From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V2 #296 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Monday, October 16 2000 Volume 02 : Number 296 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] The creative process [Elwestrand ] Re: [RS] The creative process ["Norman A. Johnson" Subject: Re: [RS] The creative process > My question(s) would be about the creative process. I'm sure that he, > like > many creative people, gets asked all the time "Where do you get your > ideas?". That's NOT the question I would ask. I'd ask instead: "How do > you > make a song out of those ideas? " We all get ideas for a song or book or > play, etc.; the difference is that the "creative people" act on those > ideas. That's the hard part but I think that's the essence of > creativity. > I'd like to know whether he 's ever had the fear that someone has done a > song or other work based on that idea better than he feels he could hope > to > accomplish. I'm sure she has but I'd be very interested in how she would > respond. I'd also ask him whether he's ever afraid of copying herself. > > Norman > Well I definitely have some thoughts on this. First off, not everyone is artistically creative. Not everyone gets and idea for a song, play, painting etc. Some people just aren't wired that way. Which is not to say that they are not ever creative. Creativity also includes people who can build things, fix things, solve problems etc. But my point is that if you think up artistic ideas you are already ahead of the pack. But being "creative" does not mean you do anything about it. So how do you "do" something with your ideas? That is the hard part. A guru of mine once told me that five or six people will be given the divine inspiration to create the same artistic project. There is very little danger of duplication because it is very unlikely that more than one of the people will actually do anything about it. What I can say, from personal experience, about really making your inspirations concrete is this: force yourself. No really. It is the only way. Once you actually start a project it usually flows from there, but the startings the rub. And the more projects you do the easier they get. It took me three years to finish my first major writing project. I am nearly done with the second and I should bring that in under six months. Some people say you can't force the creative process. I agree. But usually that is not what you are forcing. You have usually finished most of the "creative process" before you start the actual project. Two other ideas: First, remember, no one has to see or hear your project until you like it and second, you deserve to see your vision realized. Lastly, it is pointless to worry about being derivative or other people scooping you. Whatever the subject, you bring your own perspective. If people worried about this then we wouldn't have any more love songs or vampire movies or Britney Spears albums. :-) I think this is a great topic for discussion. What do you guys think about the process? I know we have some other artists on the list. Happy Weekend Everyone. I get to see Dar twice. Yeah! E _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 01:14:30 -0400 From: "Norman A. Johnson" Subject: Re: [RS] The creative process In response to my "creativity" post, Elwestrand wrote: >>Well I definitely have some thoughts on this. First off, not everyone is artistically creative. Not everyone gets and idea for a song, play, painting etc. Some people just aren't wired that way. Which is not to say that they are not ever creative. Creativity also includes people who can build things, fix things, solve problems etc. But my point is that if you think up artistic ideas you are already ahead of the pack. >> Oh, I did not mean to imply that artistic creativity was the only form of creativity. I do think, however, there are some differences between artistic creativity and other forms of creativity and this being a list dedicated to discussing the music of the masterful songwriter Richard Shindell, I wanted to focus on artistic creativity and in particular aspects related to writing. >>Lastly, it is pointless to worry about being derivative or other people scooping you. Whatever the subject, you bring your own perspective. If people worried about this then we wouldn't have any more love songs or vampire movies or Britney Spears albums. >> Well, with your last line, maybe some people SHOULD worry about being derivative. Comments, anyone? Norman ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V2 #296 ***********************************