It's all about balance

The school year is always tough for me creative-wise.  I like to take on many projects that interest me, and it is sometimes hard to do this when I am attending classes on a daily basis.  Not to mention work, which always manages to get in the way of interests.  Obviously, my school work and job has to come before my extracurricular activities because I will be penalized if I do not finish it right away.

However, I find that if I just take a moment, take a few deep breaths, I can sort everything out and complete everything I have to do.  This week alone I have to do almost a dozen readings, analyze a website, and catch up on a class that I wasn't registered for in time to attend the first meeting.

Oh, and did I mention it's a once a week three hour class?  Yeah, not a very good habit to miss the first meeting of one of those.  Besides my class load, I've also applied to several jobs and am still waiting to hear back from several of them.  My own little pet project I have going on right now is my very first novel which I have been working on for about three or four months now.  I'm on Chapter 11 and page 158 and I've been finding myself on a real roll now.

I've tried to write a novel before but only got so far as approximately 30 pages because either I found the daunting task of filling out 400 pages or so too hard or it just didn't flow as well as the books I have read.  With my book now flowing extremely well - at least I think so - and a in-depth outline for the remaining chapters and proposed sequels to this book in progress, I find that I just can't stop writing the book because of other obligations.

Luckily for me my classes as a Telecommunications (Digital Storytelling) have proven to be stimulating, challenging, and interesting, so when I am doing schoolwork instead of writing my book at least I am not frustrated or bored to tears.  

So far for this week of school, my schoolwork nor my novel have suffered.  I have found myself capable of performing both to the best of my ability, and I think I have the balance I have brought to both obligations to thank for that.

What do I need to be creative?

In order to be creative, the main thing I need is inspiration.  This inspiration can come from anywhere but most of the time it will come from either one or more of the following: Films, television, books, and music.

And I'm not really talking about getting story ideas from the tales that the four mediums tell - although that does happen from time to time - but rather, the inspiration is more of a feeling I get while watching, reading, or listening to either one.

When I watch a good movie or television show, I get inspired by the emotions that the characters feel during the course of the show or movie, and I try to take those feelings and apply them to the characters that I have created in whatever creative endeavor I have chosen to start on any particular day.

When I read a good book, I look to take inspiration from the way the author uses intricate wordplay and beautiful descriptions to weave together a well told story.

When I listen to good music - whatever the genre - I close my eyes and pay attention to how the music makes me feel when it reaches a goose bump inducing crescendo or when it becomes quiet and subtle, making it possible to hear every instrument and the wonderful music each one can create.

All of these things constantly inspire me on a daily and even hourly basis, and really help me to strive to be creative as often as possible. 

-Patrick T. Sheridan