Sunday, July 23, 2006

Creativitiy

Before the idea will see me. I have to cross through the jungle. Sounds are muted, but nagging — think this, think that, bombarding. The mind hangs heavy. The vines entangle. The trees keep the light from reaching me. I wander distractedly from tree to tree, thinking one must hold the answer, knowing the work is in the wandering, knowing the thoughts are still illusions. All parts of me must participate before the mist gives quarter.

Then slowly one thought has a friend that shows itself to lead toward another. I begin to see color. The color turns to words that tell me what the thoughts are trying to say.

It is forming. Edges come slowly into view. I close my eyes and close myself off to the sounds, the sensory intrusions to let the concept have its way.

I wait with patience and belief.

The mist burns off to reveal an idea simple and whole.
—me strauss Letting me be

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

to find an answer, sometimes one has to battle many obstacles. what a way to describe creativity.

sometimes, the simple things are more complex.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi dsnake,
I've had a week of conceptualizing a project. Oh what battles with dragons I've fought! :)

Trée said...

Just smiling here with the wonder of your creativity Liz. I imagine you win more of those battles than you lose. :-)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hey, Trée,
I love to hear your smile. The battle is always a tough one, but the winning is sweet.

Anonymous said...

I have never read anything that so clearly and perfectly describes the process of creativity. But for me, the mist is sometimes so heavy that my wandering thoughts are encompassed in darkness. The poor light conditions make them too wary, too suspicious of each other to want to make friends. That's when I write disjointed stuff without one clear and simple idea leading the pack.

Anonymous said...

That's a good description of the process -

E

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Ms. Roberta,
The creative process is a fight to the finish between the forces of darkness and light. :) At least it feels that way when I'm looking to get through to an idea.

Thank you for sharing how it feels for you too. It's nice to know others are caught in "the good fight."

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

That's E.
I know that any kind of figuring out how to get to a new idea is pulling things from the dark into the light. Thanks for saying so.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh ... that sounds so sweet ... so beautiful. But I, as usual, have to be the different one. The one that has things happen to them differently. At times it is a wonderful occurence and others it is heartbreaking and puzzling, especially to doctors who can't diagnose me.

When I create I totally just involve myself in my everyday things. I go on with life and give no thought to writing. And eventually a word or a sight will trigger a great gong which releases a 10 ton block on my head ... as if I were the coyote again being defeated by the road runner. Except the ten ton weight isn't anything more than 'the idea' .... falling into place, virtually fully formed. It is then that my ghost writer has finally awoken and sets forth to write whatever it is that she wants to. I usually have no control except to proofread. I might try to change a line or two here and there but usually she puts the original back into place and says LEAVE IT ALONE ... it is as it should be.

I actually wish I could create as you do ... to mold and shape it myself ... to enjoy that process. But the more I try to, the worse it gets ... and thus I am left with letting my muse do her thing without me being aware of the creative process. I think its sad ... and yet marvelous.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Mama,
Your creative process is wonderful! Sometimes I can do it that way. Wait and work on real life until the ideas come to me whole. How beautifully you say it.

And eventually a word or a sight will trigger a great gong which releases a 10 ton block on my head ... as if I were the coyote again being defeated by the road runner. Except the ten ton weight isn't anything more than 'the idea' .... falling into place, virtually fully formed.

But when I must have an idea NOW, it's a wrestling match to the ground. I can tell you that I don't find it in the least bit enjoyable . . . stressful and taxing, yes. :) Relief when the idea comes finally.