writing

Creative Friction

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(This is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

I’ve been watching myself and some friends get blocked on various creative projects, or find them hard going. This occurred at the same time I was working with some Agile teams. So Agile and Creative efforts? Yeah, you know I got thinking about why we were having creative trouble.

As often mentioned, I actually don’t believe in writer’s block as we normally think of it – it’s at best a descriptive term, at worst a way of thinking that makes the actual situation work. I’m always looking for new ways to look at Creative blockages that don’t invoke writer’s block.

Looking at things that were messing with my friends, I began comparing them to problems in software creation and productivity. I realized that many so-called “blockages” were cases of various things interfering with creative work – it wasn’t a “stop” so much as slowing down – it was a form of friction. Things were not exactly stopped, but slowed as the creative efforts were “grinding” against something else.

Friction: A Way TO Look At Creative Problems

So here’s a new way to think of your “creative blocks” – your creative efforts are experiencing friction. Something else in your head and in your life is disrupting the creative effort, grinding up against it, slowing it’s flow. I’m calling this “friction” as it doesn’t hint at blockages (and thus reviving the idea of Creative Blockage which as noted I dislike).

So don’t think of any impairment of creative effort as “here’s a wall.” Think of it as other things going on (probably) in your head, that keep grinding against your creative effort or banging into it disrupting it. The problem is not the creativity or some magic block – it’s a bunch of other things screwing it up.

Ever feel like your creativity should “flow” and doesn’t? You get the idea.

Resolving Friction

Using this metaphor of friction, I began thinking about ways to reduce creative friction. Let’s try out this metaphor – how can you overcome friction (or at least do better when facing it).

Forcing Through: Just keep writing/drawing no matter what – and no matter how painful it may be. The idea is to keep pushing through until the creative act wears away anything slowing it down. I personally find this can work, but sometimes it’s psychologically difficult.

Lubrication: Find something that “lubricates” the creative experience. Maybe music, a noise machine, music, etc. help you be more creative. Maybe you do things in a different way (writing on a notebook instead of on a computer). Find something that acts as “lubrication.”

Clearing Out: Try to find something that “blasts away” the elements causing friction. A good walk, a separate creative effort, etc. Might help clear out the elements causing friction.

Sanding: A combination of “Forcing Through” and “Clearing Out,” this is where you deliberately – and often slowly – work to “sand down” the elements in your mind and life causing friction. This could be addressing life stress issues, gradually upping your writing time, etc.

I’m sure you can use other metaphors to get other ideas.

Moving Forward

So with this new metaphor, I hope it helps you – and me – out a bit more in our creative efforts. Besides, it’s a way to get over the idea of some kind insurmountable writing block. For myself, I can see how a lot of my work is best served by Forcing Through and Sanding. What can I say, I’m not a subtle person.

So let me know what other insights you have . . .

Steven Savage

Can You Be A Professional Writer?

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(This is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Yes, you can be a professional writer.

Every now and then I have a discussion with someone who wants to be a professional writer. I’ve decided to compile my advice to help clarify it, and of course, make it easier for people that ask me that question.

Where does this come from – since my writing is more of a side thing? It comes from:

  • Knowing professional writers.
  • Knowing people wanting to be professional writers.
  • Researching writing careers – I had considered a change I didn’t make.
  • My own experience in writing and researching it.

So let’s go!

CAN I BE A PROFESSIONAL WRITER?

Yes, you can.

WAIT, THAT SEEMED EASY

Yes, because there are many, many ways to make a living at writing. The question is more “which path as a professional writer fits you.” Most people miss the kind of obvious ones.

OK, WHAT’S THE OBVIOUS ONE?

The obvious writing career is writing professionally in areas like being a Technical Writer, develop Marketing content on websites, and so on. There’s a huge variety of them out there – and I keep finding more over time.

Then there’s writer-adjacent jobs like Editor, etc.

