Some Friendly Reassurance, courtesy of Robert Louis Stevenson…
I imagine most of you reading this fancy yourselves creative, and you are. We’re all capable that way. We ought to count ourselves lucky that we choose to harness our creativity in a form of art … in words. But being a creative individual sometimes has its fallbacks.
We’re always thinking, both grand and minute. In this way we always have ideas circulating our minds. Today you feel like writing a suspense, tomorrow you don’t. Or maybe right now you feel like a fantasy, but in a few minutes a mystery. Short story … then novel. Script … then poetry. There are times when you can aim our focus on one thing at a time, but when inspiration strikes, don’t hesitate to embrace it; you’ll regret it if you don’t.
To quote Robert Louis Stevenson:
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”
Nothing happens in an instant, least of all in the world of writing. Don’t rush yourself to finish the script or the novel or the story. Follow inspiration as it comes, because even if you have multiple projects on your plate, they’ll each be drenched in heart and soul.
-Tori Domay
Your Work Area
Every writer or artist needs a good area to work.
Here is one of my workstations:
Here I can draw, write, compose music, edit films, you name it. However, 70% of the time when I’m writing, I’m usually out of the house. Living with loud parents can sometimes become very distracting.
One of the most important aspects of writing is your work area. You need a space where you can forget about the world, or shut it out for a few hours. Sometimes shutting out the world, can even mean a trip to a busy food court, or a coffee shop. I can write just fine with strangers passing by, but for some reason I can’t write when I’m around people I know. It’s freaking impossible.
You need to find a space, or create a space that’s just for you. I do this both physically and mentally. Call it your ‘happy place’ or whatever, but sitting down, closing my eyes, and getting into that ‘place’ is one of the best ways to start a writing session.
So stop what you’re doing, and create a work area for yourself. You can brandish it with personal items, or things that are important to you. Make it comfortable, because you and that spot are going to be together for a long time…
