read many books on writing, learning a lot about structure and storytelling and description, but until I take that plunge to write my own stuff, I really haven’t learned it, have I? :)
5. “What I did right is way more important than what I did wrong.” I too feel that what I do right doesn’t get enough credit :) But we can learn from what we did wrong–and then apply that knowledge to our current project :) The problem comes, I think, when we decide to add strong emotion to the words “right” and “wrong.” No one wants to be “wrong” if, by being “wrong,” we are bad or stupid or foolish or unworthy or useless–and that’s how /I/ tend to feel about being wrong. :/ But, if you look at doing something wrong as an opportunity to learn and to grow in whatever you’re learning, then that gives it a whole ‘nother meaning, doesn’t it? :)
It seems like you’re judging yourself pretty harshly, Chris. But, you know what? I think we’re all like that to a degree. I tend to be harder on myself than I am anyone else because I have to live with myself and therefore I don’t forgive myself easily for making mistakes or stupid decisions that I can look back at now and say, “D’oh, THAT was stupid.”
(hugs) You’re allowed to be creative however you want to be creative. And most of all, the world is yours, if you want it badly enough. Know what I mean? :)
(Now to go off and let all these words sink into my OWN head ;))