Brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.




Working on Your Craft



This week, I began discussing some of the ideas in Elizabeth Gilbert's new book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015). Today, I want to summarize some of her suggestions about doing creative work.  She says:
  • Make things. Then share them with an open heart.
  • You can live a long life, making and doing really cool things the entire time.
  • Thank creativity for having blessed you with a charmed, interesting, passionate existence.
  • Simply vow to the Universe to write forever, regardless of the result.
  • Be brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.
  • Never ask writing to be easy. Ask only that it be interesting.
  • Sneak off and have an affair with your most creative self.
  • Curiosity is the secret.  Curiosity is the is the truth and the way of creative living. Curiosity is the beginning and the end.
  • You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you passed your entire existence in devotion to the noble human virtue of inquisitiveness.
  • Don't let go of your courage the moment things stop being easy or rewarding.
So, do the work.  Do it with an open heart,  Be brave, joyful, and patient. 

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