It’s odd that even though I love to write, sometimes it seems such a chore. I think back to a video* I watched again just recently of John Cleese, standing in front of an audience, talking about creativity. He stresses the importance of needing to be free of stress (haha. my bad) in order to be creative. He says that we have to be able to play – to play with ideas at least – and that means not being bogged down by the multitude of things we MUST do. Because let’s face it, as adults play is often at the bottom of our list of things to do.
Like just now, a perfect example: I was happily writing away when I heard a noise from the kitchen. The puppy was chewing on the table. Being a responsible adult who doesn’t want teeth marks in my table, I had to get up and leave my writing. It never ends!
So Mr. Cleese, quite rightly suggests that there must me a time and a place to be creative. Only I rarely get it. And that really cuts into my enjoyment of writing.
So I come back to the beginning, don’t I? It’s not really odd.
And then even when I do get a moment to myself, and a space to myself, according to Mr. Cleese (and my own experience) it takes time to wind down. Speaking of wind, the dog just farted. For a small pup he can cause a big stink! Where was I? Oh yeah. Getting in the mood. There are times that I’m in the mood to write even when I’m stressed. An idea will pop into my head, or just a mood will overcome me and I can’t not write.
Being a writer is such a strange thing!
The “odd/even” prompt is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click here to join in, and leave your link for everyone to see!
To find the rules for Just Jot It January, click here. Join in today! It’s never too late! And don’t forget to ping back your January 23rd post here at this post.
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*Google “John Cleese on creativity” to find it on Youtube.
June 6, 2016 at 8:41 am
Hi I think you are lovely so I have nominated you for the ‘Lovely Blogger award’ (if you do not wish to accept ,please take it as a compliment to your work. https://daisywillows.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/thank-you-for-making-me-smile/
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June 8, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Thanks so much, Daisy. 🙂 I haven’t managed to get around to my nominations in the last (mumblemumble) years, so chances are I won’t have time to accept this one either. But I SO appreciate you thinking of me!! Cheers!
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February 24, 2016 at 6:51 am
Thank you for the John Cleese You Tube suggestion , loved it 🙂
And now I don’t remember how I came landing on your blog , but I am oh so glad I did 😉
Turtle Hugs
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February 24, 2016 at 8:25 am
I’m glad you did too. 🙂 Thank you!
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January 23, 2016 at 5:04 pm
I just recently saw that John Cleese video, too and loved it! Here’s hoping 2016 brings you plenty of ‘creative space’ opportunities! 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 10:21 am
Thanks, Tamrah! 😀
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January 23, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Cute doggie… 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 10:22 am
Hehee! Isn’t he? 😀
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January 23, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Your dog made me laugh and awwwww at the same time. :-). Wishing you a quiet spot to wind down and write 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 10:23 am
Thanks, Bee. 🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 11:12 am
I always feel this way in the morning. The phone is pinging, the dog needs to go out, everyone’s hungry, my nose is running, I have to pee. I just wanna SIT and STARE and DRINK my coffee! lol
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January 24, 2016 at 10:26 am
Ugh, I know, right? Coffee should be uninterrupted!!
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January 23, 2016 at 10:57 am
Dogs (and cats) are great for helping us play, even when they’re old like mine and just want to be rubbed. They help me find stress free moments, but who can be stress free on a regular basis? We need some stress to motivate us and, sometimes, to give us something to write about. Balance is the key.
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January 24, 2016 at 10:30 am
Balance for sure. Pets can certainly an excellent stress reliever though. 🙂 At least when they’re not chewing your underwear like mine keeps doing. GRRR!
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January 23, 2016 at 9:56 am
Ah, I disagree with him. A good author must write -despite interruptions. A good author must also be interrupted because our families (pets included) must be more important.
http://www.fiddledeedeebooks.wordpress.com
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January 24, 2016 at 10:37 am
I find it hard to get in the zone when I’m constantly interrupted – and I find it hard to concentrate on what I’m doing (whether family is involved or not) when I’m in the zone. Kudos to you if you’re able to do both at once! 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 11:36 am
Oh, not always. Sometimes I turn into the cranky momma mode -and no one is safe to enter the room. He He Though, it depends upon the importance of the scene.
http://www.fiddledeedeebooks.wordpress.com
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January 24, 2016 at 11:37 am
Haha! Yeah, I’m guilty of that too. 😛
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January 23, 2016 at 8:53 am
It sounds like one of the rules should also be “don’t have dogs” lol.
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January 23, 2016 at 6:40 pm
…or kids, or cats, or husbands, or neighbours… 😉
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January 23, 2016 at 8:09 am
One ofthe coolest things about unschooling is that our whole LIFE is centered around playful engagement with the world in all kinds of ways…and that’s not just for the kids, but also for their parents, too!
May you find a space and time to play!
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January 24, 2016 at 11:27 am
Thanks, Shan! Here’s to play! 😀
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January 28, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Hooray!
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January 23, 2016 at 7:44 am
Sometimes Life just interferes with creativity. Fun post. ☺
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January 24, 2016 at 11:38 am
It does! 😛 Thanks, Van. 🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 7:35 am
What would we do without the interruptions? Be bored, I guess. At least it keeps us from getting “fanny fatigue.” 😉
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January 24, 2016 at 11:49 am
“Fanny fatigue” – I love it! I may use that one in the future. And it’s true! I’d have a square bum if I didn’t have to get up so often. 😛 Bright side to everything, eh? 😀
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January 23, 2016 at 6:28 am
Having a puppy is very distracting, especially when they chew your table legs! He does look adorable though!
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January 24, 2016 at 11:57 am
I’m sure it’s the cute factor that keeps some puppies alive. It certainly helps mine get all the love he could ever wish for. 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 12:43 pm
No doubt about it! 🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 6:16 am
Stressing about being creative creates even more stress, I reckon. Awful little cycle. So glad you SOC prompt help lift us out:)
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January 24, 2016 at 12:01 pm
It is kind of self-perpetuating, isn’t it? Glad I could help out. 🙂
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January 25, 2016 at 12:10 am
🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 3:35 am
Writing is indeed a strange phenomenon…..
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January 24, 2016 at 12:02 pm
‘Tis, my dear. 🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 3:34 am
Oh the stresses of being grown up! I really do agree… Mr Cleese has more money and less commitments!
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January 24, 2016 at 12:04 pm
I don’t know about the commitments, but he certainly has more money than I do. Haha!
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January 24, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Ain’t that the truth!
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January 23, 2016 at 3:10 am
My cat who is distracting me to no end by reading over my shoulder did not enjoy this post talking about your puppy at all. I did though and can completely relate. 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Hahaha! Thanks very much, Tricia. 🙂
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January 23, 2016 at 2:17 am
Hahaha Winston is adorable,and farting is what dogs do best,xx Rachel
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January 24, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Thank you! Though I wish that wasn’t true… hehe Peeuuuu!! 😉
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January 23, 2016 at 2:03 am
Farting dog? That’s funny. Your dog is Cute! 🙂
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January 24, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Thank you! 🙂
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