gapingvoid: how to be creative (long version)

I had the good fortune of meeting Hugh at Loïc’s Paris schmooze-fest, Les Blogs, back at the end of April. We had a nice long chat about our weird backgrounds, how we got to where we were, and a bit of musing of where we’re going. What’s funnier, I’m looking forward to the day I can afford to have Hugh fit me
with a suite or jacket. 😉

I hadn’t realized until today, but I had downloaded Hugh’s article, How to be Creative, from ChangeThis, the manifesto site (great site, BTW), a long time ago. And it was appropriate for me to read it today. In the past week, I had a juicy book deal vanish just as I was about to start the work, I turned down a really cool gig a bit too fast, and then had a potentially great and fun new gig deal stall and die just as the negotiations were getting somewhere. It is no wonder that I have been trying to get back to basics – my obsession with creating things: stories, macromolecules, experiences, relationships, stuff.

‘How to be Creative’ is not about how to become creative, but how to live being an obsessive creative person and tips on how to deal with that ‘burden’. The manifesto speaks heaps to my constant turmoil between my creative urges and my need to feed the family. It is also full of many nuggets of wisdom as only Hugh can deliver them.

I suggest that if you are the creative type, that you read this a few times.