Easy does it, but do it.

Today I read a wonderful essay in my new Julia Cameron book, The Sound of Paper.  As is often the case when I pick up one of her books, it was just what I needed to read. She told me how Richard Rodgers, through turning up at his piano on a daily basis produced a vast selection of 900 plus works.

This ties in with my current quest for sustainable creativity.  Easy does it is my mantra of the moment.  Bit by bit is how I like to think of myself making work.  I’m trying to picture myself strolling along, instead of rushing, running, chasing.  That’s it, I’m on a gentle walk

My companion on my stroll perhaps has to be someone called Routine.  He’s a new friend of mine and someone I don’t know too well yet. I am trying to get to know him.  For a lot of years I’ve struggled with trying to create routines – my mistake has always been that they have been too crowded.  In my current state of health my routine needs to be small and flexible – it has to largely make it’s own shape.  For instance, I’m noticing that I’m posting to my blog two or three times a week.  I’d like it to be more but it doesn’t ever seem to be – perhaps it will one day.  I think I ought to draw every day, but my shape seems to be a little less often than that.  Bit by bit, I’m still building a body of work so, for now this is enough.

The thing about this gentle routine then is that it is sustainable.  I’ve been posting to my blog and drawing for the best part of a year now.  That’s a habit now.  I’m not Richard Rodgers at his piano every morning, but I am making work and keeping at it.