Creative work is hard. As much as I like to play around with my blogs, I have a harder time generating content that's "worth reading," as my blog title hopes for. True creativity, generating something unique in this world, requires not just talent but also dedication. So here's to everyone I've met who's out there doing creative work: Jeff writing his dissertation, Ramon writing his poetry, Robert managing a band, and many others whom I am forgetting right now. And here's something creative from me:
Eddy found the corners of his cucible confining, so he built a round room in his mind. He populated this place with people he knew -- fat Jerry, who never stopped pacing all day long, as if he were trying to lose weight while never missing a meal at the office; crazy Christine, who was prone to pronouncing every syllable As If It Had the Weight of Gold; and jocular Greg, who often had the secretaries laughing but never seemed to be doing any work. He made his model room perfectly round on all sides, so that the three tenants slid together at the bottom. They struggled to find a way to hold themselves up and away from each other, but inevitably, they rolled right on top of each other in a variety of logrolling combinations. Eddy, the author of this delicious misery, imagined turning the room around and around and adding heat, so that slowly the three people melted into one, a hodgepodge of hairy arms and ladylike legs sprouting from strange sides of the insect-like mass. As Eddy turned and turned the round room, he started to twirl himself in his chair. He daydreamed until he saw Mr. Telson, the stern supervisor of all call-center employees, staring straight at him. Then he got back to work.
Comments?
5 comments:
When creativity becomes work is it really creativity? I've always thought the idea of being creative was supposed to be fun, and relaxing. Something to be enjoyed! Also I'm not sure that I would consider writing a dissertation as creative work (no offense Jeff).
Did you have fun writing the story about Eddy?
Don't worry, notanag, I'm not offended. Actually, I do not see myself as exuding creativity. I can't draw a picture to save my life, and I have little skill in creative writing.
Yet, my own feeling on this subjet sort of relies on distinguishing "creativity" from
"creating." What I essentially do is read, translate, and interpret. I ultimately hope to produce--"create"--a work that introduces something to my field. In that sense, I am more analytical than creative. From within that anaylsis of facts, however, I do want the results to edge toward the creative side rather than the iterative.
I don't think that creativity is necessarily associated with fun relaxation. Many of the greatest artists, writers, thinkers, and musicians went through creative stages if not their entire lives devoid of happiness and ease.
The story was pretty fun to write. I got a little caught up in the alliteration in each sentence. I don't think it's Shakespeare (or Kafka, for that matter), but it was an attempt to write something light and entertaining.
As far as creative work goes, I stand by my idea that it really is work, even if you're not a master artist.
Great thoughts Jeff! I guess I was thinking of my stamping cards, and cross stitching. For me those are creative, relaxing and fun. When I am asked to write something (even trying to generate this response), I find it hard and sometimes taxing.
Maybe it's just that I don't enjoy writing!
Ah Scott...you've touched on one of my passions! I think writing something worth writing or reading is diificult. But I also agree that it should be fun. A wise man told me just write what you write. Even if its no good, you get better just by doing it. For me this is important because I often get caught up in analysis paralysis. I spend too much time thinking about something than actually doing it. The cool thing is that with most any creative endeavour, who cares what you really end up with...it's not supposed to be perfect! So just do it and do it with heart.
BTW, here is a link to a free ebook written by Set Godin outlining a certain idealogy on blogging that I like: Who's There
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