ON FINDING CREATIVITY IN DIFFICULT TIMES

Like most people looking to live a creative life in one form or another, I go through the occasional slump, periods of feeling completely uninspired and unmotivated. Normally these blow over in a week or so, but recently I've been up against a creative block lasting several months and I can't help feel that it's related to the current state of the world. 

  

When recent affairs seem to leapfrog from one horrible instance to the next with no respite, it can be difficult to feel as though creating things matters. How can I write poetry about my experiences when there are people suffering who need their stories told? What's the point of working on my novel draft, or sketching funny little doodles when it seems like intellectualism and joy are on their way out? 

 These are issues I've been struggling with lately and while there are no answers, I'm starting to understand that actually, in this horrible, strange period in history, it might be more important than ever for us to create, and I'm slowly beginning to write again.  

  I think creating, whether it be stories, painting or homemade felt finger puppets happens for two reasons: Either to spread a message, or to bring joy, and sometimes both. Maybe you want to create in order to tell your story to the world, or to bring a new idea into consciousness, or maybe you just want to make someone smile.




   It can feel like the latter is frivolous and meaningless but in a time of so much hatred and heartache sometimes the best thing you can do for the world is add a little more laughter. I'm trying to spend less time sunk into the quagmire of articles and news reports on the latest way Trump is ruining everything, and instead make a conscious effort to devote some time each day to both creating and consuming fun, interesting, diverse media that brings me joy.

  We need to keep making funny, silly things because through joy and humour we combat the constant attempts to inject each of us with fear and mistrust. We all know that complacency and apathy are the biggest enemies to progress and social change, but submerging ourselves in a constant barrage of everything awful that's happening at all times for the sake of staying informed isn't a healthy way to live. I know personally, it really begins to affect my sleep and sense of wellbeing.

   You can be an activist and an advocate for justice and peace, and have the right to enjoy what you love. And somebody has to make these little moments of light, so if you're a creative person it might as well be you. So write your fluffy fanfics and draw your webcomics about cats and blog about your day out in Brighton and contribute to the happiness and positivity in the world. God knows we need it.

  And when your artistic spirit compels you to make more serious things, do that too. If the world has you riled up and you just have to create a novel in which an evil orange king is brought down by a load of diverse characters and the power of friendship if only to convince yourself that there is hope go for it. If you want to draw unapologetic satirical cartoons, or decide to turn your photography to a project highlighting homelessness in your area, your work is important. There is power in what we create, and in the stories we choose to tell as a community. The greatest creators and artists have always used their work to rebel and inspire, and we all have people who've influenced our beliefs through their art.

  Whatever our medium, and however small we consider ourselves, contributing to that conversation and making work that aligns with our own beliefs and principles is a way to share ideas and show support for the people who need us. Getting into fights over YouTube comments and starting arguments around the dinner table are rarely the best way to change someone's mind. Often people change when they are handed empathy on a plate, given an opportunity to really step into the shoes of people who live differently from them.

  I spent so long feeling like making art was a waste of time when so many people were suffering but I'm learning that creativity is not just a way to vent my frustrations about the world as it is but also a way to soothe myself, to remind myself that it takes more than a giant pile of satsuma peelings in a suit, or an ill informed voting result to dampen artistic spirit and keep us all from sharing our ideas and imagination with one another, and someday I might be able to create something that really makes a difference to someone else's life.

 I hope that this was in some way helpful to anyone else struggling with creativity in the wake of the current sense of impending doom. I know that there are bigger problems in the world but I firmly believe that art is one of the ways we can tackle them and change things for the good.

Thank you for reading