Things of Beauty #9
Creating, just to create
I’ve been doing some work recently around disentangling creativity from outcomes. I have an ultimate goal of seeing if I can write a piece of fiction while setting aside deeply embedded notions about what the market is buying right now, what might get me an agent, what readers will pay for, etc. I’m learning (or probably more correctly, remembering) that there is value in creating just for the sake of creating. No anticipated outcome. No particular audience.
Just for, dare I say— fun.
Here are some of the things that have been inspiring me to create for no reason other than fun, lately:
🎨 Creative Sprint from Another Limited Rebellion: This runs each year in October. I’ve seen it in previous years and thought that looks fun before deciding that I needed to focus on the project that I was writing or revising at the time and not get distracted. I ran across Creative Sprint just after it started this year and realized perhaps it was just what I needed. I set a couple parameters for myself that have been really helpful: 1) don’t spend too much time on each project and 2)don’t look at anyone else’s work before posting mine. What I’ve loved is the way looking at the prompt that lands in my email each morning causes me to think about it periodically throughout the day. For example the prompt to “play with light” made me notice light and shadows throughout the day (see below). I committed to sprinting everyday for one week during the month— but will be continuing to do some of the prompts and check out other’s creations. (See my sprints here and check out #CreativeSprint on Instagram for all the awesome-ness).
🧶 Crocheting: I learned from my grandmother when I was younger (probably middle-school age) and did a project for a crafts course in college, but I hadn’t picked up a hook or yarn in years! I kept getting fed ads for cute little crocheted creatures and it made me curious about picking it up again. I took one look at a pattern for a tiny mouse and realized that wasn’t the place to jump back in so I asked a friend for tips. She recommended Toni Lipsey’s Crochet Academy which is totally amazing. Her video about basic crochet stitches is SO very supportive and instructive. My friend also recommended Easy Crochet, and I think this might be my winter project. (Thanks, Alexandra!)
🥧 Cooking is creating for me, but I also work to manage my time and energy in the evenings, so it had been a while since I tried a new, more involved recipe. This Samosa Pot Pie from The Practical Kitchen was a great reminder how much fun (and how delicious) spending a little more time in the kitchen can be. (h/t Kelton at Shangrilogs for posting about it on Instagram).
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen had a five day run in my city, and I was lucky enough to get some last minute tickets to see it through their ticket lottery. I forgot how excited I get about live theatre. This was a show I’ve always been curious about and it was awesome to get a chance to see it. It gives you lots to think about, but a theme that felt really resonant to me is how quickly things can take on a spin that’s very different from the truth once they are posted online.
🎧 I can’t wait to dive into this podcast episode with Sara Bareilles. I know without even having listened yet that it will feed my creative soul. (I think it’s a toss up whether I mention Sara B. or Shanrilogs more in these Things of Beauty lists. I suppose, it’s good to know what you like!)
Have you discovered (or re-discovered) something new and fun recently? Made anything delicious? Seen or listened to anything inspiring or thought-provoking? I’d love to hear about it!
Be well, find tiny joy, & maybe make something just for fun this week!