TEDTalks (2009) feat. "A New Way To Think About Creativity" Elizabeth Gilbert Part (2 Of 2)

Summary

In this reflective and insightful speech, the speaker explores the unpredictable nature of the creative process, drawing on personal experiences and stories from notable figures like poet Ruth Stone and musician Tom Waits. The speaker emphasizes the mystery of creativity, likening it to a collaboration with an external force that cannot always be controlled. Through anecdotes and personal insights, the speaker encourages persistence and acceptance of the unknown aspects of creativity, stressing the importance of showing up and doing the work, regardless of whether the 'divine' inspiration strikes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creative process is often unpredictable and can feel paranormal, as it defies rational explanation and may appear capricious.
• 😀 Ruth Stone, an American poet, describes inspiration as a powerful force that can feel like a thunderous train of air, which can be chased but sometimes missed.
• 😀 Sometimes, creative inspiration comes unexpectedly, and artists may need to rush to capture it before it slips away.
• 😀 Tom Waits, a musician, shares his experience of letting go of anxiety around creative impulses by externalizing the process, asking inspiration to return at a better time.
• 😀 Waits' approach to creativity changed when he stopped internalizing anxiety and viewed inspiration as a collaboration rather than a source of torment.
• 😀 Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how adopting a more relaxed, non-anxious approach to creativity helped her while writing her book 'Eat Pray Love'.
• 😀 Gilbert's creative breakthrough came when she communicated aloud to the 'thing' of inspiration, acknowledging her own efforts and asking for cooperation.
• 😀 The story of sacred dances in North Africa illustrates how creativity can transcend the human experience, capturing moments of divine brilliance during performance.
• 😀 Once the 'moment of divinity' passes, the artist may face the challenge of returning to normalcy, where the extraordinary is no longer present, but the work continues.
• 😀 The key to navigating the struggles of the creative process is to show up consistently, regardless of whether divine inspiration is present, and to trust in the process of doing the work.
• 😀 The concept of 'Olay' represents the acceptance that even if the most extraordinary work does not appear, the act of showing up and creating is valuable in itself.

Q & A

What does the speaker describe as the creative process?

The speaker compares the creative process to an unpredictable, maddening force that can often feel irrational or even paranormal, highlighting how inspiration can come unexpectedly and how it sometimes takes a physical and mental toll on the artist.

How does Ruth Stone describe her creative process?

Ruth Stone describes her process as feeling a poem coming towards her like a 'thunderous train of air.' She would have to run to capture it on paper before it passed, sometimes missing it and leaving her to search for it again.

What is the significance of Ruth Stone's experience in the context of the speaker's creative process?

Ruth Stone’s experience illustrates the external, uncontrollable nature of inspiration that can come upon an artist. The speaker relates this to her own creative process, acknowledging that while her method is more laborious and controlled, she has occasionally felt a similar external force.

How does the speaker contrast her own creative process with that of Ruth Stone?

The speaker contrasts Ruth Stone’s more spontaneous and magical process with her own, describing her process as more methodical and 'mule-like,' requiring hard work, persistence, and routine.

What role does Tom Waits play in shaping the speaker's approach to creativity?

Tom Waits' story about releasing his creative anxiety and letting inspiration return at the right time deeply influenced the speaker. His approach helped her realize that creativity doesn’t have to be internalized and tormented but can be a collaboration with an external, mysterious source.

What happens in Tom Waits' story that changes his creative process?

Tom Waits describes a moment when he hears a fragment of melody while driving and instead of panicking, he addresses it as an external force, saying it should come back at a more opportune moment. This moment marks a shift in his process, allowing him to relax his control over creativity.

How did the speaker apply Tom Waits' perspective to her own writing process?

The speaker applied Tom Waits' approach by, during a moment of creative despair while writing *Eat, Pray, Love*, addressing her work as if it were an external force. She acknowledged that if the book wasn't brilliant, it wasn't entirely her fault, and that the work itself had a role in the outcome.

What does the speaker mean by 'doing your dance' in the context of creativity?

The phrase 'do your dance' refers to continuing to show up and do the work, regardless of whether the outcome is extraordinary or not. It suggests the importance of dedication and persistence, even when the creative process doesn’t yield immediate or obvious results.

What historical reference does the speaker make to emphasize the idea of transcendent moments in creativity?

The speaker references sacred dances in North Africa, where performers occasionally achieved transcendence, appearing divinely inspired. This idea of transcendent creativity is used to highlight those rare, magical moments in an artist's work when everything aligns and produces something extraordinary.

How does the speaker suggest artists reconcile with the moments when their creativity is not transcendent?

The speaker suggests that artists should not be tormented by the fleeting nature of transcendent creativity. Instead, they should accept that these moments are temporary and that their value lies in the commitment to keep showing up and continuing their work, regardless of whether divine moments occur again.