Regulating Creativity

For the love of all that is holy - I pray that is just his gut...

To tie in this horrific image - sorry - it is hard to get up in the morning - and yes, I'm planning on getting to the gym...Eventually - I think we all carry an insane amount of daily baggage with us to our creative endeavors.

In my circle of friends and writers - I have heard a couple times in the last week - as soon as I get this done - then I will really be able to write. Or - once I start this new job, I am gonna have all the time I need. Or in my case - now that I am broke and unemployed, I really have no choice but to write - or we will shrivel up like seamonkeys and die a horrible death.

But the truth is - you have to write where you are.

It doesn't matter what is going on. If you think you will make more time tomorrow, you are wrong. Everyday you have to do what you need to do. If you don't - you can't really beat yourself up - you just have to do better today. If you want to make time for it - you will. If you don't - you won't.

Some days, spider solitaire is so much more enticing than writing. Some days, talking to a far away friend takes precedence. Some days, playing X-men with my son. Some days I will actually CLEAN THE HOUSE just to avoid writing. So don't think about how great life will be when all you have to do is write - because then you will really accomplish something.

The truth is - if you aren't disciplined with your time now - you won't be then - when all you have is time.

Now - there are exceptions.

I don't believe creativity can be regulated.

If you are breaking a story - working on character, structure, twists, any and everything to do with making something into something - or making something better - there is no way to just sit and do it. Maybe there is - but I sure as hell haven't found it or figured it out.

My creativity happens everywhere but at the computer. In the shower, in the car, working out, hanging with my kids - even in bed - and I think you know what I mean....

I have written before about Ron Bass. He was a lawyer before he became a full time scriptwriter. He would get up at 3 am and write till 7 then go to work. He did this a couple years until he was able to write full time. Now, he writes on one script all morning - then works all afternoon on breaking another script - so that when he finishes writing one - he starts right in on the next...

It is not only like a job, it is a job.

There has been a lot of griping around the blogosphere this week about not seeing in headway and not getting things done... and believe me - when it comes to whining - I can usually bat clean up - but we usually whine because it is easier than actually doing the work.

I am sitting down today to bang out what I need for my pitch to BIG PRODUCER. I am going to have a good take that - even if I don't get the job - will represent me well...because, dammit - I'm good enough, I'm smart enough... and doggone it... people like me - or they at least lie to my face and then say bad things once I am gone...

And then I am going back to writing. Or at least I wanna get back to where my writing outweighs my whining...

And then - its back to work on the gut...

PS - Star5 turned down the offer - and as for a hint to who he is - let's just say he is very unlucky in a casino... So who needs him anyways...