Last weekend, I attended the Writing West Midlands conference with my novelist's hat on. While there, a few quotes were chucked around which resonated with me and my drive to get people making things:
“Nobody will stop you from creating. Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. That is the way to make your soul grow – whether there is a market for it or not! The kick of creation is the act of creating, not anything that happens afterward. I would tell all of you watching this screen: Before you go to bed, write a four line poem. Make it as good as you can. Don’t show it to anybody. Put it where nobody will find it. And you will discover that you have your reward.” Kurt Vonnegut
"It is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self" DW Winnicott
This might all sound like pretentious bollox, but I really believe that it's important for people to create something. It doesn't have to be a model railway, or a great novel. It doesn't have to be what the art establishment considers "art".
Simply sticking a plastic kit, or even a Lego model, together is relaxing and satisfying - if you let it be.
Those who want to respond, "Not when rivet counters on forums tell you it's wrong", well, that's your problem. If you want to let someone else tell you what to do, or at least legitimise you not doing anything then I feel sorry for you but can't fix that.
Build models and be dammed. You made it, tell them to go away*.
*Phrase altered to pass through swearing filters.
3 comments:
'One learns to build by building, more than by thinking or reading or discussing'.
Edward Beal, from 'New Developments in Railway Modelling' published in 1947. The quote refers to layout building, but I think applies to any aspect of our wonderful but odd hobby.
I agree. But it's not easy when the thing that needs to be created is an entire novel and because it's a sequel you know just how long it's going to take. I need to think in bite-size pieces but even that is proving tricky.
I also think this is the worse time of the year to be creative, what with the warmth and the long bright evenings.
Still, if I moan enough about it eventually I'll be compelled to do it just so I can shut myself up.
Totally agree with these thoughts, I was discussing just the other evening about how it is the doing rather than the result is what I find most important.
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