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What Did I Learn Today?
Adventures in creative work.
There I was, sitting at my desk, listening to the rain slowing outside. Then, I hear a crack, and then a “whoomph!” sound, and the beep of my wi-fi router switching off downstairs.
I pause a moment, engrossed in what I had been doing, and see the icon at the bottom of the screen indicating the internet is out. A second later, I realize the ceiling fan is slowing. I get up and check. Not just the wi-fi, the power is out.
Because I have battery backup for the PC, my computer’s running perfectly normally. However, I save my work and shut down (because the battery is meant only for that purpose.)
It’s early enough in the day that I didn’t intend to be done writing. Yet, there I was.
A local transformer blew around 3 pm. Power wasn’t restored until 3:30 am.
What did I learn today? I need an alternative creative outlet or two that don’t rely on a computer.
Confirmation of an already percolating idea
I’ve been reading a series of nonfiction books by Austin Kleon. It begins with Steal Like an Artist, followed by Show Your Work, and concludes with Keep Going. These three books are easy reads, feature some of Mr. Kleon’s art, and have been a great encouragement and eye-opener.
One thing that I’ve taken away from these is the importance and utility of having more than one skill and medium. In plain English, I need to practice another art.
This is not some sort of forced notion. I’ve been considering it for a while. That’s part of why I’m starting to seek out tools and put together my woodshop. I’ve got a garage where I’m going to do this, and now that I’ve finished recycling our many moving boxes, I can get a workbench for my shop and get that ball rolling.
I’ve loved doing woodworking. For my wedding, for example, I built a Doctor Who-inspired TARDIS chuppah. Over the years, I’ve built multiple bucklers (small, usually round shields) for myself and other fencers. Having the means to set up a decent-sized shop with larger tools is exciting, and something I’ve desired to do for a long time.
That’s not all I’d like to do to expand my creative work. I used to assemble plastic models. The only one I still have is a Star Destroyer from Star Wars. This is a creative outlet I’ve considered taking up again.
These are two creative outlets I enjoy that don’t require electronics.
What did I learn today?
These creative outlets I’m considering, apart from writing, I’ve only done as hobbies. Is there anything wrong with that? No.
Unlike writing, which used to be a hobby for me, these are not activities I intend to monetize. They are necessary creative outlets that will help keep the juices flowing and get me away from the screens I realize I am perhaps too reliant on.
What did I learn today? I learned that I miss working on a creative pursuit for the sake of just doing it. While I still sometimes write for the pure joy of it, I mostly write to share ideas I think others might relate to and find help/empowerment/inspiration for themselves with. Or I share stories with characters and situations – nearly as real in my head as the people in my life – for escapism and inspiration.
Don’t get me wrong, I love writing to share my storytelling with the world. I find that I also need another outlet or two in other venues to expand upon my overall creativity.
What will I learn next?
I believe that part of the creative process, especially for artists, is constantly learning. I’ve never met another writer who hasn’t grown and changed along the way because they learned something new. As far as I know, this applies to painters, actors, musicians, weavers, and all the other artists who ply a craft. And it doesn’t matter whether they’re a pro or a hobbyist.
Doing an art unrelated to my primary art will help me learn something new. It always has before. Creativity is a flowing river of ideas, concepts, images, words, and even numbers that can coalesce into art. Hence why more creative outlets are never a bad thing. Even outlets outside of my primary, monetized creative work.
I look forward to working with what I learn today, and then what I might learn tomorrow. Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you every week, please consider this: How are you inspired and empowered to be your own creator, whatever form that takes?
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