How Do Creatives Focus? (Deleting Later)
Stream of consciousness…
How do creatives focus?
Working in this industry for over 12 years, I think 90% of the time, creatives know the thing that they want to create, they’re just not getting it done because they’re lazy.
Okay, maybe that’s too harsh because that means I’m putting myself down… and my therapist has been training me to be more gracious to myself.
Therefore, the word isn’t “lazy”.
Creatives are not getting their projects done because they’re “unfocused”. They are… I AM (this is a me problem). I AM distracted.
Yes, they know exactly what they want to create, they know exactly what they have to do, they know exactly how to attack a certain problem, they know how to create the thing that is circling in their brains… but they can’t seem to get it done.
I’m a prime example of this -
I’m sitting in a corner desk at this Korean cafe. It’s 10:30am in the morning. I’ve been here since 8:45am. I’ve done nothing but watch YouTube videos and fantasize about my life in Improv. I’m addicted. This week alone, besides being in my own show on Sunday, I’ve seen six live shows, and I’m scheduled to watch two tonight!
I also start a new class at UCB on Monday.
Improv is consuming my life to a point where I’m letting it distract me from finishing this personal creative script that is due tonight.
And, if I don’t finish it today, then I know I won’t get it finished tomorrow because of work, and this will seep over to the next day. Future Jonathan is depending on present Jonathan to get this done. Let’s get it done!
I wrote a few words last night, but currently, the script is reading like an empty plate of lasagna. I can’t write at home because I’ll touch myself inappropriately or fall asleep.
I love the coffee shop noise.
I love the clouds in the sky.
I love the Koreans talking in Korean.
I don’t like the guy chewing his food across from me.
I don’t like the guy shaking his leg up and down… like bro stop looking at your fucking phone and relax your god damn legs. Why do people shake them so much? It’s like can’t you just sit fucking still.
JESUS CHRIST.
I’m relaxed.
I’m relaxed.
I understand.
Okay how do creatives focus?
My stream of consciousness is allowing me to think of an unorganized answer right now. Here’s my answer. If it is even an answer?
To focus and get anything done → you must trigger creative momentum. This is where you act on a creative thing that is related to your main project, but is totally and smaller outside of that project. For example, if you’re writing a book and you’re stuck, go write a journal entry in a notepad. If you’re supposed to edit an hour long video, edit a 20 second clip of something else entirely.
I think this does accomplishes three things:
1. It gets your brain stretching before you start the long run. The gears are getting tightened, the mechanic is topping of the oil, you’re putting airs in the tires… whatever the fuck. It’s the stretch.
2. You’re accomplishing something in that skill set.
It’s the winner effect: the idea that if you’re winning at a certain skill set, your body gives you the energy to WANT to continue. You see this in marathon runners when they realize that they just ran 5 miles, then 10, then 15, then 20… at every leg they realize they can go even further.
How many times have you been playing a game of sorts and once you start winning, your energy peaks up, and you’re ready to go on the attack for a few more rounds.
In the case of this journal entry, clicking “publish” is a win.
I already feel it in my brain.
I already feel the momentum moving.
THIS GUYS LEG KEEPS BOUNCING NEXT TO ME THOUGH… PUT YOUR FUCKING PHONE DOWN… AND STOP JITTERING. JESUS CHRIST.
3. It makes you realize that what you’re creating isn’t such a big deal. I mean it is, but the first time you’re putting the pieces together, is that the thing you’re creating doesn’t have to be perfect for the first time.
I don’t know if you do this, but I put so much pressure on the main projects that I’m working on - that it needs to be fucking perfect in the first go around. Always thinking that the from the very get go - it needs to be God’s gift to man.
But fuck it.
Don’t stop yourself from getting something done.
Just get that shitty version out.
This is why we have editing.
TANGENT ON CREATING
The easiest part is the brainstorming, the exercising, the performing.
It’s the most fun.
The actual part where you have to fucking get the storyboard done, writing the actual thing, putting the timelines together, gathering the clips, you know the NON brainstorming shit - that’s the hardest fucking part.
This is where I want to throw my laptop into the sky and just be like “CAN WE GET THIS DONE ALREADY!” LIKE “GOD DAMNIT” “IT’S INSIDE OF MY HEAD” “IT’S ALL THERE’ - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - BE DONE.
I fucking hate syncing audio, adding the clips to the timeline, it’s just like fuck my life. WHY CAN’T THIS DUDE STOP SHAKING HIS LEG!
The editing part is probably as much as the first part because it’s like ‘FUCKING FINALLY” we are done and now I’m just making subtle changes to make it even better. It’s like adding or taking away just a little bit more frosting off a cake.
THE GUY WHO SHAKES HIS LEGS AND I JUST LOCKED EYES.
OH THIS BITCH KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING.
THAT LITTLE F….
Anyway…
Where I’m going with this?
I’m using all of you.
I’m using your time right now.
I’m using this time right now.
To get this done.
To trigger some sort of creative writing momentum for my main project.
It feels good.
I’m ready to fucking write.
Let’s go!
Let’s FUCKING GO.
Momentum.
Alright thanks for listening.
Some Cafe in KoreaTown - Los Angeles
11:19am in the morning.
Deleting later.