"aroseinbloom;15011255" wrote:
I actually find that when I'm feeling creative, even for another project, that I'm able to give at least a little to the Simming Community and my own projects. It's when I lose the creativity all together that I can't be bothered to pop by here or write an update...or even game. It's like all of my attention is drained entirely and all I can do is sink into my couch and hope that tomorrow is a little better.
This is interesting and it gets me thinking about creative flow. I know back when I had monthly hormonal cycles, I used to keep hormone calendars, and I could see the ebbs and flows of creative energy with the shifts in estrogen and progesterone. Getting to identify the regular cycle of creativity helped me really enjoy the slow times, for I always knew a peak of creativity would be following.
"aroseinbloom;15011255" wrote:
When my mind is swirling with ideas, anything can spark anything! So if I'm working on a project that isn't directly related, the open mind I have and the creativity that is pumping often just gives me an idea for a SimLit story or a blog update or something. It's when I'm shut down and feeling depressed that the creativity and idea and energy are completely gone.
So this reminds of Barbara Fredrickson's work on positivity... Her work with the
Broaden and Build theory explores this very thing--how openness can create more ideas and more creative flow...
A lot of what @Pegasus143 wrote also prompted me to think on the Broaden and Build theory....
"aroseinbloom;15011255" wrote:
Honestly, if you're going to be limited on time...find one SimLit project you really love and put energy into that. I feel like I remember back when this community was newer...you only worked on one at a time and some of them would go on hiatus for a while. Don't overwhelm yourself with all of the SimLit you have right now...think...if you have 2 extra hours a week--which story is *most* inspiring to you at that moment and work on that one. We'll wait.
Gosh, did I really work on one story at a time? I guess I did! I had others on back-burners, but I was only actively writing one at a time...
Hmmm... I wonder what it is that draws me to writing multiple stories right now. I still do have more stories on the back-burner than I'm actively writing. I guess I'm actively writing three stories right now, plus two collabs.
Ummm... when I write, I feel that I have to write the story that's alive for me at the moment, and currently I have three stories living very actively in me, plus one of the hiatus ones (Drifter) that wants to become active. I think this is point in which I'll have to listen to my own inner promptings. I trust the processes at work within my psychology and inner life to guide me to the stories that engage me at the moment.
It's great, though, to remember that there was a time when I'd work on only one story at a time! :) How smart I was in my younger days! LOL! :p
"aroseinbloom;15011255" wrote:
For me...even one project is sometimes too much. I think that's because my lack of creativity is often directly aligned with my PTSD flair ups. When I feel sad and out of it, nothing creative really comes from it. Then, that one project seems like a giant monster stalking me from the shadows and I do my best to completely avoid the situation. But that's my own issue.
Hugs. I hope those big blue skies up there help. I can relate in that I know when we're dealing with stuff we sometimes need to let all our energy be available for that process.
"aroseinbloom;15011255" wrote:
Sometimes I don't and that's okay. My games will be there. My story will be there. If I go a whole month without touching a save...it will still be there when I return. I have readers and I may lose of them along the way, but my core ones know what's going on (and don't, but still are supportive) and they are there for me no matter what. Remember, we write for ourselves first and the pressure doesn't help.
Some weeks balance will be easy and the energy will be there--others it just won't and that's totally fine! Take it as it comes and don't force it.
I'm not sure why balance is such a priority for me right now--it's my favorite thing to be practicing in yoga practice at the moment, and I'm also focusing very much on intonation in cello, which feels like an aspect of balance.
The neat thing about balance, I find, is that it's a verb--it's active, so even when we "keep being flung from one side to the other" as @rednenemon says, that's still balance. Balance doesn't need to be a still point at the center--it can also be wobbling side to side and even one extreme and another.
I tend to love that still point--I can feel that I'm being asked to move into a more dynamic flow at present.
This conversation has been so helpful to me! Thanks to all of you for sharing and offering insights and suggestions!
I experienced a real shift through this: the insecurity and anxiety are gone. Now I just feel curious and excited. I'm so glad that what you shared helped me to think of the broaden and build theory: I was thinking (without realizing it) of creative energy as being a fixed quantity, rather than, like love, a renewable resource! And now that I'm seeing it as a renewable resource, I can realize that I can give all the creative energy to the work project that it asks for, and I'll still be able to generate or have flow through me more creative energy for other projects!
I'm also feeling a healthy regard for rest and sleep, too!
