Thursday, May 27, 2010

Creativity and Doubt

So, if Peter Carey can doubt himself: here and even the great Eric Carle can have an attack of creative crisis: here, I guess it's just something that I have to accept as part of the job!
Here are another couple of inspiring speakers who talk about these very same things. The wonderful Sir Ken Robinson, who has written a book about finding your passion: here and Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love (which I am yet to read) here.
There is something so vulnerable about making your creative life your professional life, as if your job demands you to turn yourself inside out, all your tenderest most intimate thoughts and ideas on show for all the world to see and judge. But would I have it any other way? There have been times when I have wondered. But then the realisation that I am in the incredibly rare and privileged position of making a living from something I am passionate about, in a situation where I am working almost every day doing something that I love, overrides all the possible downsides, and, once again I am grateful for what I have.

4 comments:

  1. Another great article Sally, love reading your blog. Totally agree with you, nothing better than making a living from something you are passionate about.
    Sometimes deadlines and comments and critics can be very stressful, maybe even more stressful since everything you do is from your heart so it's difficult to not to take things personally. But in exchange every positive feedback, every page you finish, any step of development no matter how small can make you feel so GOOD and satisfied!!!
    So I was so happy when you said you loved the Christmas Billie Cover :D
    Looking forward to reading the story!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Aki. It's such a joy to be working with such a lovely and talented person. Usually I illustrate for other people - or illustrate my own work, so I am loving seeing Billie come to life via your artwork. She's better than I could have imagined her! And she has such a fabulous wardrobe!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for such lovely comments!
    Sometimes you get a good story accompanied by bad illlustrations or visa versa. I will keep working hard to make sure my ilustrations complement your amazing writing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sure they will! BTW I have just added a new thread to the Billie blog that you might like to read. :-)

    ReplyDelete