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I think of creativity as God’s river or waterfall into which I step. There is a torrent of ideas out there; I just need to slow down, and step into the deluge.
Ray Bradbury, however, in his wonderful book on writing, Zen in the Art of Writing, refers to ideas as cats.
“I am accustomed to getting up every morning, running to the typewriter,” writing a short story, “and in an hour, I’ve created a world. I don’t have to wait for anyone. I don’t have to criticize anyone. It’s done. All I need is an hour, and I’m ahead of everyone. The rest of the day I can goof off. I’ve already done a thousand words this morning, so if I want to have a two or three-hour lunch, I can have it, because I’ve already beat everyone.
I never put up with anything from my ideas. As soon as things get difficult, I walk away.
That’s the great secret of creativity.
You treat ideas like cats; you make them follow you. If you try to approach a cat and pick it up, hell, it won’t let you do it. You’ve got to say, “Well, to hell with you.”
And the cat says, “Wait a minute. He’s not behaving the way most humans do.” Then the cat follows you out of curiosity: “What’s the matter with you that you don’t love me?”
Well, that’s what an idea is. See? You just say, “Well, hell, I don’t need depression. I don’t need worry. I don’t need to push. The ideas will follow me. When they’re off-guard, and ready to be born, I’ll turn around and grab them.”
(Particularly applicable for blogs, and poems, and stories and essays…)
Alison Hector says
November 12, 2013 at 8:42 pm“Typos are like mice; we need sharp-eyed cats to catch them.” LOL! And the whole cat theme immediately got my attention, Anita. I will be trying that approach. Living with a cat puts a new spin on everything; why not apply that to writing, eh?
Anita Mathias says
November 12, 2013 at 11:24 pmYes, relax and listen to what God is whispering to you, and what circumstances are speaking into your life. Then blogs come almost pre-organized and pre-written, and blogging becomes so much easier.
Anita Mathias says
November 16, 2013 at 11:09 pmIs the cat of writing coming closer?
Kathy says
November 12, 2013 at 5:49 pmBeing a cat lover, I was greatly intrigued by your blog today. “Treat ideas like cats and they will follow you,” as the author Ray Bradbury advises. Seems to work for him and I’ll try that philosophy today while I write on my novel. I do observe that cats get curious when you don’t respond as they anticipated. They will follow you and try to figure out what is going on in your world. This methodology may work! I’ll let you know when I finish up my work.
Anita Mathias says
November 13, 2013 at 10:56 amLol! Yes, do! I am a dog person myself! 🙂