You get an idea for a story. It comes in the proverbial spark of inspiration! It's a great idea. Inspired, really. You feel kissed by the Muse and can't wait to sit down and write. But ...
No sooner do you begin than your great idea, the visions, the excitement — the very Muse herself — vanish.
Still, you press on. You struggle to find the right words, the perfect first sentence or intro paragraph, but this only makes things worse. Feeling frustrated and confused, lost in chaos, you succumb to the mean-spirited taunts of the Inner Critic. "Who were you kidding anyway? You're not a writer. Look how easily you give up!" the Inner Critic gleefully spits out the poisoned darts. "The idea was stupid to begin with. Inspiration, my foot..."
This is the point where most of us give up.
We shouldn't.
Even a cursory review of the creative process tells us why. This confusion or what has been called the "chaos" is a vital part of the creative process. It is the right brain or intuitive aspect of the process, when all things are possible and nothing makes "rational" sense. In fact, the rational part of your brain, the part that looks for reason and order, is better off taking a nap when chaos reigns!
Creativity can no more do without the "chaos" than the earth can do without the winds, the rains, the snow and the sun.
However, the chaos or intuitive, right brain exploration is only one half of the creative process. By its very nature, creativity moves towards definition and completion. The right and left parts of the brain work in unison. They are equal partners in the dance of creativity.
Understanding the Creative Process Can Alleviate Writer's Angst and Change Your Relationship to Your Self and Others
The Creative Process: How and Why It Works!
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