I’ve been writing the Committed Impulse book very steadily. And enjoying it.
Interesting thing though…
I can’t tell you how many people have laid out a certain message to me after I got my deal with Penguin Random House.
Things like,
“Writing your book is going to be like climbing a mountain.” Or…
“Getting the deal is one thing – but now you’re gonna have to actually write it.” Or…
“You got a six figure deal, aren’t you scared it won’t be good enough?”
Kinda weird that some people want me to approach this creative process as if it were a burden.
Burden with agony sprinkles on top.
Truth is – it’s been a real joy thus far.
I mean – writing a book about being creatively invincible should be written with joy, right?
Working HARRRD is something I’ve done a lot of – but in retrospect a percentage of that HARRRD work was me just adding stress to whatever was in front of me.
It can’t be dismissed that in our culture being stressed out and carrying a heavy burden is oddly looked at as a certain kind of success.
F*^k that. Right?
Maybe if an act of creation is challenging – that’s just the universe asking us to shed some unnecessary skin and expand into our next level of artistry.
No doubt, creating is often challenging.
But adding burden and agony when facing that challenge doesn’t make one more heroic.
That’s just revving the engine when it’s in neutral.
Part of my mission is to support you in your creative endeavors.
So, question for ya, Pookie.
Are you by any chance adding unnecessary burden or agony to your creative process?
Hmm?
If so – why?
Another question…
In this new year is there a way you can do things differently?
What if you explored approaching things in the exact opposite way as you have in the past?
Just to shake it up a lil.
Just to explore.
To that end, if you wanna work/create/express/commit to your impulses with me, join me on the Committed Impulse Online Program, or one of the live or Zoom events happening this year.
I think you’re great!
I think you’re a badass!
I dig your scene.
Your future is bright.
Now, we all wanna hear from you.
-What would an opposite approach to creating in this new year be?
-And, would it be OK to take the struggle and agony out of your creative process?
Pop your insights, questions, and thoughts below.
I love this Josh, what if it didn’t have to be hard? I wrote a manuscript about what my oldest son and I went through after my youngest son was killed in an accident last year. The writing helped me process it, and I actually love the resulting story of survival in some small ways, the hope that sprouts up out of it, and the characters we met along the way out of hell. The harsh coldness of tragedy mixed with warm real life is just real. But I have this belief that what we experienced is too horrible for people to read. I have like this visceral feeling of the publishing world stepping back from it, disapproving, afraid to touch it. I sent it out to a few agents kind of apologetically, expecting rejection. Why though? It’s part of human life. Thanks for helping me shake that loose. What would an opposite approach to creating in this new year be? Sharing our story isn’t THAT hard and impossible. The opposite would be imaging someone waiting for this story, relieved, and not stepping back in disgust but stepping forward to see how we survived. Someone wanting to join us in finding hope after unacceptable loss. When you said “the exact opposite way” I felt a light come on.
Hi Libby
I think your story/book would be of immense value to so many people.
When tragedy hits we often feel alone – and to read someone’s story who has also gone through tough times can make people feel less alone. This is your story – tell it. And you may have to send it to 20 book agents to find the perfect one. Trust this came out of you for a reason.
Send it out!
All the best
Josh