That's me trying to be creative
Many of us are creative, in one form or another (heck, even writing code can be very creative - I know, I've been there).
The question is how many of those creative people are also talented at their choice of expression?
A while back I read an article in National Geographic about hypergraphia - The driving compulsion to write; the overwhelming urge to write. Hypergraphia may compel someone to keep a voluminous journal, to jot off frequent letters to the editor, to write on toilet paper if nothing else is available, and perhaps even to compile a dictionary. (From MediciNet.com)
[I left out the last sentence of this definition, by the way, and tomorrow I'll explain why.]
I thought this sounded heavenly, maybe I could catch that neurological disorder and have a constant drive. Yet the more I read about it and thought about it, the more I understood two things: the first, I do have my own compulsions to write. I may not write on toilet paper while in the bathroom, but I do feel compelled to write my ideas. The second thing I realized, and perhaps the more disturbing of the two, is that none of this promises any talent.
And that's talent
My teachers have always beat Edison's words into me: "Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." I have a few lazy bones in my body so it only worked to some extent thus far in my life. That is - working hard, paid off. Shocking, I know
What about writing, though? Since a true creative work requite both the drive and the talent, what to do about that 1% talent? Worry about it, or concentrate on making it to the 99% rather than the 75% (which is where I think I hover at the moment)?
I will add here that many believe the drive to be more important than the talent. I tend to disagree. This has to do with one of the discucssions we had here about the kinds of writers - do you, as a writer, aim for art or for entertainment?
I think it is rather obvious that those who wish to achieve a glimpse of art in their work, need some talent in addition to drive.
Finally, if the frontal lobes are important in "providing the judgment and flexibility of thought that underlines talent," and "structures in the temporal lobes and limbic system supply drive and motivation" - will there be a time where we could simply take pills to increase one or the other?
[The quotes are from a print National Geographic issue which I found a(n illegal?) copy of it here.]
Categories: writing, creative
12 comments:
Eric! Haven't seen you here in a while :)
I'm not sure why you get so, I don't know what, each time I mention the A word (art), but you do and I've come to expect it ;)
I'm also not sure this is even something we can really argue about. It has to do with personal goals and views and especially with personal struggles.
(I hope it didn't come across in my post that I think I'm overly smart, I don't, definitely not more than the average graceful visitor who come to this blog and honour me by reading it.)
I don't put down writing for entertainment, and I sure read many books just for that purpose. But those books that also have that extra thing, the one I call art, are what I'm striving for, knowing very well that in all likelihood I'll never achieve that. Hence my personal/inner struggles.
In the mean time I just keep plowing along, working on that 99%, so I can at least take the first step towards achieving what I want...
Writing has always been a strange and interesting thing in creative terms; but in the age of the bottom line, it's gotten stranger. Here's the brief autobiography of one serious writer, c'est moi:
In school, from elementary through grad school at the U of Chicago, I was always recognized by my teachers/professors/peers as an outstanding writer.
I always had it in the back of my mind that I kind of wanted to write. However, my creative output was zero until age 23. I mean, I could write grade A term papers anytime, but my undergraduate poems, for example, were decidedly not creative.
Starting at age 23, I suddenly had something to write about and spent about 17 years doing just that. Genuinely creative stuff. For me the answer to the question of, "How does writing talent translate into creativity?" was: have something you passionately desire to communicate and creativity just flows and follows toward shaping that communication.
I ended up with a nonfiction book manuscript that, by all accounts, turned out somewhere between good and great. I was well qualified to write it by both education and experience. I then tried to disprove what I read in Literay Market Place:
"If you are submitting a nonfiction book proposal without a marketing platform, you are wasting your time."
I only proved their point. Unless you already have a degree of reknown for something else so that you guarantee book sales (or, I suppose, an inside connection), you can't become well known for writing well because publishers aren't interested in taking chances.
In case you think I'm kidding, feel free to check out, "Gospel, Chapter One: Angel" under my previous posts. Let me know if you think it's got problems, but I'm pretty sure practically anyone would respond to it.
It's the only piece from the manuscript I've blogged, and I'm really torn about what to do. If I blog the book it's guaranteed unpublishable, from what I understand - I've kissed "first rights" goodbye. Also, you can't really blog a full book. But better maybe for 30 or so people to read my real writing once in a while than for it to be tossed into the trash by whatever stranger disposes of my "estate..."
A question I've posed to myself is: if you had to choose between being talented or confident (can't have both), which would do you the most good? I believe people with medicore talent but plenty of chutzpah stand a much better chance at being successful (in the conventional sense) than those who are far more talented.
Very thought-provoking post.
Hey, I was reading your blog and I think you’re pretty interesting. If you want, you could submit your entry to this creative contest going on right now (it’s being hosted by my school – the Art Institute of California, San Diego). They’re giving away gas cards and art magazines. I haven’t won anything yet, but I want to get one of the 30MB video iPods they’re giving away. Anyway, it’s at http://itshowyougetthere.com - just thought I’d let you know!
Thanks Eric, I know and I commented back.
I will reiterate what I've said countless times before. My writing isn't art (I wish it were) and I'm not the one who can call it so in any event. In that sense, it matters very much what people say about art. And it is because art is subjective that it is so interesting to see how consensus actually arises about works of art. Usually over time.
Darius, there might still be hope for publishing your story in print. There has been a lot of discussion over the net about e-publishing and making your book available online for free with Cory Doctorow, the SF writer from Boing Boing being a major voice in favour of such practices.
I'll be happy to come and take a look at your first chapter when time permits (although I do warn you that I tend to shy away from religious matters).
Mr. Schprock, thank you and I tend to agree with you - those with the confidence succeed more.
Since at the moment I feel like I'm neither (talented or self confident) and since I'm a bit pig-headed I'll probably take the talent and hope I could work on that self confidence...
Thank you very much, Jay. I'll take a look. That's mighty kind of you.
If you write messages to yourself on your palm, would that be a combination of dermagraphia and hypergraphia?
Good one, Bernita :)
Finally, a lighter approach to the subject. Thanks.
will there be a time where we could simply take pills to increase one or the other?
There is already - Prozac and such - used not for depression but by Type A's to be even more organized/productive.
I like Redchurch's take on this subject.
Great stuff, melly.
oh yea, love the hat!:D where can i get one? it looks handmade.
Thanks rdl.
Yes, I guess some drugs could be considered as helping... ;)
Eric (redchurch) is a very interesting and smart guy. I love it when we "debate".
And oh yeah, mock away :) LOL!
It's my mom's hat. I was visiting and enjoying the sun so I needed a hat. I think she may have gotten it in Spain but I'm not sure.
(My dad took the pic.)
Maybe it depends on what your pursing as to whether it's really 1% tallent 99% persperation.
And I think that you might have only one % and can work really hard but that won't necessarily make you as good as someone who has 50% talent and only works 25% at it. That's not saying though that you can't be good at something...just means you might never be GREAT or OUSTANDING.
It's those that have all the talent in teh world and don't use it that sell themselves short. As long as you use the talent you have, put effort into it then it's my bet you won't end up regretting things.
Just my opinion though. This is coming from someone who was told constantly they weren't good enough...and though I had some talent and I worked hard they didn't think it was enough and I should just forget about architecture and change my major...I never listened to them though--and by golly I made it through :D (okay personal rant done)
Oh my, oh my. Some issues we have here :)
Jennifer, I never took that saying to mean that you're only allowed 1% talent, that's something I'd have to consider now - LOL!
"It's those that have all the talent in teh world and don't use it that sell themselves short." - you are so right!
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