10 Ways to… is a hundreds of millions results title in the Internet. Every question
has an answer and every situation has at least 10 ways to avoid it, or to prop
it up.
I’m not an experienced blogger, in fact I’ve just started. As for the
drawing thing, I’m self-taught. Naturally, the net has become my best friend
and adviser. Before I started my blogs, I spend countless hours on searching
and haven’t stopped since. Except information, one can find inspiration too. In
writing short stories, for example, the web is an over flooded source of
inspiration. The same when it comes to drawing. Nonetheless, there will come a
day (or, if the case is more serious, several days) when nothing around you,
the net including, can sparkle an idea for a story or for, at least, a pre-sketch.
Therefore, before you lose your mind and damage your self-esteem by believing
that you lost your talent or, even worse, you never had one, get up from your
desk and do something. Anything will do!
The Do’s
1.
Get far away
from your desk and your working place. Stop staring at the screen of your
computer, or the blank paper of your sketchbook. For starters, staring is not
polite. Second, trust me nothing will magically pop-up. On the other hand, if
something do pop-up inside your head, then pc and blank papers would be exactly
where you left them, awaiting to be used.
2.
If you can’t
just turn your back to your work and walk away, then let’s take it one step at
the time. You still need to get up, but you don’t have go away. Grab your
cleansers, some cloths and put your kind of music, loud. Clean and organise
your working ground meticulously. Get creative with biscuit cases or cans to
organise your craft, write in calligraphy sections for your notes, garnish your
notebooks, or sketchbooks. Don’t look at the time, spend it with grace.
3.
When I was
searching for tips on writing I came across with list’s of 10’s from several
writers. Roddy Doyle, Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter, wrote, “Do,
occasionally, give in to temptation. Wash the kitchen floor, hang out the
washing. It’s research.” Need to say no more!
4.
Make love with
your partner and not in everyday’s way. Stay in bed, chat, share a cigarette if
you smoke, wine if you don’t and make love again. You will be fresh as new
afterwards.
5.
Organise a night
out, preferably with people that don’t share profession. Make sure you won’t
have to drive and that you’ll have a magnificent hangover the next day. But,
before you leave the house bring forth your sparkling self.
6.
Exercise or go
for a walk with music in your ears. Don’t take your work with you. Just a small
notebook will do, but carry it in a manner that you will forget its existence.
If inspiration knocks you on the head with a hammer, leaving you no choice
then, and only then, take it out.
7.
Take a long
bath. You’ll need bath salts, if you don’t have any now is the time to buy some.
You’ll also need candles, wine and, most important of all, music. Even more
importantly, don’t think about your work. Turn off the lights and relax.
The Don’ts
1.
For goodness
sake, don’t deal with your finances. If you’re not, yet, a success a blocking
period is the most unsuitable time to do the calculations of your earnings.
Even succeeded artists or writers don’t earn enough to boost their self-esteem
on bad days by doing the maths.
2.
Don’t go to the
movies, if you are a writer. You won’t be able to enjoy the film. You’ll be
constantly trying to find inspiration in every single scene and line, even
subconsciously. The same goes for artists and galleries.
3.
Whatever work
you managed to do at the beginning and during the blocking period, do not throw
it away. At least, wait for the blocking to go away and then you decide.
Personally, I never throw away any kind of work, even the bad ones. After all,
it’s still my work. Besides, everything we do has a part of us and you never
know when you’ll need it, even for the plainest walk down the memory lane.
