Creative Hours
I used to write about "creative productivity" - until, slowly, I realized that trying to be "productive" while making creative work is like trying to train a wild, mysterious jungle cat. it is not a dog. it will not obey you. the cat will do whatever it wants - when it wants. however, even wild animals have rhythms, routines, and safe spaces. inste
... See moreCreate sacred physical and/or psychological space to make your art. This may be a corner in your bedroom with your laptop and an altar, a garage with an AM/FM radio, or an office with windows that open. “Space” could be your walk after dinner or the half hour you take in the morning to journal, a weekend in a motel with Wi-Fi, or a yearly silent re
... See moreDanielle LaPorte • The Fire Starter Sessions
There’s also something to be said about collating and curating in the slow writing process—facts, knowledge, smells, descriptions, stories, passport stamps, headlines—until the collection becomes part of the transformation process. Through acute and critical attention, away from the drive of production, toward the singularity of studying a branch, ... See more
Melissa Matthewson • A Revolution in Creativity: On Slow Writing
Creative work is hard. And we constantly beat ourselves up for not producing high quantities of high-quality stuff. It’s easy to forget that we’re trying to make this work at a time when we’re oversaturated with connections, and constant, flashing demands. Boring old boundaries have never been more vital. Going into the cave will feel a little cold... See more