Returning to a writer's world is not easy after letting it go for two months while teaching. I've been trying to think how I made it this far into my novel and have really thought about chunking it for lack of talent.
But it's a story I want to tell. And I realize that I am pulling the oldest trick in my doubting Thomas book and blaming the "block" on my reluctance to believe in the story.
I wholehearted agree with this inner reflection process. It's been my primary means of finding interesting threads to explore for most of my life. Also, an interesting thing happened this year with finding a community of resonant individuals. I have found conversation with the right people to be effortlessly effective for stumbling onto worthwhile writing ideas. Do you have any of the same experience with this? Currently I'm finding that a cycling rhythm between going inward and opening outward to conversation works fantastically to keep an engaging flow of thinking alive. It's ordinary, modern-day, tasked-based rumination that's the flat zone.
Connecting and conversating with a particular type of people stimulates thoughts for writing and for everything else I do. My 15 grandkids (ages 5 to 21) inspire me, fuel broader thinking, and show me an amazing perspective of their world so I can expand mine. I also enjoy conversation with thinking adults who can manage their own biases.
Youth! Hooray. My 3 kids (now adults) are routinely bringing friends over for dinner and it's fascinating to be both a fly on the wall and a participant in their conversation. There is hope for our future in the rising brilliance of these generations. But they also need the voice of our experience.
Unpopular opinion: You're not uncreative. You just have no evidence.
Your brain generates ideas constantly. Walking. Showering. Driving.
But you never capture them.
No capture = no evidence = "I'm not creative" belief.
I proved this wrong in 90 days:
Filled an entire notepad
500+ ideas captured
Went from "I have no ideas" to "I'm selecting from abundance"
The shift: Generation problem → Selection problem.
Stop scrolling for YOUR ideas in THEIR content.
Build your own library.
Just wrote about the Capture Paradox in my newsletter: how capturing doesn't save ideas—it GENERATES them:https://open.substack.com/pub/theinnerself46/p/you-dont-have-a-creativity-problem?r=2kbdxu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I needed this today.
Returning to a writer's world is not easy after letting it go for two months while teaching. I've been trying to think how I made it this far into my novel and have really thought about chunking it for lack of talent.
But it's a story I want to tell. And I realize that I am pulling the oldest trick in my doubting Thomas book and blaming the "block" on my reluctance to believe in the story.
Maryan to the rescue. Thank you - again!
The easiest stories to tell are the ones I want to tell….you’ll get there, friend
Thank you! I will keep trying!
I’m here for you anytime you need a boost.
Unpopular opinion: You're not uncreative. You just have no evidence.
Your brain generates ideas constantly. Walking. Showering. Driving.
But you never capture them.
No capture = no evidence = "I'm not creative" belief.
I proved this wrong in 90 days:
Filled an entire notepad
500+ ideas captured
Went from "I have no ideas" to "I'm selecting from abundance"
The shift: Generation problem → Selection problem.
Stop scrolling for YOUR ideas in THEIR content.
Build your own library.
Just wrote about the Capture Paradox in my newsletter: how capturing doesn't save ideas—it GENERATES them: https://open.substack.com/pub/theinnerself46/p/you-dont-have-a-creativity-problem?r=2kbdxu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
There are many ways to advertise—using someone else’s publication may not be the best, but I’ll pretend I looked the other way, Anthony..
I wholehearted agree with this inner reflection process. It's been my primary means of finding interesting threads to explore for most of my life. Also, an interesting thing happened this year with finding a community of resonant individuals. I have found conversation with the right people to be effortlessly effective for stumbling onto worthwhile writing ideas. Do you have any of the same experience with this? Currently I'm finding that a cycling rhythm between going inward and opening outward to conversation works fantastically to keep an engaging flow of thinking alive. It's ordinary, modern-day, tasked-based rumination that's the flat zone.
Connecting and conversating with a particular type of people stimulates thoughts for writing and for everything else I do. My 15 grandkids (ages 5 to 21) inspire me, fuel broader thinking, and show me an amazing perspective of their world so I can expand mine. I also enjoy conversation with thinking adults who can manage their own biases.
Youth! Hooray. My 3 kids (now adults) are routinely bringing friends over for dinner and it's fascinating to be both a fly on the wall and a participant in their conversation. There is hope for our future in the rising brilliance of these generations. But they also need the voice of our experience.
I find they’re truly open to our voice when we present ideas gently with respect.
I always liked that phrase, you can't edit a blank page. So true. So give it a go!
Thanks for reading, Jenine!
It is amazing what comes when we give ourselves time to think 🤔. An excellent exercise