Lessons on the creative process
Insights on creativity and business from the 'How I Create' interviewees
In the How I Create interviews, I’ve been asking my interviewees to share the most valuable lesson they’ve learned about their creative process so far. The responses have been so inspiring, that I wanted to collate them into this post for future reference.
I’ve added in answers from the original series too (these are published on my freelance website, and are well worth a read), along with a couple of things I’m learning on my own journey as well. Plus, you’ll find a sneak preview from next week’s interview with Rachel Baker, The Ethical Copywriter.
Thank you so much to everyone who has subscribed to this Substack, I really appreciate your support and hope you enjoy this week’s round-up! I’m planning to share these periodically to gather insights from future interviews, too.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned about your creative process so far?
Natalie Warner, knitwear designer, teacher and writer
To tune into my natural rhythms, to be free of any external pressure or involvement until I’m really ready for it. Creating is such a fully lived experience or process; you use your heart, mind, body and spirit to bring ideas to life or materialise designs. If any of those energies are off or depleted for a period of time, you feel stuck or burnt out. Always honour how you feel and what your energy’s like, and do your best to take the pressure off your creative work.
Astrid Bracke, small business mentor
The most valuable lesson for me is that inspiration will come back. I was afraid that once I’d let go of my to-do list more, I wouldn’t do certain things because I didn’t feel like them. Now I’ve learned that the energy and inspiration will come back, and that it often comes in cycles. So some weeks I’ll really feel like writing a lot, and I will, whereas other weeks I like the repetition of pinning on Pinterest.
Thankfully, doing workshops and working with clients is something I pretty much always feel inspired to do.
Katie Sadler, writer and marketing consultant for authors
That I need to follow my energy. Some days I will be feeling more creative than others, and my aim with my calendar is to never have so much in my diary that I can’t make the most of the days I’ve got more energy (or take a break on the days I don’t have any!).
Jen Wright, founder of Life, Aligned
That it’s chaotic but valid.
I was told that I was slow and scatty at school, over and over again. I wouldn’t do things or look at things “the right way”, or I’d try and do too many things at once (don’t get me started on what is wrong with the British school system). The most valuable lesson for me is that while my way may not always make sense to others, it is valid and is what works best for me.
Social media has meant we have so much more awareness of other people’s methods and creative process, and while that can be really helpful in some ways, it can also be hugely stifling and cause us to negatively compare our own way of doing things.
If you’re struggling to create “the right way” or how you think you should be creating then throw the instructions out. Stop consuming other people’s content and following their rules. Remember when you were a kid and you thought, “When I’m grown up I’ll live by my own rules!”. Guess what? Now is that time! Go nuts!
Insights from the original How I Create series; these interviews are from 2015-2017 and are also full of gems! Sometimes, the question posed was about general business lessons rather than creative process specifically, but I’ve selected insights that relate to this topic:
Karen Arthur, fashion creative and podcast host
Don’t compare yourself. I’m saying this, and I know I do! If that means you take a social media break, so be it. Because no-one’s sending you a letter through the post saying “did you know your mate’s doing this?” You’re seeking this out, and you forget that they’re also looking at you going, “oh my God, she’s doing this!”. You’re at the right place for you, in this moment, and that’s key.
The other thing I used to think is, I didn’t want to be a clothes designer because “there’s loads of them”. Because I knew a few. So in my little world, it’s saturated. Well it’s not, and actually, the clients who come to me, come to me for what I offer. There’s room for all of us to shine. So I’m learning, but it’s a massive learning curve.
Adam Pritchett, textile artist
You can’t force it. If you're having a rough time coming up with a concept, or making a composition work, leave that piece for as long as you can and come back to it. I find that keeping a list of subjects that you'd like to make something of is really useful when an idea strikes, and then when you're having a bit of block you can just sit and look through your list to a day when making art wasn’t a struggle.
