The animal crew watching a movie to ring in the new year. Art by me.
Hey gang, in lieu of a new year’s resolution post (and granted, it is Jan 20th Mar. 10), I wanted to pose a simple question. When did you feel most creatively fulfilled last year? Was there a single moment or experience that comes to mind? Speak on it.
For me, it’s a pretty easy one. I hosted a murder mystery party that I’ll probably write more about here soon. For the unfamiliar, these events typically involve everyone getting assigned a character with one person being the designated murderer. Everyone has their own objectives for the evening while simultaneously trying to deduce who the killer is.
I purchased a prepared pack of characters and a scenario that was supposed to guide us through the night. But with all due respect to the publishers, I realized I didn’t like any of it. The writing was hokey, and the format seemed excruciating. So I spent a few weeks rewriting the whole scenario and every character. I cracked myself up writing characters specifically for my friends. Add that to the effort of coordinating 20 adult schedules, and it was the most work I’d done in a compact time for any one project in years. When the night came seeing the first three guests arrive fully in character and costume was so gratifying. I know if I tweaked a few more things, I could probably sell the pack as a fully original game, but the whole idea of making this thing solely for me and mine’s enjoyment made the process of creation so pure and easy. Highly recommend spending hours doing something similar.
Last Spring, I wrote a few flash fiction pieces for my creative writing workshop the day they were due. Honestly, I don't know what happened - the stories flowed so naturally and I felt like I was meant to write them at that particular point in time. Trying to recreate that intuition without overthinking but it's been hard.
Oh that's so great! But yeah, it's a weird feeling. Where there's just a day or so when you just have IT, for whatever reason. I remember trying to write a spoken piece for the first time in a while for a work event. I spent a week on it and while it went fine, It's not a piece I'm proud of. Then a few months later, I wrote an entirely new and unrelated spoken piece during a single short plane ride. It really took no time at all. And if I may, I knew it was great instantly.
But I think I'm learning to look at the seemingly unrelated and failed sessions as build up to the creative breakthroughs, even when they are from different projects. I really like your framing of being meant to write those pieces at a particular point in time.
Last year I shot a short film that I'd written, directed, produced, acted in, and edited. The most creative part of the process was writing, although, funnily enough, I don't remember actually writing it. It must've just been in one of those inspired moments where it flowed seamlessly through my pen. After writing the script, I got to plan out the costumes, casting, shot list, etc. I did LITERALLY everything except for hold the camera, keep track of shots/footage, record the audio, and play the other characters. It was kind of exhausting, but so much fun, and I'm so glad that I just went and DID that!
WOW! That's so so cool and so so much haha! Congrats on that!! sounds like a super gratifying project. Like @Ebie was saying above, I love those moments where it's all just flowing naturally. Makes all those clunkier creative sessions throughout life feel more worth it lol. Congrats again on the film!
Last year was extremely challenging for me so this is not what I would consider a typical response to this question but it’s real.
I had to find my creativity while planning my brother Frederick’s memorial service. I was required to design and print the announcement, write the eulogy, officiate the service and give the eulogy, come up with the decor, select the playlist of music, order flowers, notify family and livestream the service. All of this I wanted to be done in a classy way that reflected the playful side of my brother. I think it turned out well.
Love you Auntie, thank you for sharing. That sounds beautiful, and it makes perfect sense to me. I felt something similar preparing the eulogy and slide show for my late godfather Josh two years ago. Rest well Uncle Frederick. I wish I had the chance to have known him better. If you happen to have that playlist still, I'd love to listen to it if you're comfortable sharing. Love you.
I've been actively trying to increase my creative output this year. Very scary thing to do and a lot of work, but I'm trying. This is just a small victory, but it's progress: I started a movie club and have been writing long-form Letterboxd reviews every week as part of it. Forcing myself to sit down, think, and express has been a great mental exercise-- my brain is starting to get sore. Even if it is just about movies and consuming media, I still feel happy being able to put a little bit of myself into something and send it out into the ether.
No yes, that's wonderful. It truly is so helpful to sit down, take in and really process the art you enjoy. I think I had a string during the pandemic where I was always pushing for Lady Jade and I to watch almost exclusively pretty "bad," movies. Which can be a fine enough practice, but I found it to ultimately be a little mean-spirited on my part, and even more so, when I started watching good stories again, I was like, "Oh yeah, this is good for me, as a person/artist, etc." So all to say, that's a wonderful small victory! I now simply must find you on Letterboxd as well haha!
