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Creativity is a consequence of productivity
Creativity is a consequence of productivity.
I read this phrase recently and, although it's not a new idea, it's a good concept to revisit regularly.
We (myself included) tend to think of creativity as something magical and unique. We like to wait until we have the time to "be creative." We like to wait for inspiration.
And while inspiration does grace us with her melody from time to time, the real thing that separates the pros from the amateurs, the successful from the wishful, and the workers from the weekend warriors is doing the work, plain and simple. Doing the work and doing it regularly. That's the thing that truly makes a difference in your creative output.
Just rolling up your sleeves, digging in and producing your art on a regular basis. Day in. Day out.
I've seen this with my own writing, the longer I go without putting thoughts on paper, the harder it is to put thoughts on paper.
Just as with resistance training, your mental muscles atrophy as quickly as your physical muscles.
I suspect this is the magic of the "morning pages" advocated in The Artist's Way. It simply keeps your creative mind from wasting away. The morning pages force you to produce something every single day, even if what you produce is mostly crap...it still counts as productivity and jump starts your creativity.
So, if you're in a rut, or even if your not, just focus on quantity first and out of that you'll find creativity, which will spawn quality.
Yep. Creativity is a consequence of productivity.
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