What's the single biggest issue you struggle with in being more creative?

[Dan Goodwin]

What's the single biggest issue you struggle with in being more creative?

Is it procrastination?

Trying to make everything perfect, constantly wrestling with your inner critic?

Coming up with new ideas or developing existing ones?

Focusing on one creative project, and actually finishing something?

Finding enough (or any!) time to create?

Something else?

Let us know what's blocking your creativity most right now, that if you could overcome it would mean your creativity would soar to new levels...

[RJ Medak]

I created a course to help people with procrastination at Writers' Village University (WVU).

Time is not a problem for me.

As a freelance writer, editor, and book reviewer, finding clients and getting traffic to my website are my biggest frustrations in the creative life.

[Lin Neiswender]

RJ, Welcome to CCS. Weren't you at Muse? Do you subscribe to Carolyn Howard-Johnston's Sharing With Writers newsletter? She has good tips for promotions. Perhaps that will help you. I can send you the link.

I am in pretty much all the categories, but procrastination and perfectionism are the standouts for me. Disorganization is up there too. If I had a studio where I could lay out my materials and work, I think I would do better. I have a pretty cramped space right now.

[Beverly]

First off, I have many creative interests. I love to paint, to photograph, to take photos, to write, to play piano. The good thing is if I get bored (with creative pursuits? how can this be) I switch to something else. I used to think I had to focus on one aspect of creativity and get good at it (like I might for a college degree), but now I find that each creative aspect of me expresses how I feel at a particular moment.
I wait till the last minute to get ready for art shows. Like now I have about a month to start making prints, etc and I am aware of that but it seems the pressure, believe it or not, makes me wait till last minute and then I create, create, create. But I'm beat to crap by this procrastinating.
Thirdly, I am really looking to find my authentic voice, to capture the spiritual in my work. Perhaps I try to hard in this pursuit. I need to shut off the ego, go with the heart voice.
Fourth, I am tired of safe venues to show my art. I am ready to branch out into new areas and have investigated them, but have not taken the action step, like on-line galleries. Baby steps, I suppose.

[Dan Goodwin]

Wow Beverley, lots of amazing stuff going on in your creative life!

I certainly agree about the many different creative pursuits. My main form has always been writing, but even with the range of different writing I do, I couldn't just write all the time so I explore other areas like graphic design, dancing, singing, painting and so on.

Thanks for sharing your comments...

Dan

[Ang Monsoon]

a lot of what you've said, beverly I can relate to, 'specially the "focusing on one aspect of creativity". Going back a way that's what i was like, like squeezing a lemon 'till there's nothing left...i feel differently now, i know that's not really a creative route...the only thing i'd say about myself is that i'm imaginative & want to express that in whatever media is the best media at the time...the only measure being that authentic voice you mention...the spiritual dimension...and also, for me, sketching is a form of meditation & collage is something I completely lose myself in .... which I feel is a journey worth taking whatever the outcome...

[Dan Goodwin]

Love that phrase, Angie - a journey worth taking whatever the outcome...

What a great philosophy for our creative lives! : )

Dan

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Make thyself a space, Linster! You will not ever regret it!

[Dan Goodwin]

Hi RJ,

Someone else I've come across in various sites is Angela Booth, you might want to check out some of her stuff?

This is probably a good place to start:

http://fabfreelancewriting.com/

I'm in a slightly different profession to you, but the main ways I get visitors to my sites is through writing articles. I'm also having success with social media, such as Twitter and FriendFeed.

Thanks for joining the discussion RJ.

Dan

[Carol@Swallowcliffs]

With the risk of sounding too pampered, my biggest block is having to stop and clean and straighten my studio. I am in the process of trying to set up several "work stations" where I can work on different projects as needed. Sometimes I just have to stop and organize, not that I ever get there, as usually as I organize, I wander off into the creative zone...

[Susan Hosken]

Carol, I have a number of "work stations" in my home so I can go from project to project. It works really well.
lots of love from susan in australia

[p14175]

While it sounds funny I became an engineer to learn more about making things. I like making things that are functional, not just nice to look at. Right now I am designing the lighting for the interior of an old car I am working on, but being unemployed (no income coming in) makes it difficult to actually start working on the physical part of the project.

So I guess what's stopping me is money. Once I get a job, I will be back on track.

[Dan Goodwin]

Hey, yes we all need some kind of income to live, of course, and to buy art supplies. Have you looked into different sources of incomes, things you can start small and develop while you're looking for other employment?

Thanks for your comments, but what's your name? Seem strange to address you as p14175 : )

Dan