This is what creativity looks like.

There are a few requirements for it to land. In case you’re trying to make it happen.

One of them is to not … try to make it happen.

You know how you’re standing in front of the ATM and your mind goes blank and you can’t remember your PIN code? You try and try harder to remember and it seems to be floating further and further away.

Creativity is like that. I find that the harder you try to force, push, or in any way make it happen, it just doesn’t want to cooperate.

It seems to have a mind of its own, too. Nee, scrap that, it does have a mind of its own. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is a mind of its own.

Every Single Day

The particles, much like dust particles, might be so small and fall so lightly and slowly that you otherwise wouldn’t notice at all. You don’t have to try to feel them or let them arrive, in fact, I would say that it’s something of the opposite.

Think back to the ATM and your PIN code. You leave the ATM in disgust and embarrassment and walk down the sidewalk. You shake your head and consciously try some more to remember, but nothing doing. There’s a dog on the sidewalk and it seems to have a gold collar. Is that real gold? It shimmers and glistens and you wonder why kind of glitzy Hollywood Diva owner the dog has and as your gaze rises from the dog’s collar to the woman’s face and you’re about to make eye contact … 9224.

Your PIN code.

Let’s see what happened, but bring it back to creativity.

1. You’re in the middle of a scene, but you’re not sure what’s going to happen next.
2. The blank page has started a staring contest and you’re losing.
3. The cursor blinks.
4. You really don’t know what’s going to happen next. But you really want to know.
5. A flash of a scene might come to you. You might be able to get a word or two down and it flitters away.
6. Another setting arrives and this one is more clear and you’re a part of it.
7. Allow yourself to be a part of the scene and once you’re securely there, put down the words to bring others in.

That’s it. Easy-peasy, right?

What are the steps to take?

1. Affirm that you want it (doesn’t need to be crystal clear what “it” is).
2. Try to achieve it.
3. Try again.
4. Stop trying.
5. Let it go.
6. Let it arrive.
7. Don’t let it go.

That’s how stories are coming to me lately. How do they come to you?