Frustrated With Your Own Ideas? Here’s Why It’s Important to Protect Your Creative Process
How do you know when an idea is really ready? It has nothing to do with what you think of it, and everything to do with what you’ve put into it.
In an interview, author Stacy Willingham explains why her agent told her to start writing her second book before the reviews for the first came out, saying that “once you start to hear other people’s opinions on your writing, it gets in your head and affects how you write inadvertently.”
Your writing and editing process isn’t about finding perfection. The goal is to give your art a strong enough foundation that it can stand on its own and continue its path regardless of the feedback you receive. Protecting your creative process is the act of making sure that this wild idea you’ve harnessed isn’t influenced by anything outside of what it needs. It’s the key to recognizing when your work is ‘ready’ to be shared.
Start to note how you feel when listening to reactions
There is no quicker death for an early concept idea than sharing it with someone who isn’t receptive or doesn’t understand your thought process and watching their face drop in confusion – or worse, remain uninterested. It’s like you can actually hear your own enthusiasm deflate because they didn’t react the way that you feel every time you think about this great idea.
That’s how you know it’s way too soon. But even as you recognize this moment, the urge to fall into the same trap remains because the people you’re talking to area the ones that you love sharing that part of yourself with and you want them to be as excited as you are. It’s a childlike nature, only now you have an ego and pride so you absorb their reactions.
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It’s not them. It’s you. Being able to let go of your ego and pride is a skill that few truly hone, but if you can begin to recognize your enthusiasm about their potential enthusiasm as a need for validation, then you can answer this: does their opinion really matter in your art?
Probably not, because in the beginning stages, you’re creating for you. You’re validating your own ideas just by giving them a chance. Sharing them with your loved ones is the cherry on top – but it needs to be timed and delivered right. In the meantime, it’s up to you to make sure that you’re not asking for permission for your ideas. Let them breathe. Let them live. See if they can live. Then test the waters.
Find your people
Would you ask just anyone for advice? No. So why give just anyone that kind of access to your art? Part of protecting your process includes recognizing those who are receptive, understanding and relatively on the same wavelength as you.
In my experience there are three circles:
Soundboards
They’re the ones who love being there to hear all your crazy ideas, because they love you. Throughout your conversation about a new idea, you’re able to bounce new ideas off them without needing or getting their opinion. It’s a space for you to think out loud with company.
Storyboards
These are the people who help you delve into the details. Their thinking compliments yours by bringing something new to the table without overwhelming your own ideas. It’s a sandbox environment to build your story in.
Fact Checkers
By this point, your idea is nearly there. These are the people who help you find the smallest holes by asking simple questions that you’ve overlooked. You may have already heard these questions but weren’t receptive to them because you were still in the development phase. Their comments and questions are now enlightening rather than frustrating.
No matter what you’re working on, it’s far too easy to get stuck in your own head. Find your people, pay attention to your internal reactions to their responses and build a support system that works for your creative process.
Know when it’s time to shift direction
As you grow in your craft, you’ll learn how to separate opinion from legitimate suggestion. It’s not about what is right or wrong, but what works in your art and isn’t driven by your ego. If you’re reactive to a suggestion, ask yourself this – is it because it doesn’t work, or because it does and you didn’t think of it first/don’t want to change course? Did you ask too soon? Were you talking to the wrong person for this stage of your creative process?
By understanding your own reactions to opinions before identifying your circle, you’re allowing yourself to delve deep into your creative process and understand what drives you, all so you can reach this point. Knowing when and how to change course will evolve your work from an idea to actual art. You’ll give it life, and in that moment it will have the strength to stand on its own.
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Knowing that your art is ready doesn’t mean that it’s done or even edited. It means that no matter who sees it from the stage on, it can remain true to itself. It’s no longer about you or them.
This is why it’s crucial to protect your process. It’s not about your workspace or the music you listen to or the coffee you drink. It’s how you protect your thoughts until they don’t need you anymore.
SAMANTHA PATERNOSTER
Writing is much bigger than a career. It’s more interesting than a hobby. It’s the spark to an eternal curiosity that has led me to learn unexpected skills, treasure knowledge passed down through generations, and create a space for voices that need to speak.
I earned my B.A. in Creative Writing from Brandeis University, with a focus on long and short fiction. I have nearly a decade of experience as a copywriter and editor. But I’ve also worked as an Email Analyst and QA Analyst at Yale University, helping to launch their redesigned Giving page circa 2014.
Most recently, I’ve started my own business – Creatively You. Built for my clients, it is founded on one simple act: listening. By listening to my clients’ dreams and needs, I am able to help them develop their brands through cohesive web design and content that tells their stories.
I don’t believe in linear paths. I do believe in the magic that embracing the unknown can bring.
