Creativity

Creativity is something we are all born with, I believe.  Some of us are lucky enough to have this aspect of our inner selves nurtured while others have it suppressed as a useless commodity in the Real World--or else are told they have none.  Many people think it occurs in only the talented few, the writers and painters of the world and those who work with other artistic media.  A book I’ve been reading lately, INSPIRING CREATIVITY, An Anthology of Powerful Insights and Practical Ideas to Guide You to Successful Creating, edited by Rick Benzel, seeks to help develop the creative potential in all of us, regardless of what we do for a living.  A compilation of articles on the subject by a variety of writers, it addresses the many things that can block this powerful resource, from procrastination and lack of time to fear of failure and the difficulty of coming up with new ideas.  My particular bugaboo, and one that plagues many writers these days, is perfectionism.  Like the French writer—was it Balzac?—who followed his manuscript pages into the typesetting room still making changes, I always think I can make the book better if I polish it just one more time.  Besides, I’ve read the manuscripts submitted to contests for judging and know that some of the beginners out there turn in beautifully prepared, error-free work and feel it behooves me as a professional to do the same.  The fear that others can do better is paralyzing to the creative spirit.  A quote I like from the book says: “While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, another is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.”—Henry C. Link.  I should say that I was interviewed for this book, and have a bit to say in it about ways to overcome writer’s block.  Still, I’ve received much more from it than I ever gave.  If you sometimes need something to get your creativity going, this book may be for you.