Love this. Many years ago I heard an interview with one of the musical Marsalis clan talking about something similar. They said the first ideas they had for something were rarely the best; they challenged themselves to come up with a dozen more ideas before deciding which one to use. I try to do the same, and even though it takes a little longer, or sometimes a LOT longer, I'm always glad I persisted.
Hi Pam, one of Austin’s crew here as well. Putting forms of creative work into words is so helpful. The concept of creative grit and persistence sits so well within my process except now I have a name for it and I can tell myself that the feeling of discomfort which might normally lead me to slow down and give up is actually a direction to follow. Thank you
"Use disfluency as a cue to keep going" - this is a very useful tip I should keep in mind at all times while writing. I often get frustrated when my ideas don't flow smoothly and I'm tempted to give up. Sometimes I keep going and I end up with something I like, other times I decide it would be better to try again later.
To persevere in the face of disfluency. Yup, I like that. Thanks for sharing! :)
I've always been fond of brainstorming--it's so fun to do--but I recognize now how I'm prone to quitting. I can go on brainstorming essay and blog post ideas for hours, but when I'm brainstorming story ideas or writing a first draft, I give up more often. I've long thought that I'm not "clever" enough--even though I've studied psychology and know we're not limited in what we can do. But somehow I forget this when it comes to my own ability to write ficton (which I personally find more difficult than writing non-fiction). I could see so much of my behaviour in your post. Now that I know this is an actual phenomenon and one that can be overcome, I think I'll try harder the next time I sit down to write a story. Thank you very much for sharing this!
I realise what makes the Franz Kline method possible is that in creative pursuits, there is no "downside risk" (and payoffs are massively asymmetric). He can make a 100 sketches that he doesn't like and all he has to do is to discard it, but if the process has resulted in at least one good sketch, there's a massive win there.
Hi, I'm from "Austin's crew", haha. I've written to you about a journaling course I'm developing, but this post touches on what I experienced while working towards an exhibit of a large project of paintings and memoir comics called Life's Work: A Visual Memoir. I worked toward the show for two years, 2020 - 2022, which made it my most prolonged effort by far. I pushed past worrying about what I was doing into becoming more accepting of each new idea, and the ideas did keep coming, much to my surprise and delight. I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're talking about, or if you mean something that happens (or doesn't happen) in one sitting.
Another of Austin’s crew here. I’m a studio artist, when I get really stuck I set myself a task, like, make 30 4” collages using only stuff from the recycling bin. Most of that turns out to be garbage but eventually by the end I start to make some things I like. I find my own creativity struggles with completely open ended parameters. And it never hurts to let the muse find me at work ready for a new idea.
It's a good feeling when you discover something you didn't know, an even better feeling when the thing you didn't know is something you've always known on a deeper lever but didn't know what to call.
My leanings have always been towards the persistence model, though I didn't know it had a name. Perhaps that's because of my reliance upon persistence as a means of coping with depression. Insight is unreliable and untenable when your mind is so often cloudy and closed. Even when it comes it's not always bright enough to pierce the dark or shatter the gloom. What you need isn't insight, but ritual and routine. A steady means of making it through the day. Something consistent and reliable. A room of one's own, that doesn't flicker or sway.
Every morning, whether rain or shine outside or in my head, with or without insight I make my way to my desk and I start to write, I start to search, I start to reach, I persist until something starts to speak...
This is really timely. I've just restarted a project that I've failed to start several times in the past, and I immediately knew the cause once you mentioned the creative cliff illusion. I definitely fall into thinking that resistance means it's time to stop, so it's encouraging to hear I should be doing the opposite. Thanks for this :)
This reminds me of sports. I play basketball (played is far more accurate tense). During a formal or informal game, there always comes that moment when the level of your conditioning, your physical preparation, becomes paramount. That's when you "hit the wall." Great players can crash through that wall (often, but not always) and keep going. Exhausted, yes, and still playing hard. Persistence.
Annie, you've hit the nail on the head with creative grit! Love how you highlighted its power in turning challenges into opportunities. Thank you for your wisdom🚀
Oh yes! Constantly! I’m a huge fan of “churning out” a stock pile of Sh***y First Drafts only to learn by mistakes and to try the so called less traveled roads. Very often one of the works I did first turn out to be one of the most interesting. Thank you for this post.
Thank you Pam. My show wasn't videotaped, no, but there are plenty of pictures here: https://www.balampman.com/#/lifeswork/. I think I go in cycles of extreme focus as well. I think that's okay. As you say, "it is what it is"!
The Benefits of "Creative Grit"
Love this. Many years ago I heard an interview with one of the musical Marsalis clan talking about something similar. They said the first ideas they had for something were rarely the best; they challenged themselves to come up with a dozen more ideas before deciding which one to use. I try to do the same, and even though it takes a little longer, or sometimes a LOT longer, I'm always glad I persisted.
