Creativity To Go
“There’s no time for quotes.” - Mark Penta
Are you in a creative hurry?
Have you got a deadline?
Like me, right now?
I’m typing this from a library, and there’s a crowd of people waiting to use the computer. I want to post something creative, but I have no ideas. I’ve got 20 minutes to be brilliant, and I’m feeling the pressure. But there’s no time to feel pressure; all I can do is type these words and hope something great happens - something worthy of your time and attention.
Garrison Keillor was once asked how long it takes him to write an episode of his radio show, A Praire Home Companion. He said if he has a week’s deadline it takes him a week to write the show. But if he only has a day it takes him a day.
Deadlines are a good thing. Like just now - a little window just warned me that I have 10 minutes to finish. Yikes!
That means I have barely enough time to finish this line and edit the post. Could I save it and refine it later? Sure, but I’m not going to. Why? Because this is an exercise.
This is creativity to go.
See ya!
Comments?
I frequently flirt with the idea of a truly random personal blog instead of my thought development and my art blogs. I tried one where I gave myself only fifteen minutes per post. 5 to type frantically. 5 to edit structure and select focus. 5 to refine and put on the finishing touches. I only did two entries, but it was great fun. I haven’t exactly abandoned the idea, but I haven’t really developed it either.
Hi Beth - thanks for chiming in. Your idea sounds like fun. I must admit, when I started typing this post I was pleasantly surprised when the Garrison Keillor anecdote popped into my head. Once you let loose and start typing the Muse wakes up and ideas magically appear. Let us know if you continue your experiment!
‘There’s no time for trackbacks, either.”
~Cliff
Cliff - Care to elaborate?
Hi Mark,
I love your “quote”. That’s priceless.
I haven’t tried to write with that short of a deadline, but maybe it would help me to become more creative. You think?
Hi Barbara - I think when we set an alarm to accomplish something it gets done a whole lot faster. Not necessarily better, but faster. Go for it!
I think when you are under a time crunch, your brian works faster and knocks some thoughts out of the cob webs deep in there. Have you ever had a home improvement project to do and had no deadline to finish? No Aunt Sally coming in a week to stay? Without the pressure of Aunt Sally, the project tends to lag on for months before it gets done. I think the same can hold true here.
Laurie - nice example!