025 - Setting Your Anchor
Indecisiveness can kill creativity, and I’ve learned there’s only one way to counter it.
Image by These Guys
Indecisiveness can kill creativity, and I’ve learned there’s only one way to counter it.
Welcome to the Editor’s Journal; A daily thought on writing, the creative process, art, work, the world and how it all goes together. Every morning I rise early, I sit here in the quiet of my kitchen and I write whatever’s prominent. I have a bunch of article ideas saved, so I’ll either pull from them or write something new. I also write at larrygmaguire.com. I hope you enjoy the read.
So I’m staring at them.
8 black and white pictures of famous people I admire, each one intricate and complex, presenting it’s own challenge to my skills.
Kate Bush, the Dalai Lama, Daniel Day Lewis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ray Winstone, Amy Winehouse, Sinéad O’Connor.
I love to draw, to see the image appear from the blank page. The closer the result to the photograph I working from the better. I’ll keep at it to the extent of my ability in the anticipation of my skills becoming more.
And they are. Every time I draw I get better.
But I can’t decide who to go with.
So nothing is made.
Like many creative people I get tons of ideas, but choosing which one to run with, and when, is often a difficult process.
I write too.
I’m no literary genius but I really enjoy writing, sharing ideas, putting words together to make a statement, or communicate a message.
As far as I’m concerned it’s about touching someone with your words, it’s not about building complex passages and getting every ounce of dictation and grammar correct.
That’s the editor’s, the proofreader’s job. If I ever get that far that is…in the meantime I’ll do my best.
The basics are important of course, they have to be when you write for others.
Writing: My Anchor
Professionally I have chosen to write. To create online articles and content for businesses — all good there.
It’s simple, people can digest and get it very quickly. There is no doubt about what I provide.
But creatively I have a ton of ideas I want to explore.
Sean McCabe’s words are echoing in my head…
“If you don’t know what you’re about, then guess what; no one else will either…you need to decide to say no to everything that isn’t the one thing you want to be known for”
I have book ideas, short story ideas, portrait ideas, digital product ideas, various business ideas…
I have people who have approached me for collaborations. I like that notion, working with other creatives to build something meaningful.
So I realise I must choose.
But in the meantime I’m not going to stress about it. I’ll go with whatever feels right at the time and then see what happens.
My primary commitment to myself, which I made about 2 months ago, was to write every day.
I’ve managed to stick to that thankfully. It’s my anchor.
No matter what, no matter where, I write and publish the contents every day.
The only way to counter indecisiveness is to pick something you like and no matter what, do that.
Then just see where it takes you.
The Artist’s Manifesto is a short book about staying true to our art. It is a call to Artists and Creatives like you to create from the heart with passion and integrity, disregarding the need for applause and recognition. It’s available from 13th May 2017. Grab your FREE copy here.
Like Some More of This Kind of Thing?
Howdy, I’m Larry, Writer & Artist. Thanks for taking the time to read my stuff. I write about art, creativity, business & marketing. When I’m not doing that I write short stories about the ordinary lives of people and the challenges they face. My stuff can be edgy, hard hitting, and sometimes controversial, but never contrived. If that’s your bag you can Sign-up To Sunday Letters Here.