Some days I try to write and all I can mine from my grey matter is fecal matter.
While abandoning ship and leaving the computer is usually my self-advice, other days I know that it’s 100% just because I took a day off and am having trouble “getting back in the flow”. Just like anything else. Whether it’s working out or sexing up – if you’ve not done it for a while, some things aren’t so akin to riding a bicycle as far as the ease of resuming goes. If I still don’t feel creative after “taking five”, I read other people’s work. Sometimes this’ll put me in “Yes…and” mode. But other times, if I’m having trouble yes-and’ing, I’ll just feel bitter and hate myself for not thinking of it first. Then, finally – as a last resort – I’ll *eyeroll* log into Facebook.
I did that today.
While I don’t hate Zuckerland, I – Eh, alright. I kind of hate it. But mostly just the newsfeed. That’s my fault; I need to do some friend cleanup so that when I see all these disordered thoughts stamped into internet eternity, I can at least pretend to care instead of thinking “Who the fckk is this tranquility thief stinking up my feed? Let’s delete his ass!” But, it’s much like regular house-cleaning and chores (where once I’ve done the laundry, the “cleaning list” part of my brain gets activated). Similarly, once I’ve activated the friend-ectomy section of my mind, I can’t stop at just one.
That said, I’m glad I didn’t go on such a spree recently – because occasionally one of these strangers I’ve mindlessly invited into my online life, will post a comical gem that both entertains and jars me back into creative mode
See? Can’t be jealous of this little effer. He’s like, five.
At first I tell myself how hard the yes-and method will be: “What can I possibly say on a song about doing time for a baked goods B&E and cookie street cred?”
Then I think: “If he can create something better in less than a minute than those making more than a mint (for worse songs), why the crap can’t I?”
The key (pardon the pun) is simplicity. Homie takes his shiz one step at a time.
Crazy kid-ults like me tend to forget that rule.
Thanks for the reminder, buddy.
And for a song that’s gonna be stuck in my head all week.