Brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.

Working on Your Craft

This week, I began discussing some of the ideas in Elizabeth Gilbert's new book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (2015). Today, I want to summarize some of her suggestions about doing creative work.  She says:

• Make things. Then share them with an open heart.

• You can live a long life, making and doing really cool things the entire time.

• Thank creativity for having blessed you with a charmed, interesting, passionate existence.

• Simply vow to the Universe to write forever, regardless of the result.

• Be brave. Grateful. Uncomplaining.

• Never ask writing to be easy. Ask only that it be interesting.

• Sneak off and have an affair with your most creative self.

• Curiosity is the secret.  Curiosity is the is the truth and the way of creative living. Curiosity is the beginning and the end.

• You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you passed your entire existence in devotion to the noble human virtue of inquisitiveness.

• Don't let go of your courage the moment things stop being easy or rewarding.

So, do the work.  Do it with an open heart,  Be brave, joyful, and patient.