This week my blog turns 1 year old. For the last 52 weeks I have posted something that I have written and sent it out into the strange, empty-feeling void of the internet where, I hope, some people have found it. I have managed to do this every single week (except for the time I had unbelievably bad food poisoning and so gave myself a pass) and that in itself is a massive achievement for me.
I am someone who is motivated most easily by external things – mostly doing things for others and feeling responsible to them. I am challenged when it comes to doing things where I have to be internally motivated, things for myself. This blog, although it has some outward facing elements, at its heart is a selfish endeavour. I write for me. I write because I need to – it helps me sort out things in my head – and because I want to. I want to get better at it, I want to write things that connect with people, I want to share things I find out. In that respect, because it is mainly for me, I’m not sure I expected that I would stick with it. I honestly thought it would end up like many of those other failed one-a-day-sketches/photographs/journal writing type exercises that I have started over the years. That I am still here, a year later, making the time to write each week and get it out, is something I feel rather proud of.
A year ago the blog was more ordered and planned. I had a lot of stuff I wanted to share, especially about writing and communication skills. But once all the posts were written that covered those topics, and I had to start coming up with content on a weekly basis, I realised that the easiest place to look for inspiration was within me. I am a creative who works with makers, designers and artists. I spend pretty much all my time thinking about other people’s creative practices. And along the way my own creative practice has been somewhat neglected. This blog has prompted me to examine that, to ask myself why I don’t make anymore, and to share how I am trying to find my way back.
I am a reluctant blogger. If I didn’t share all this stuff here I would still write most of it; only it would never leave my computer. But I wanted the writing to be a bit bigger than me so I took the plunge of sharing it. Still, you’ll notice that I don’t have comments on my blog. And that is because I am timid and a bit frightened of hearing the feedback. I think I needed this safer ‘only me here’ space to start testing out my ideas. But maybe I should be brave, and maybe in the spirit of pushing myself and being open to possibility I should open this up a bit more. Because I really would love to hear back from people out there. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your creative practice – the successes and the not-so-successful moments.
So here goes… in celebration of sticking with this process, of learning to embrace uncertainty and let things happen more organically, of being transparent about where I am creatively, I open this up to you. How are you doing today?