Maggie Enterrios, illustrator
It’s always so tempting to go with your first, impulsive idea, but usually more rewarding to really think it through before putting pen to paper. I am forever indebted to my first senior art director at GrubHub, Mike Wright, for this skill. Every time he presented an idea to a group of stakeholders, he would tell a story and talk through his ideas in a perfectly Don Draper way, painting the picture verbally before unveiling his concept. It was always a hit, and I was in awe time and time again. So, I’ve learned to sleep on it: fully mull my ideas over before putting them out into the world.
Lisa Perrin, illustrator
To relax a bit! When I first started, every job felt like it had to be the singular greatest thing I had ever made, and changes from the client would throw me for a big emotional loop. I would really overdo it with sketches, and then feel crushed when the client didn't choose any of them.
I have learned how important it is to ask all of your questions upfront before you do all the sketches. Really open those lines of communication. The more experience I get in this industry, the more I trust myself and the more confident I feel. It takes time to find your footing.
Mica Peet, illustrator and designer
At first you will want to go for every opportunity that comes your way and that’s great, but eventually you will have to manage your time more efficiently. You can’t fit everything in or do every craft market that comes your way. Sometimes you just have to say no to things, and that’s OK.
Kate Walters, Of Flight and Feathers
That you can work anywhere! A huge desk with a view in a quiet room and soothing music in the background may all be lovely but actually, with some help from Peppa Pig, it is possible to work productively on a Duplo-strewn sofa in the 12 minutes before it's time to make dinner. Needs must!
And a sneak preview of next week’s interview:
Rachel Baker, The Ethical Copywriter
Definitely to give things time. I find that the best ideas happen in the in-between times when you’re not actively thinking about stuff. I see sitting at my desk as feeding my brain and then while I’m walking the dog or cooking dinner or in the shower, my brain’s working away on ideas in the background. That’s why I’d never agree to turn around copy in one day – good ideas take time!
And finally, a couple from me:
The difference between fearlessness and courage
A big one for me has been the realisation that most people who achieve amazing feats aren’t actually fearless. They feel the fear, but have also found ways to work alongside this.
Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic really helped to reframe my thinking on this (as did working with my mentor Jen, featured above!). Gilbert says:
Creativity is a path for the brave, yes, but it is not a path for the fearless, and it’s important to recognise the distinction. Bravery means doing something scary. Fearlessness means not even understanding what the word scary means.
Trust me, your fear will always show up – especially when you’re trying to be inventive or innovative. Your fear will always be triggered by your creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into realms of uncertain outcome, and fear hates uncertain outcome. Your fear – programmed by evolution to be hypervigilant and insanely overprotective – will always assume that any uncertain outcome is destined to end in a bloody, horrible death.
This is all totally natural and human. It’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. It is, however, something that very much needs to be dealt with.
Fear plays a vital role in keeping us safe, but it can’t always tell the difference between an imminent threat and something that is just taking us out of our comfort zone. Gilbert’s way of dealing with fear is to “make space for it”. By trying to escape it and not feel it, we can inadvertently end up squashing our creativity too. So invite fear along for the ride, and listen to what it has to say, but when it comes to your creative work, says Gilbert, addressing fear directly: “above all else, my dear old familiar friend, you are absolutely forbidden to drive.”
Rest is part of the practice
When I first started practising yoga, my teacher would lead us into Savasana by referring to this as “the most important pose” in the sequence. Savasana was the final pose of the practice, also known as the “corpse pose”, because you’re lying on your back (or whatever position will offer you a complete state of rest and release), sinking into the mat without holding on in any part of your body.
At first, I have to admit, this really confused me. How can lying on your back doing nothing be the most important part? But over time it started to sink in. She would often add: “This is a chance to absorb everything that’s just taken place, physically and energetically.”
This helped me understand that rest is not just essential for recharging our physical body, it’s also how we integrate and process the things we learn and experience. When it comes to creative work, as with yoga, resting is part of the practice itself. It allows new connections to form and ideas to flow.
Ohh Steph, this is such a wonderful idea to have all of those bit of advice and all this wisdom in one place! I loved reading this. Perfect motivation for this morning!