Do You Struggle to Find the Time and Motivation to Create? Here's a Solution.

"If you wait until the conditions are right, you'll never move forward." ~ Jurgen Wolff

When you sit down to create something, how do you guarantee that the ideas - the right ideas - will spring to the tips of your fingers precisely at the moment you need them?

Do you ever find that you just don't have the time to indulge your creative side? You fear you'll never finish that novel, paint a masterpiece onto that canvas or finish that sewing pattern because you just have too much else to do? And let's face it, you're shattered at the end of the working day!

The problem is that we are all forced to dance to the tune of the modern world. We have so many demands on our time. It almost seems like a barmy paradox to have to schedule in a regimented window in our diaries in which we may permit ourselves to create, to be the most authentic, the most free and energetic, the most us we can be. But this is the way of things, and it's certainly a better option than reaching the end of your life and regretting never having allowed yourself the time to fully explore the amazing creative talents you possess.

Scheduled time is the only way many of us can indulge the creative side of our personality at all, and all too often we don't give this time the attention it deserves. Life gets in the way. You are a creative individual, and that part of your personality should not be ignored.

                        

Source: interioralchemy.tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

I'm going to be looking at a series of solutions to the problems of making time to create, and how to summon great ideas on demand over the next few weeks. It's a project I'm really looking forward to exploring, and hope you'll both join me and join in.

So if any of what I have just said has rung true with you - if you struggle to commit to time to create, or find yourself putting it off. If you manage to drag yourself to the desk but end up browsing Facebook or staring at the TV instead... don't fear. You're human. And I have a cunning plan...

Creatives Unite!

Every Thursday evening - starting with this week - I invite you to join me between 9 and 10pm for an intense creativity session. Whatever it is you do, from blogging to knitting, fiction writing to Airfix modelling, painting to pottery, sit down with your chosen beverage and join me in a solid hour of uninterrupted creating.

I'll be there every step of the way on Twitter, from the starting pistol to the finishing siren. When you sit down to create you'll have the comfort of knowing that there are others out there - hopefully more each week - battling with and coaxing their muse, just like you. With all other distractions switched off, and the clock ticking, you'll be amazed at what you can come up with in that time.

Why?

Because you don't make enough time in your life for what you love. Because you've been telling yourself for years that you have to have the perfect time, the perfect desk, the perfect idea, the right materials, the kids need to grow up and move out, the dog needs a walk, that essay needs writing, the toilet needs cleaning.... blah blah blah. Because everyone is going through harrowing times in this tough economy at the moment, and creating is one of the best remedies in existence for keeping you healthy and sane.

You don't have to create your final project or finish anything in that time. You can use it to plan a plot, research ideas on Pinterest, source your next fabric... it doesn't matter as long as you are concentrating all of your efforts on furthering your chosen project.

It's only an hour, but it may just be the kick-start you need to see your project through.

Like The Plan? Here's how to join in:

1. Register for the session each week. Send an email to storyinateacup@gmail.com, telling me your name and what you'll be working on, or send me a tweet @storyinateacup.

2. Get yourself on Twitter, where I'll be tweeting weekly announcements that each session is going ahead, as well as the starting pistol and finishing siren for each session. It's also a brilliant way for fellow creatives to network and encourage one another.

3. The best bit - decide on your reward! Concentrating for an hour on a project you've been procrastinating over can be difficult at first, so we need to keep your motivation high. Your reward can be anything from a cup of tea (or wine!) to a movie at the weekend, a new book... you're a creative person, use your imagination!

4. On completing your hour, tell the world! Send me a tweet or an email, and I'll pass on the great news!


The more people we get to join in, the more rewarding the experience will be, so spread the word on Twitter, and Creatives Unite!

See you on Thursday! (If you want to get a practise in have a go at Inspirational Wednesday here on the blog tomorrow.)