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MY⚡️Feature
featured piece of advice for creatives and creative leaders
Getting Started
I’m no scientist, but I remember a little bit from my days of formal education. Newton’s first law states that objects in motion tend to stay in motion and that’s not just true in the physical world. I think that momentum works the same in our creative lives as well. Often, with our creative endeavors, getting started is the hardest part. It’s that first sentence, that initial melody or chord progression, that first color choice or font choice that is the hardest, but once we get going we tend to keep going. So I want to give you some tips for getting started on whatever project or piece that is next for you.
First, load up on inspiration
It’s really hard to create from a dry well. Do things, listen to things, and read things that inspire you. I wrote a blog recently on finding inspiration and you can read it here. It’s got a few practical tips on how to find inspiration and how to access the well that you’re filling up.
Also, remember that loading up on inspiration doesn’t mean that you need to listen to music if you’re making music or read a book if you’re writing a book. Often, that’s a hindrance. But try listening to music to inspire your writing, or watch animations to inspire you musically.
Don’t just try to load up when you know you need it. Create rhythms in your life for listening, watching, reading, and thinking. These rhythms help keep your well full and the ideas coming. Every project starts with a spark, an idea that excites you creatively. So establish rhythms in your life that make sparks.
Second, set time frames instead of tasks
I don’t like setting goals around individual tasks when I’m being creative. I like setting time frames. So instead of saying that I’m going to track bass guitar, piano, and percussion, I just say I’m going to work on this song for 2 hours and I’m going to start by tracking piano. I may only get the piano done, I may finish the song, or I may just play things I hate for 2 hours, but because I’m working in a time frame instead of working on a task list I haven’t wasted anything. I still feel accomplished. Working creatively is less like checking off boxes and more like archeology.
We never know what we’re going to find, but we mine, and pan, and explore until we find the treasure we’re looking for.
Third, set a 2 minute goal
I love to start with something I can do in 2 minutes to help me get started. To stay on the same idea, if I’m tracking bass I will just focus on setting up and getting a sound I like. I can generally do that in 2-5 minutes. Then I’ll just tell my self I’m going to noodle through the song twice before I commit to anything that resembles tracking. Usually, giving myself that freedom I can stumble on a spark that gets me going. If you’re a graphic designer or a writer or a photographer the 2 minute spark will look different for you, but apply the concept and I think you’ll find it helpful.
Once you get going, make a plan to keep going and never stop at a stopping point. Always stop in the middle of something so that you know exactly where you need to pick things up. I literally just walked away from a session and I know that the next time I open it that I have 2 guitar tracks to re-cut and 3 guitar tracks to edit. Knowing that helps me to get started the next time I go to work on it.
Do everything you can to make getting started accessible and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much momentum you can build to propel you toward finishing the great piece of art you’re working on.
I’ve created a tool that could help with this. It’s called the MY⚡️FI CREATIVE CLARITY PLANNER and you can get it FREE by clicking the link.
MY⚡️Follows
The Script Lab
(@thescriptlab) is a great resource for anyone in the film and television industry. They post inspirational and helpful content for screen writers and filmmakers including events, blogs, clips of interviews, and more.
Simon Berger
(@simonberger.art) is an incredible artist that creates by strategically breaking glass to make images of all kinds. He regularly posts videos and pics of him in the creative process. It’s engaging and inspiring to watch such a powerful and delicate process of creating visual art.
Sheesh Media
(@sheeshmedia) is a music media group that posts reviews, editorials, and more. They also host a podcast and share fantastic clips of interviews from artists in today’s music industry.
MY⚡️Finds
cool stuff I found this week
Glow in the Dark Tape
I am regularly finding myself in environments where I can’t see my gear so this glow in the dark tape has been helpful in a ton of ways. I’ve put in on road cases, pedalboards, and even made neck markers on my guitars when I can’t see what I’m doing. Check it out here.
Allen Wrenches
Almost every piece of gear I own requires an allen wrench of some kind and I got tired of moving them around so I bought a couple of these pro-level sets and keep them in strategic places. They come in a great case to travel and keep them organized. Check them out here.
MY⚡️Favorites
some of my favorite sights, sounds, and reads
Furniture Pads
I have a few pieces of gear that I needed to stay put when I set them down. Things on the floor and things on my desk. These furniture pads have come in clutch for keeping things in place and even giving me a little space underneath to run cables and such. Get some here.
Guitar Strings
I get asked all the time about what strings I play. For years I’ve been playing the D’Addario XT electric and acoustic guitar strings. They have a very light coating on them. I typically hate coated strings, but these don’t look or feel coated, they sound great, and last forever. Check them out here.
MY⚡️FI Podcast
a podcast about the journey of creativity
Ep. 045 :: Tiffany Forrester
This episode of MYFI features my friend Tiffany Forrester. Tiffany is an art director at Harper Collins Publishing in Nashville, TN and an incredibly accomplished and award winning graphic designer. Jump in the conversation as we talk about the differences in working in the indie world vs. the corporate world, how she starts a big project, and her “thinly veiled rage” playlist.
MY⚡️FI Blog
monthly blog for creatives and creative leaders
Finding Inspiration
This month on the blog I talk about some simple ways to find inspiration and to create some rhythms that help you to be brilliant at a moments notice. Check out the blog by clicking here.