Every creative individual has a process that helps them gain perspective on their work; and a specific audience they work to please.
Quilters use binoculars backwards to see their large masterpiece at a distance, all the while thinking about how it will look wrapped about a loved one, or hung on a wall for many to view.
Some writers lock their manuscript in a drawer for weeks or months, and then only allow themselves to read without editing, so they preserve the creative energy from the moment in which they originally wrote. Canvases can sit for years until the artist can see the strokes that are needed to finish the painting. Composers work melodies in their mind, before they write them out and begin to play them with instruments. Then they work out the kinks until the notes perform the sounds they intended.
These may seem like unrealistically long processes in today’s sound bite addicted world, however, each creation has its own creative timetable, and if we rush to make our creativity fit a deadline, we risk a satisfied completion.
That’s what happens to me when I goof up and rush a blog post. Occasionally we all flub up because we have a creative ego that charges against our better judgment, and it’s pretty darned skilled at fooling us into believing our work is complete, when it’s not yet ready for public sharing.
To finish a good creation you must first know your process, and second your audience. In my case when I write a post I know I can churn one out in an hour. But I don’t know it will serve my audience, not in one hour. I need a few days to think about my words, while I move through my other creative work. For me, it’s like trying on different hats and checking the mirror to see how they look. The hats are like you, my audience, and each style represents a different type of creative person. The mirror represents how my words might reflect upon you. When I’ve given my process its due course, I can begin to edit my work. And, sometimes I need more time and other editors to offer suggestions to get my point across in a clear and effective way.
Knowing how you gain your perspective, and understanding how your audience will appreciate your creation are key to making good creative work.
Sandy Nelson is a contributing blogger for JenningsWire.
