Connecting with and studying the habits of creatives (artists, songwriters, chefs, designers, speaking pastors and makers and shakers of all stripes), two aspects of creating continue to stand out:
1. They schedule time every week, every day if possible, for creating. Whichever part of the creative process they're in - studying, researching, writing, sketching, drafting, brainstorming, shipping - they do it routinely and systematically.
2. When inspiration strikes beyond scheduled creative routines... they run with it!
What does this mean? If we don't bake the creative process into our schedule, we may never actually produce anything. At least, not as much as we'd like.
On the other hand, daily creative habits (wake, cold water on the face, write for hours - V. Hugo OR hot tea and writing in the morning - C.S. Lewis) inevitably produce fruit in between bolts of divine inspiration. The routine keeps us limber, oiled up and ready to run with a great idea at a moments notice, planned or unplanned.
So, when are you most clear-minded and jazzed to create during the day (or night)? How much entertainment, distraction or sideways energy do you need to clear from your schedule in order to plant, grow and ship your own fruit?
Schedule and inspiration, two sides of the same creative coin.
Comments