Create for No Reason

Is inspiration a thing? Are muses real? Do they speak and create through us? Have you ever made something and then looked at it and thought it had to have come from a space bigger than you? And if the muses/god/mystery is a real thing, how can we tap into it? What do you do to keep the fire burning? 

Are your friends and family helpful when you share your work with them or are they creativity vampires? Do they suck suck suck your idea dry or do they understand what you’re going through? When we’re building a tribe to support us, who should we look for? Who should we avoid? When is it time to share what we’re working on with them?

Kate and Shawn channel their inner Raymond Carver and Victor Frankl. This is what we talk about when we talk about art. Is there a difference between being a creator and an artist? Who decides? Do we care?

So you want to make something? You want to get busy? You want to bust out the oils, write that novel, or start doing that TikTok thing for real this time? Good luck. You will prove to be your own worst enemy. You are your biggest critic. You're going to have to fight through it. We believe in you. You're going to do it even when you think you suck.

Who cares if Hemingway really said it or not? It’s a valid point. Everyone starts with a sketch. Everyone starts with a first draft. And if you’re like most people in the world, what you start with can smell and sound like like you’ve got a few glasses of something in you. That’s perfect. Do it anyway. Then, at least you’ll have someone to plagiarize: yourself.

Emotions can fuel our creativity and they can get in the way. Kate and Shawn talk about their feelings. Where do they come from? Can we change them? Can we use them? Does it matter all that much anyway?

Wondering if creating something is worth it even if it might be crap? Even if you'll never master it? Even if you won't get paid? Is it worth it to learn how to play chopsticks and Yellow Submarine on the piano and then stop there? Is it worth it to spend five minutes tonight writing as much as you can about the beef stroganoff you had for dinner?  Wonder no more! We have the answer. This is it: it's always worth it. 

This week, we’ll talk about how technology and tools get in the way of making something. They’re excuses. All we really need to write is a legal pad and a pencil. All we really need to paint are some watercolors and a paper bag. Let's talk about what gets in the way. Let's get it out of the way. 

It's our first episode! Welcome to Create for No Reason: a show about making something for the pure joy of it. You don't need a reason. Give yourself permission to explore your creativity—not to be rich or famous or successful. Do it for you.  The other stuff is a bonus. What matters the most is that you made something only you can make and you're bold enough to share it with the rest of us. We're all artists, after all.