Flipping creativity on its head

I was recently interviewed on a podcast about short, high-impact pieces of advice. The idea is to pass along what you were told or what you realized to others who need or want to implement something that day. Here was mine…

Create to understand.

I used to think creative people were sharing what they knew to be certain. I now believe they’re trying to understand. The way they bridge that gap is to move from silence to saying something. The process of making their art is how they try to make sense of the world and their own relationship to it.

Created works aren’t the packaging and sharing of definite answers — at least not created works gifted to others from a place of generosity. (Ignore the supposed “secrets to success.” They don’t exist.)

Instead, created works are the author’s attempt at figuring something out. They went on a journey, and that project you’re receiving is like their souvenir from the trip. This is what I wanted to figure out. This is what I took back with me. I’m sharing it with you now.

When we see creativity as the process of trying to understand, it’s no longer the domain of those who already understand. In other words, creativity is for all, not for a few.

Whether you’re just starting or you need a reminder of why you did, try to frame it this way: create to understand.

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I use a few projects to try and understand things more deeply. I’m no sharing answers. I’m sharing my progress towards them, inviting you along. They are…

• My dailyish blog on creativity, craft-driven work, and questioning conventional thinking. Subscribe here.

• My weekly podcast about making better podcasts, 3 Clips, where I dissect great shows a few little pieces at a time.

• My book, Break the Wheel, the souvenir I brought back from two and a half years trying to figure out the problems with “best practices” and how to make choices more tailored to YOU.