Vanity, confidence, purpose, and writing

Polly Stenham tells us that the collaborative nature of theater kills a lot of vanity in her work as a playwright. On the other hand, a quick Google search shows us that lack of confidence is a huge issue with the writing process. Somewhere in between excessive vanity and the Google search results is the right mix of confidence and humility that leads to great work and great writing (and Polly Stenham).

Maybe the secret is to do the work for something other than yourself. Work for a cause, work for a tribe. Of course, this in itself requires a story to tell others and to tell yourself to motivate the work, and to motivate others to follow your work. It also diverts attention away from the self, and towards the group you are working for. Less vanity, more confidence and purpose.

Personally, I suffer from a lack of confidence. I worry about what others think and I don’t get enough of my own work done. However, when I do create something I find myself staring at it over and over – spellbound like it is some kind of jewel or reflection in a mirror – vanity overcomes me in other words. If I am honest, I am still looking for a group to write for, and a tribe to be part of when it comes to my writing. I think it would take the pressure off of the writing process.

Writing and loyalty rewards

I have recently started to take part in a loyalty rewards program. So much so, that I am a little obsessive over the points-claiming process – it’s because if i get enough points through exercise, then I get free coffee 🙂

Gamifying a loyalty process is useful in that it can alter behaviour. What was once a chore becomes a goal and my behaviour leans towards the gaining of points. However, true loyalty still only comes from the payback meeting expectations. A free coffee a week is enough for me to go and exercise daily, along with the knowledge that I am getting fitter. If i only got a glass of water as a reward, I might not be so loyal.

When we look at writing as the process, there is no shortcut to building loyalty. As a reader I don’t know of any loyalty reward points for following one author over another, other than the promise of more material to come. As a writer, the consistent drip, drip, dripping of content will build a readership. Giving them more than expected with a purchase will build an evangelical fan.

And when in doubt, throwing in a free coffee seems to work wonders 🙂

Setting a scene

I have just finished reading “The Knowledge” by Steven Pressfield. It’s a great book, from one of Seth Godin’s recommendations.

In the UK, “The Knowledge” is a test all taxi drivers need to pass. Drivers are tested on London’s maze of tiny streets in minute detail. It’s the basis for getting customers there in the quickest time possible. A map in your head, laid out and ready to go as soon as you pull out into the streets. No SatNav, no google – good to go immediately.

True to the title, Pressfield’s novel is chock full of street level detail and scenery – mainly of New York City – mapped out as background for the events to unfold. The streets, restaurants, subways, parks and buildings are support for the work he is doing. I never thought of writing in this way – leaning on the scenery so much – but it works incredibly well. In fact when I think about it, Frank Herbert does the same in Dune.

As a writer, I am learning from these books that building up a sense of place and a scene in detail creates trust with the reader. The reader is convinced that the writer knows what they are talking about and then is willing to believe the rest of the story.

Interesting tactic and worth a try.

Creativity through simplification

Some recent steps I have taken to improve my focus and save time for what matters:

No more Facebook. Account deleted completely
No more gaming – selling console
Re-finding my Kindle – purpose built for reading, this is the gadget that keeps giving. You can’t be a good writer without being a good reader
Whittling down my internet accounts. As well as Facebook, I had Twitter, Instagram, three different email addresses, other blogs, and the list goes on. I realized that the reason I wasn’t creating as much as I wanted was not a lack of accounts, connections with friends or lack of tools…rather it is a lack of focus. Fewer accounts and gadgets – focus on those you actually need.
Fixing up my house and my office – I’m not good at this but when I try to fix stuff, it helps my sense of satisfaction and consequent focus no end.

The next step is to partake more in communities of like minded people in the flesh. I’m thinking writers groups, and arty types who I don’t seem to have in my life at the moment.

Life is a journey not a destination, right?

Tools at your disposal

Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays with a quill and ink as his tools. Can you imagine what he might do with a laptop and the internet?

In the search for creativity and productivity, it is tempting to focus on another shiny new tool to give you an edge. The Sunday golfer will spend thousands on the latest driver promising 20 more yards. But will they hit the gym and the practice green at all?

All sorts of conspiracy theories abound on Shakespeare’s extraordinary productivity. Theories that he couldn’t possibly have written all those plays himself. My bet is that Shakespeare was a hustler, and a perfectionist. I bet he wrote and wrote and wrote, even in his spare time. I bet he was good with people and good at getting what he needed to keep writing (including copious amounts of ink and paper!). I bet he was stubborn as hell about his need to write something every day.

