i’m not in the place to write, i’m just not, i think to myself.
i’m at work, in a shared working environment, i’m not in a world of possibilities and potential, ready to explain and explore in words.
a day job is not the place to create words…you can respond, research, do some tinkering, but not create from scratch…that takes digging in with an open mind, at the right time, without interruption, much like writing code.
when are these times? they are probably saturdays, sadly, or right after a 9-5, with a touch of alcohol and optimism.
for me, this makes me cranky, saturdays are time with maria, after work is fitness and home improvement time. when then?
we’re all different, but for me i’ll shift my other activities to try and find my writing block around 6:30pm.
it’s obvious when the creation process takes hold, the ability to write, even when i’m doing instructionals, clearly takes on a weight and momentum, i want to finish, and it could take 3 hours or 30 minutes but it’s propelled forward once it’s started.
you feel “in” it, like you’re building something with impact.
lighting the match is the hard part. setting up the environment, mood, protecting your day so you’re in a mental place to be lured into this creation process whenever it is.
it’s like a date.
regardless of if you work a 9-5 or not, how do you set up a date with the creation process?
pick a place
some make the point that you should always have the same place, but i think it’s enough that you’ve picked the place. the conscious decision, that here is where you’ll create, is the important part. familiarity is bonus.
craft the mood
candles? music? cleanliness? you think about all these things on a date, don’t skip them here, set up your environment with purpose to develop, build or create something.
think about the intake
beer, wine, food, etc. you have a body, it has needs and is impacted by what goes inside it. you don’t eat an entire pizza before going on a date, or lots of garlic for that matter, but you might have a glass of wine to loosen you up, and make sure not to be starving.
guard it
you wouldn’t forget to show up to a date, or schedule over it lightly. you’ve made a commitment, and hopefully you’re looking forward to it, you protect that block of time, just like you should for when you’re writing or coding. not that i don’t like a nice date, but sticking with your commitment to create something can be far more valuable in strict dollars and cents.
i found after having this mindset and taking the steps to court my creation time, i actually look forward it on a regular basis, i hope you can too now.