Hi Pam, one of Austin’s crew here as well. Putting forms of creative work into words is so helpful. The concept of creative grit and persistence sits so well within my process except now I have a name for it and I can tell myself that the feeling of discomfort which might normally lead me to slow down and give up is actually a direction to follow. Thank you
"Use disfluency as a cue to keep going" - this is a very useful tip I should keep in mind at all times while writing. I often get frustrated when my ideas don't flow smoothly and I'm tempted to give up. Sometimes I keep going and I end up with something I like, other times I decide it would be better to try again later.
To persevere in the face of disfluency. Yup, I like that. Thanks for sharing! :)
I've always been fond of brainstorming--it's so fun to do--but I recognize now how I'm prone to quitting. I can go on brainstorming essay and blog post ideas for hours, but when I'm brainstorming story ideas or writing a first draft, I give up more often. I've long thought that I'm not "clever" enough--even though I've studied psychology and know we're not limited in what we can do. But somehow I forget this when it comes to my own ability to write ficton (which I personally find more difficult than writing non-fiction). I could see so much of my behaviour in your post. Now that I know this is an actual phenomenon and one that can be overcome, I think I'll try harder the next time I sit down to write a story. Thank you very much for sharing this!
I realise what makes the Franz Kline method possible is that in creative pursuits, there is no "downside risk" (and payoffs are massively asymmetric). He can make a 100 sketches that he doesn't like and all he has to do is to discard it, but if the process has resulted in at least one good sketch, there's a massive win there.
Need to follow this method more!
Hi, I'm from "Austin's crew", haha. I've written to you about a journaling course I'm developing, but this post touches on what I experienced while working towards an exhibit of a large project of paintings and memoir comics called Life's Work: A Visual Memoir. I worked toward the show for two years, 2020 - 2022, which made it my most prolonged effort by far. I pushed past worrying about what I was doing into becoming more accepting of each new idea, and the ideas did keep coming, much to my surprise and delight. I'm not sure if that's exactly what you're talking about, or if you mean something that happens (or doesn't happen) in one sitting.
Another of Austin’s crew here. I’m a studio artist, when I get really stuck I set myself a task, like, make 30 4” collages using only stuff from the recycling bin. Most of that turns out to be garbage but eventually by the end I start to make some things I like. I find my own creativity struggles with completely open ended parameters. And it never hurts to let the muse find me at work ready for a new idea.
I wonder where's the happy idea: Eureka! Is creativity a goal by itself?, what to create for?
It's a good feeling when you discover something you didn't know, an even better feeling when the thing you didn't know is something you've always known on a deeper lever but didn't know what to call.
My leanings have always been towards the persistence model, though I didn't know it had a name. Perhaps that's because of my reliance upon persistence as a means of coping with depression. Insight is unreliable and untenable when your mind is so often cloudy and closed. Even when it comes it's not always bright enough to pierce the dark or shatter the gloom. What you need isn't insight, but ritual and routine. A steady means of making it through the day. Something consistent and reliable. A room of one's own, that doesn't flicker or sway.
Every morning, whether rain or shine outside or in my head, with or without insight I make my way to my desk and I start to write, I start to search, I start to reach, I persist until something starts to speak...
This is really timely. I've just restarted a project that I've failed to start several times in the past, and I immediately knew the cause once you mentioned the creative cliff illusion. I definitely fall into thinking that resistance means it's time to stop, so it's encouraging to hear I should be doing the opposite. Thanks for this :)
This reminds me of sports. I play basketball (played is far more accurate tense). During a formal or informal game, there always comes that moment when the level of your conditioning, your physical preparation, becomes paramount. That's when you "hit the wall." Great players can crash through that wall (often, but not always) and keep going. Exhausted, yes, and still playing hard. Persistence.
there's something to be said about using disfluency as motivation.
But this implies that we have to learn to tolerant distress, and not run away from it whilst on that journey.
That spotlight of attention must be guided and held.
It's just so much easier watching other people talk about art than *making* good art.
Annie, you've hit the nail on the head with creative grit! Love how you highlighted its power in turning challenges into opportunities. Thank you for your wisdom🚀
Creative Grit! I love the title, sounds like the story of my life. Good stuff! Thank you for sharing.
Oh yes! Constantly! I’m a huge fan of “churning out” a stock pile of Sh***y First Drafts only to learn by mistakes and to try the so called less traveled roads. Very often one of the works I did first turn out to be one of the most interesting. Thank you for this post.
Thank you Pam. My show wasn't videotaped, no, but there are plenty of pictures here: https://www.balampman.com/#/lifeswork/. I think I go in cycles of extreme focus as well. I think that's okay. As you say, "it is what it is"!