The tools are secondary to the attitude. Jordan Spieth would still shoot well under par using clubs that are older than he is.

Creative peace

The desire to make something new and impressive is agonizing at times. I think it is this urge which leads to some of the best creations and art, however I think it might also distract us from something which is going well, right under our noses.

I have a project up and running, earning money and with room for growth – but it isn’t a rockstar existence. I am constantly tempted to find something completely new, more in tune with my passions (which includes a broad range of interests) and more interesting.

So far this urge has lead me to a waste of time. Dreaming rather than doing. Watching the horizon rather than fixing what I have in front of me.

Time to deliver on what I started and plug away at what I believe in. No time for far fetched dreams.

Accounting and Expectations

It must be satisfying to have a completed project proudly on display. I am picturing a private art collection worth millions. The various pieces hanging perfectly on walls throughout the house for visitors to “ooh” and “aah” at. Each piece has a fabled story, and a price tag to match.

Seems to me that when we think up a project, it is in our human nature to be attracted to the end result rather than the steps along the way. When I think of how long it takes to actually create an art gallery of any substance, I am put off by the idea immediately and that is why I pay to look at someone else’s.

Accounting is a loaded word. It brings to mind tough exams, nerdy calculators, stiff people in white collared shirts and boring number crunching. However the concept of accounting for what I have now and what may come through the life cycle of a project is essential to any art. It forces us to be realistic. It manages our expectations.

With some accounting for what is in store, you could conceivably take a very long term view on creating your gallery of priceless art from scratch, and you would be more likely to succeed. With no accounting and managing of expectations, you’re likely to get frustrated and not even try.

Initiative

He took some initiative. She showed some real initiative there.

The gist of this concept is that you need to start (initiate) something yourself. Of course, your brain can trick you into believing that this relies on various conditions. The young apprentice may tell himself he is not qualified to start a new project. The exec may convince herself that she needs sign-off from the partner before anything can happen. This is in fact what the big corporate companies have set up to manage risk in the work place. Standardization of the workplace ala McDonalds’ production lines means that little goes wrong, but little is created in the mean time.

Hence we want to be our own bosses. Once you leave the comfort of a salaried low ranking job, never has the pressure to initiate something been so great. Publish an article, make a sales call, think of a new offering that will turn a profit and then find an audience that is willing to hear you.

Write a novel. Paint a picture. Initiate something from nothing. Show some initiative. Create

Important to understand is that the urgency of initiative (make a start and create something) is very different to the urgency of conformity (hurry up and wait for sign-off). We do what we do for the long run and for the freedom of being able to make something now, here, today if we can.

Chasing ratings

When creating something, the problem with following ratings, clicks, likes, engagement online is that it has its own set of rules to win – it is its own game, in and of itself. When the art of popularity is refined, it usually (always?) becomes a race to the bottom to appeal to the most people. This distracts you from the real task at hand – making something cool.

Creating something authentic and original – whether it is a book, an experience in a BnB, a song – means that it will not appeal to everyone. By definition. This is ok.

Instead we must double down on the people we want to please, who matter to you and whom you want to engage with your art.

I don’t think you can possibly matter to everyone. We must stop chasing ratings for ratings sake.

Fear of the conversation

The creative process is often thought of as a completely solitary process. A creative brain unleashes its powers and, given enough freedom, creates something amazing from nothing, all on its own.

I think the truth is less romantic and more, well, realistic. You need at least two twigs to make a spark. Check out this quote from Steve Jobs:

“It’s through the team, through that group of incredibly talented people bumping up against each other, having arguments, having fights sometimes, making some noise, and working together they polish each other and they polish the ideas, and what comes out are these really beautiful stones.”

So this implies a friction and a teamwork which is necessary for creative things to happen. The Beatles as a group were greater than the sum of their parts. Fine solo albums from all 4 notwithstanding – the friction was necessary to change the face of music and to generate something as unique as Sgt. Pepper, or Revolver.

So why doesn’t this creativity and spark happen more often? In my life it is because of the fear of disagreement. I want everything to be happy and easy all the time. But conversations, confrontations and disagreements are part of the human condition. I need to force myself to reach out for opinions, to open myself up to arguments and disagreements on a piece of work. It is through this process that the product is polished. It is the hardest but simplest thing you can do, is talk to someone.

Who is best to talk to? Well the person you are selling to of course. Only they can offer the best insight as to why they liked or disliked what you have to offer.