March 29, 2008

post-creation transition

So often, as artists, we create our work driven not by deadlines or by paychecks but by that internal gut feeling that says - I MUST - and those pieces, plays, sculptures, paintings when they are completed often go in a drawer, sit in a studio, gather dust as we search for the next job that will pay the rent.

We lose momentum in the natural lull that comes from a post-creation exhaustion. We get over-extended and the focus becomes FOOD & SHELTER - two extremely important needs. We search for the new - maybe because we need a new infusion of energy, a new perspective, a new source of revenue.

Whatever the reason, we abandon the children we just raised for the cute little new face on the horizon.

Ask yourself: are there scripts or books or paintings or designs or arias that I've finished that are sitting somewhere unacknowledged?

Have you followed through and supported those creations to your maximum capacity? Have you sent them out into the world? Have you shown them to your mentor? Have you asked for help? Have you created a marketing plan? Have you tried to get a production team in place? Have you notified the press?

If not, why not?

What is stopping you?

DAILY CREATION:

Make a list of the pieces you've finished but done nothing with - list them all. Even if you're not happy with the quality of the work.

Pick your top two or three creations - the ones you are most proud to have accomplished. The ones that still make your heart jump a little or the ones that just need a little massaging. The ones that you will be proud to call your own.

Figure out what you need to do to take the next step with each of these pieces. List five things you can do in the next two weeks to bring attention to this work, connect this piece to the outside world.

Do those five things!!!!

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