What makes you creative?

What makes you creative?

It is a question we all too often fail to ask ourselves as we strive for technical writing perfection. We study book upon book of ‘how-to-write’ guides, but we fail to harness our own inspiration as the weapon that it really is.

Think back to the time before time. Before you were cognizant that you wanted to be a writer, before you were aware that you had raw talent, before you thought that you could hone your skill, and before you knew that people would listen to you. Think back to childhood when creativity and imagination—not grammar textbooks and autobiographies of famous authors—guided you. Back then, back when all writing represented was joy, what inspired you?

Dolls? GI Joes? Animated films? Fantasy books? Storytelling around the campfire? Shared moments with family? Children? Friends? Scenic views? Holidays? Christmas music? Solitude? Vacation?

It does not really matter what your answer is. One, all, or none of the above. Authors find creativity in different places from each other and, often, in different places at different times in their lives. Yet often we seek to listen to the same kind of music as other writers we know—Mumford and Sons being chief among my artistic allies (though not a personal favorite). Or we put in earplugs, believing what others have said: that music is distracting. We go to the coffee shop because other authors go there. Or, perhaps, we do not deign to set foot in public when writing for fear that, like our favorite writers, our focus will shrivel around other people.

See, the point is not that Mumford and Sons are the cure for authors everywhere or the ultimate distraction. The point is that we must find who we are as individual writers.

Well aware that we have considerable room to improve, we long to feel like ‘real’ authors. In our quest for victory and the New York Times Bestseller list, we grow better and better at the technical side, but, often, we lose our unique artistic edge. What a shame! Talking with my own fans, my friends, and my literature-loving father, I have found a common dialogue. Without fail, readers prefer the writing style of seasoned authors. Yet, with a wistful sigh, they miss the imagination and raw passion the writer possessed when starting out.

So how about a new day, my fellow writing-lovers? What if we prized technical skill and creativity. Truth is, anyone can be technical. Only a great few can be inspired.

Let’s go back to our roots. Let’s discover what made us creative in the past and not be ashamed to use those same tools now. Let’s focus on creativity at least as much as technical skill. And maybe, just maybe, we will make that New York Times Bestseller list without compromising our love of the craft.

 -Jessie Mae Hodsdon