The Eight Stages of Creation
A character sheet
Name: Inspiration.
Age: As fleeting as a shooting star.
Appearance: A lightbulb moment, often at 3 AM.
Occurrence: Less frequent than desired.
Effect: A rush of adrenaline, followed by frantic note-taking.
Reason: A muse’s whisper, or maybe just too much caffeine.
Cause: The universe’s random alignment or a stroke of luck.
Does it matter? In the moment, it’s everything.
Isn’t it elusive? Always, but its chase is what keeps us alive.
What’s important then? Capturing the essence before it fades.
Treatment: Keep a notebook handy, and abandon sleep.
Name: Doubt.
Age: Creeping in just after the initial excitement.
Appearance: A nagging voice in the back of your mind.
Occurrence: Just as you start to lay down your ideas.
Effect: Hesitation, second-guessing every choice.
Cause: The gap between vision and execution.
Does it matter? To the ego, immensely.
Treatment: Stubborn perseverance, and maybe a glass of wine.
Name: Flow.
Age: Timeless.
Appearance: Lost in the zone, where hours feel like minutes.
Occurrence: When stars align, and distractions are at bay.
Effect: A seamless stream of creativity.
Cause: Complete immersion in the task.
Does it matter? It matters as much as breathing.
Treatment: Do not disturb. Let it ride.
Name: Frustration.
Age: Hits in waves.
Appearance: A crumpled paper ball; the delete key worn down.
Occurrence: When reality or overthinking creeps in.
Effect: A mix of irritation and despair.
Cause: The chasm between expectation and reality.
Does it matter? In the grand scheme, it’s just another step.
Treatment: Invest in a punching bag.
Name: Breakthrough.
Age: When least expected.
Appearance: The puzzle pieces finally fitting together.
Occurrence: After many trials and just as many errors.
Effect: Renewed enthusiasm and a sense of direction.
Cause: Persistence, patience, and perhaps a dash of serendipity.
Does it matter? It compensates for all the frustration.
Treatment: Capitalize on the momentum, and forge ahead.
Name: Exhaustion.
Age: Accumulative.
Appearance: Bleary eyes and a cluttered workspace.
Occurrence: In the aftermath of a creative frenzy.
Effect: Physical and mental depletion.
Cause: Lack of sleep, obsession.
Does it matter? It signals the need for rest and recharge.
Treatment: Rest, relaxation, and frozen chocolate bars.
Name: Reflection.
Age: Contemplative.
Appearance: Staring at the finished product, wondering if it’s any good.
Occurrence: After the dust settles.
Effect: A mixture of pride and perpetual dissatisfaction.
Cause: The creator’s curse of never feeling quite finished.
Does it matter? It fuels growth and learning.
Treatment: Share your work, seek feedback, and then let it go.
Name: Renewal.
Age: Gradual.
Appearance: The slow return of energy and ideas.
Occurrence: With time and distance from the last project.
Effect: The budding desire to start anew.
Cause: The indomitable spirit of creation.
Does it matter? Like a day matters to a night
Treatment: Acceptance. Embrace the cycle, armed with new insights and the courage to begin again.
Love this, and stunningly accurate. I'd maybe expand the exhaustion one, to being induced not only by the *process* of doing the work (lsleeplessness, etc) but also by having finished and poured so much of *oneself* into it. Once heard the novelist Richard Ford say in a talk, I think during the Q and A, that he'd end up needing medical care for a week after finishing each novel. I didn't get it then, but do now. It's so different from the ordinary tiredness after intense bouts of less inwards kinds of writing, eg academic articles.
It's like you looked inside my brain and laid out all of my experiences in a list. Which is reassuring... we're all alike! And depressing: why can't I have an original reaction or feeling?