If you do a look on any job site and search for things like Writing, Writer, Editor, Publishing, etc. you can find quite a few ideas.

OH. SO IT’S WRITING “JOBS” LITERALLY?

Yeah, exactly. There’s lots of them out there. If you don’t want to do corporate stuff, you can find them in government, education, non-profits, etc. Just keep digging.

Again, these are jobs basically with “lots of writing.” So, you can make a living at it – some people do very well.

NICE. SO LET’S TALK THE CLASSIC “I WRITE BOOKS FOR A LIVING” JOB?

A lot of people think writing careers are just “I write books.” They’re not. In my experience a lot more people do “writing jobs” to use their writing skills. In fact, those are great jobs to do to prime yourself or support yourself on a writing career.

Now as for the whole “Write Books For A Living” type job, basically as a kind of freelancer, yes it can be done. It’s just very challenging and too many people miss the amount of effort it takes or how long it takes.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

A lot of successful authors, those with the big hit book or series that pays the bills, didn’t just suddenly become a success overnight. They laid a foundation, often for years.

Even if you do create a sudden mega-hit, the lead up to it will take years, if only to write the thing and make contacts.

SO HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

Based on what I’ve seen, if you decide to become an author that makes a living writing books, it can take years if you’re also holding down a full-time job. A decade is not out of the question.

It’s probably a lot faster if you can dedicate yourself full-time.

There’s plenty of books out there on authors. Chris Fox’s books are the ones everyone recommends (and even he doesn’t make all his money with books, but he sees to be having a blast)

SO I NEED TO WRITE FOR TEN YEARS?

No, not just writing. Writing is part of a writing career. You need to:

  • Write books.
  • Get books edited, get covers done, etc.
  • Get them published in a format people will buy.
  • Market them.
  • Market yourself with websites, newsletters, etc.
  • Set up ads.
  • Constantly improve your craft.

You can see how the more time you have the more chance you can pull it off.

SO IT’S A SMALL BUSINESS?

Pretty much. If you land a publishing deal that helps, but even then expect a lot of work (and contracts). But yeah, you’re running your own business – and even if you swing some sweet deals it’ll still be like that.

But hey, you get tax writeoffs and such if you do it write.

BUT AT LEAST I CAN WRITE WHAT I WANT

Maybe, maybe not. The thing with people who make a living writing, independently, is they seem to find a market, build a market, or target a market. If you just want to do “whatever” then the chance of succeeding is very low.

I’M GOING TO NEED TO THINK IT OVER, AREN’T I?

Yes. If you have a specific vision for your writing, then you need to do good marketing and try to find your audience.

On the other hand if you’re open to “writing whatever sells” then it’s probably more likely you can succeed. You’re going to compete with other people doing the same thing, but there are many “same things” to try.

LET’S SAY I DECIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE MARKETS, WHAT DO I DO?

Well, the Fox books are good. You can often find lots of advice online online and books on Amazon. There’s honestly so many you’ll probably want to search for reliable sources yourself.

Then you want to write like crazy.

ANY OTHER ADVICE?

Do your research, stick with it, and connect with as many authors as possible to learn.

Steven Savage

Steve’s Books For April

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(This is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Here’s a complete list of all the books I have available for folks interested in creativity, geekery, worldbuilding, and careers. I figure I’ll post this every month or so for my readers!

Fiction

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: A Tale Of Dead Gods And Living Stories – Kindle, Print

Culture

  • Her Eternal Moonlight: Sailor Moon’s Female Fans In North America, An Unauthorized Examination – Print, Kindle

Worldbuilding – Core

Worldbuilding – Specific Subjects

Creativity

Job Search And Careers

Geeky Careers

  • Focused Fandom: Cosplay, Costuming, and Careers – Print, Kindle
  • Focused Fandom: Fanart, Fanartists, and Careers – Print, Kindle
  • Convention Career Connection – Print, Kindle

Free Stuff

Steven Savage