Dara Girard - 10 Things to Forget: To be Creatively Free

Dara Girard

Published by ILORI PRESS BOOKS LLC

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author.

For some reason many an aspiring artists (whether a musician, visual artist, writer etc) want rules. Lots of rules. They want to know whether or not they should use one technology over another. They wonder what their industry gatekeepers (i.e. music executives, agents, editors, gallery owners) are looking for. Whats the latest trend? Should they create early in the morning or late at night? Should they go the traditional route or an independent one?

They think that reading about how successful working artists schedule their time, or do their routinepen versus laptop versus dictation; jam session or independent studyis the key to the castle of success. They couldnt be more wrong.

Ive been a working artist for over a decade and Ive been able to survive a lot of the hits most working artists face. And Ive been fortunate enough to mingle with people who have been in the industry for twenty to forty years (thats one benefit of sticking to a dream, youll get to meet some of your heroes).

Its a thrilling and humbling experience to meet and talk with these individuals because I discovered they all have two things in common: A bold, fearless joy for the art of their craft and business savvy.

Yes, you heard mebusiness savvy, a topic that is rarely, if ever, spoken about much in the creative world because its only supposed to be about The Art.

Cue in the laughter.

Long-term professionals know this is a myth fed to neophytes.

Once you hit a certain level, your focus will no longer be to just create the best book, song, or software you can; your job will be to continue to learn and grow your business. The savvy working artists Ive had a chance to meet know this. They have dealt with career blows, disappointments and financial hardships. But theyre still here and so am I.

Why?

Thats what this book is about.

We live in an information age where people think the more you know, the better youll be. More often than not, too much knowledge can get in your way. It will make you question yourself. As a working artist, you already know a lot more than you think. Youre just afraid you dont.

To know the road ahead, ask

those coming back.

Chinese proverb

Why?

USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith calls it the Critical Brain.

Author Steven Pressfield calls it Resistance.

Its the primal lizard brain. Its the voice of fear and it will stop your creativity. Thats its job. It wants to keep you safe.

But safety is the death of art.

Following a known trend just because is like setting up a lemonade stand right next to three other lemonade stands because its hot and you want to make pocket change. Why should I choose you when I can get the very same thing from the kid next to you?

But what if you made your lemonade green? Hmmm.

Standing out. Thats a scary concept. But if you think of notable artists in any field, theres usually something about their work that sets them apart.

These notable, working artists put in that little extra that usually gets overlooked. That little extra is what makes all the difference to the long-term working artist who creates with joy for decades.

In order to achieve this you will need to be creatively free.

I hope that the ten things to forget listed in this book will help free you so that you wont be on a conveyer belt of also-rans. So you wont become one of those artists whose work starts to sound the same or who becomes bitter and angry because you believe the industry is harsh to your creations.

You can become the fiercest advocate for your work.

Not in a bombastic way, because if youre a true advocate, you wont have to speak at all. Well see your work, it will be available and well know what you stand for. Youll be one of those working artists who loves what she does. Who wakes up with purpose and passion. Who continues to learn how to grow without losing your special voice.

Thats the balance.

Long-term working artists are always learning something new and know how to apply what they learn to themselves. Being a sponge is about as dangerous as being a doormat. People will use you and wring you out.

However, all artists are different so dont follow anything that doesnt suit you.

But...

If youre struggling through creative blocks and unhappiness then I hope forgetting the following ten things will set your genius free.

I could never do that, its been done before.

Stories like that have been done to death, nobody reads that anymore.

I want to be original. I dont want to be second best.

Statements like these have killed wonderful projects before theyve even had a chance to flower. Searching for being original makes you believe that everything that comes from your mind must wow the world. It must be something thats never been seen, heard or experienced before. You must be original is a myth.

Heres the secret.

If you just start, your version will be original. You already see the world in an original way. Think of how many people have taken the boy meets girl, or man goes on quest theme and turned them into completely different stories.

Keep in mind that the person to write for is

yourself. Tell the story that you most

desperately want to read.

Susan Isaacs

Van Gogh painted flowers totally different than Georgia OKeefe. The moment youre born the die has been castyoure original.

Youre the mix that spices any project if youre bold enough to be authentically you.

Its like adding something to water. Give five people a glass of water and then give each of them a different food coloring to add to their glass. Although its just water their glasses will all look vastly different.

Ah, but they will all taste the same.

Okay, but what if someone added lemon, another added strawberries, and one added fizz?

Am I starting to make my point?

They all started with the exact same thing, but what they added made the difference.

It doesnt matter what you start with, its what you add.

And what successful, working artists add is passion.

They create projects because they want to, because it fuels them. And thats how you can stay productive. Create for fun.

How to forget about being original

Just say what you want to say how you want to say it. Ever stopped yourself from saying hello? because its been said a million times before? Have you ever asked someone How are you? and meant it? Have you ever asked someone How are you? and not meant it? The words havent changed, but your intention did and thats what originality is all about.

Stop judging your work.

Realize originality doesnt exist in the way you think. Everything comes from something else.

Find another career. Seriously, if you cant get past this myth youre in deep trouble and your working days are numbered. The book Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon may help.

Remember that your ego will always try to take over.