Monday Mastery: Creativity as bravery
Writing in a difficult world, and art as an expression of courage.
Welcome to Monday Mastery, a series designed to shift your perspective, teach you new techniques, and help you become a more effective writer, one tip at a time.
You — yes you — have a compulsion to create.
Maybe you’re not an artist. Maybe you hesitate to call yourself a writer. Maybe describing yourself as “creative” seems like a stretch.
But somewhere inside you is a yearning to express yourself.
And that is creativity.
It comes in many forms, but creativity boils down to expression — sharing what’s inside you with the world; your ideas, experience, expertise, research, inspirations, questions, beliefs and connections.
Last week, I drove halfway across the state of Colorado to attend a few different technology events having to do with cybersecurity, AI and blockchain. I did this with my consulting firm in mind — we work primarily with B2B technology companies, and it’s important that I stay informed and connected in these areas.
What I got out of it, though, was more than just information.
I got creative affirmation.
Creativity is still alive and well. In fact, intellectual property in all forms is still thriving, and new technologies are spurring it on.
I tell you this in case you’ve fallen into the same trap I have: When things get hard, I start to see creativity as superfluous.
The abstract painting that hangs on my bedroom wall — the one my husband got me from an Australian artist I’d been following for years — what good does that do anyone when our political system is crumbling?
The turquoise necklace I bought from an indigenous artist outside Santa Fe — the one that brings me so much joy every time I wear it — what does that matter in a war-torn world?
The books, essays and articles I’ve been publishing for decades; the amateur painting I do on the weekends; the macro photography I’ve just started producing — what good is any of that when we’re in a sour economy?
IT ALL MATTERS.
All creativity matters!
If you’re reading this Substack, you most likely do some writing in some facet of your life, and I desperately need you to know this:
The words you put on the page, even if they’re “just” in your journal, or “just” a messy first draft you jotted down on your train ride, or “just” a memo to the employees you care for — that is all creativity, and it all matters.
Your words leave an imprint on this world.
They mark your place here.
When you write them down, they live on.
Yes, sometimes even small creativity is a big act of bravery — but we are brave.
In book writing, there is a practice we call “pantsing.” And no, it has nothing to do with middle-school antics. Pantsing is the act of writing without an outline, and without editing as you write. It’s writing by the seat of your pants.
For a planner, outliner and plotter like me, that’s a HUGE act of bravery.
And that’s exactly what I’m doing right this second. I am writing this article by the seat of my pants.
Now, I’ll go back through and edit it. I’ll probably rearrange it a bit, bold some text I want to draw your attention to, and cut anything erroneous. But I am treating this week’s Monday Mastery post as a case in point: Even those of us who write for a living have to screw up our courage and just create sometimes.
There is something we need to express, and writing is a versatile and powerful means to express it.
Art is not superfluous. It’s an expression of the human spirit.
Your writing — whether it’s private or public; for work or for pleasure — is not superfluous.
I give you permission to write by the seat of your pants if you need to.
Be brave.
Write.
Then comment here on this Substack post with what you’ve written so we can all share in your creativity.