For me, it’s a pretty easy one. I hosted a murder mystery party that I’ll probably write more about here soon. For the unfamiliar, these events typically involve everyone getting assigned a character with one person being the designated murderer. Everyone has their own objectives for the evening while simultaneously trying to deduce who the killer is.
I purchased a prepared pack of characters and a scenario that was supposed to guide us through the night. But with all due respect to the publishers, I realized I didn’t like any of it. The writing was hokey, and the format seemed excruciating. So I spent a few weeks rewriting the whole scenario and every character. I cracked myself up writing characters specifically for my friends. Add that to the effort of coordinating 20 adult schedules, and it was the most work I’d done in a compact time for any one project in years. When the night came seeing the first three guests arrive fully in character and costume was so gratifying. I know if I tweaked a few more things, I could probably sell the pack as a fully original game, but the whole idea of making this thing solely for me and mine’s enjoyment made the process of creation so pure and easy. Highly recommend spending hours doing something similar.
Last Spring, I wrote a few flash fiction pieces for my creative writing workshop the day they were due. Honestly, I don't know what happened - the stories flowed so naturally and I felt like I was meant to write them at that particular point in time. Trying to recreate that intuition without overthinking but it's been hard.
Oh that's so great! But yeah, it's a weird feeling. Where there's just a day or so when you just have IT, for whatever reason. I remember trying to write a spoken piece for the first time in a while for a work event. I spent a week on it and while it went fine, It's not a piece I'm proud of. Then a few months later, I wrote an entirely new and unrelated spoken piece during a single short plane ride. It really took no time at all. And if I may, I knew it was great instantly.
But I think I'm learning to look at the seemingly unrelated and failed sessions as build up to the creative breakthroughs, even when they are from different projects. I really like your framing of being meant to write those pieces at a particular point in time.
Last year I shot a short film that I'd written, directed, produced, acted in, and edited. The most creative part of the process was writing, although, funnily enough, I don't remember actually writing it. It must've just been in one of those inspired moments where it flowed seamlessly through my pen. After writing the script, I got to plan out the costumes, casting, shot list, etc. I did LITERALLY everything except for hold the camera, keep track of shots/footage, record the audio, and play the other characters. It was kind of exhausting, but so much fun, and I'm so glad that I just went and DID that!
WOW! That's so so cool and so so much haha! Congrats on that!! sounds like a super gratifying project. Like @Ebie was saying above, I love those moments where it's all just flowing naturally. Makes all those clunkier creative sessions throughout life feel more worth it lol. Congrats again on the film!
Last year was extremely challenging for me so this is not what I would consider a typical response to this question but it’s real.
I had to find my creativity while planning my brother Frederick’s memorial service. I was required to design and print the announcement, write the eulogy, officiate the service and give the eulogy, come up with the decor, select the playlist of music, order flowers, notify family and livestream the service. All of this I wanted to be done in a classy way that reflected the playful side of my brother. I think it turned out well.
I love you nephew.
Love you Auntie, thank you for sharing. That sounds beautiful, and it makes perfect sense to me. I felt something similar preparing the eulogy and slide show for my late godfather Josh two years ago. Rest well Uncle Frederick. I wish I had the chance to have known him better. If you happen to have that playlist still, I'd love to listen to it if you're comfortable sharing. Love you.
I've been actively trying to increase my creative output this year. Very scary thing to do and a lot of work, but I'm trying. This is just a small victory, but it's progress: I started a movie club and have been writing long-form Letterboxd reviews every week as part of it. Forcing myself to sit down, think, and express has been a great mental exercise-- my brain is starting to get sore. Even if it is just about movies and consuming media, I still feel happy being able to put a little bit of myself into something and send it out into the ether.
No yes, that's wonderful. It truly is so helpful to sit down, take in and really process the art you enjoy. I think I had a string during the pandemic where I was always pushing for Lady Jade and I to watch almost exclusively pretty "bad," movies. Which can be a fine enough practice, but I found it to ultimately be a little mean-spirited on my part, and even more so, when I started watching good stories again, I was like, "Oh yeah, this is good for me, as a person/artist, etc." So all to say, that's a wonderful small victory! I now simply must find you on Letterboxd as well haha!