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Since I decided my blog would be focused on creativity, I’ve been reading a lot about the topic. Big Magic was recommended by a youTuber recently, so I borrowed the audio book through my local library. This book feeds right into my search for creativity and lifelong learning.
I have always taken creativity for granted. From childhood I have always had an active imagination, and love to draw, write, and make things. If you are reluctant to explore your creativity, or if you are reluctant to share it, I urge you to get this book.
Big Magic
The “Big Magic” in the title is the author’s firm belief that creativity is literally the work of something supernatural. Even the word “inspiration” means “god breathed.” Whether or not you believe that an unseen force can kindle within you the creative process, I happen to believe that there is something special happening when we decide to follow through with the creative act.
Back to the magic. When you have an idea, Gilbert believes that something is pushing you to create this thing. It’s your responsibility to make it come to fruition. If you don’t, then the idea will be taken away from you and given to someone else. She then tells a story about an idea she had for a novel. She began collecting research but then dropped the project. After some time passed she started to pick up the research again and found the motivation and excitement was gone. When talking to another author, she found out that this other author had written a novel based on a similar idea! To her, this was proof that the idea was an alive thing. She believed that it was not given a chance to be born through her, so the idea chose someone else.
The lesson being: if you are given inspiration, you might lose it if you are not prepared to follow it through. It has the corollary that you must be open to inspiration, carefully making yourself attractive to ideas, like getting a wild bird to eat out of your hand.
Success is not money
Creativity is a means to an end. Almost nothing I have ever made using my creative abilities has been for money. Certainly, not enough to live off of for even a day. But following through with your art is the end-result. If it happens to make some money, fine. If it’s a huge success and your work becomes the next Harry Potter or Eat, Pray, Love then even better. But “success” is the creative act itself.
Gilbert also cautions against spending a lot of money for education or certifications. Being educated doesn’t guarantee prosperity. As she puts it, “debt is the abattoir of creative dreams.”
Art is a lose-lose proposition
I have toiled on many, many things that only I have ever laid eyes on. My reluctance to share my creativity is still something I’m working on. This blog is part of that effort. But sharing your work is key to your growth. Writers attend workshops, not because they are displaying a perfect work, but because others will weigh in their perspective. The opinions and criticisms of others can only help you grow as an artist, if you are willing to be open to it.
That being said, once it’s out there, you no longer have any control of it. “The reaction doesn’t belong to you,” as she puts it. People may hate your work, hate you, or love you, love your work (or some combination of those). But what you made is no longer yours. The thoughts that others have, even thoughts that are the opposite of what you’re trying to convey, belong to those who view your work. They are not “wrong” in their opinions any more than you feel “right” about the idea that you brought about.
But you won’t know how things will turn out until it’s out there for the world to see. I can’t remember if this is an exact quote, but the idea is, “The world doesn’t owe you anything. Create for the sake of creating.” If you need a kick in the pants, that’s it.
Find your genius
As I have read on the subject of creativity, I have found a common thread: ideas, solutions to problems, or new perspectives seem to come out of nowhere. Is it out of nowhere? Or can your mind unconsciously reach beyond your normal thought patterns? Big Magic postulates that something, call it energy or spirit, reaches out to us. If we are open to it, we can access it in order to become slightly more than what we normally are.
Gilbert says that the Greeks had the term, eudaimonium, or “good spirit.” It was one’s inspiration or muse. The Latin term is “genius.” But our modern definition of genius has shifted our perception, because to most English speakers genius is something that one is. You either are “a genius” or you are not. But the original meaning is that genius is something given. And anyone can be given the creative spark. It is up to you to fan the spark into flames.
My Takeaway from Big Magic
On the subject of creativity, I found Big Magic to be a nice “up and at ’em” shot in the arm. The anecdotes were convincing, and even the glimpses into the challenges and setbacks of the writing craft were more encouraging than otherwise.
This is what I heard:
- Be open to creative ideas, whether you believe it comes from some supernatural source, or is completely part of your own mind.
- Release your creation to the world. What the world makes of it is not up to you, but it will have improved your skill or mindset in some way.
- Embrace transformation. While your creativity may not lead to prosperity or recognition, it will have made you into something more than you used to be.
Buy Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert at Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore! Or, support your local library and borrow it. Libraries are an overlooked but crucial lifeline to one’s life-long learning.
Have you read ‘Big Magic’? What are your favorite creativity books? Let’s discuss in the comments!