I am currently enrolled in Lance Gharavi's capstone class, and as part of the curriculum we are reading Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit", a book which I highly recommend to everyone whether they are an artist or not (really we are all artists aren't we?). The book plays with the idea of "creation" and how to be creative. Is creativeness a gift that a select few are endowed with from birth ("a kiss from God") that some are blessed with and some are not or is it something that can be worked at and eventually achieved. For my sake, I greatly hope for the latter... People who know me know that I'm an extraordinarily hard worker.... obsessively so. When I'm working on a piece of writing, I tend to become a virtual recluse, barricading myself in my room and coming out only for some coffee (preferably a pumpkin spice latte :)))) It is my hope that eventually all this work will pay off and somehow I will turn into a writer with my own unique style. My goal is that when someone sees a play or movie of mine they come out thinking "Wow. You can really tell that was a "Madolyn" original"... and not in a bad way. Twyla's book advocates using a ritual to spark creativity. If you repeat this ritual regularly before you attempt to be creative it will link the two events in your memory and eventually the ritual will equal creativity (think Pavlov's dogs).
So here is my ritual... I hold you all accountable for keeping this ritual going. I am going to need help, especially when I hear Say Yes to the Dress calling out to me (How many times do I really need to watch this show? Come on. They buy the dress or they don't. It's hardly interesting... and yet...) Anyways here it is...
I start by going outside and reading some good literature. Writers that I admire, to really get some inspiration. Then I come inside, listen to some music on Eric's record player, whatever strikes my fancy, and just dive in with some quick writing, writing down whatever comes into my head. After that I do the whole barricade thing until I feel "done" with whatever I am working on for the day and try my best not to get distracted (i.e. not being connected to the internet). Hoping this will stick!
