Writing about creativity is an insanely hard task. Even if I am 100% sure that it’s meaningful and important, I still think about the quality of the text, what others might think, and whether it’s really useful. This is where the “Imposter” syndrome kicks in, and the spiral begins. How to deal with it? Disclaimer. Just before delving into this topic, I want to say that this is going to be a text about creativity and how I see it. There are no solutions; rather, concepts that might help you look at creativity from a different angle. Some concepts might be very familiar to you, while others might seem not worth your time. But perhaps, on your creative journey, you are not there yet or just have a different view. There are many ways to look at creativity and the creative process, and there are no wrong or right paths to choose from.
There are a couple of stages when talking about imposter syndrome. The first one is really clear in creatives who have just started working. It’s more prominent in those who work alone and not in teams, which help them validate and naturally guide them through their journey. Usually, the end thoughts come down to “Am I good enough?” and “Is this really worth it?” It’s more based on comparing skills rather than looking for meaning in creativity. Instead of asking “How are they doing it?” ask YOURSELF how you can do it. It’s about looking at yourself and understanding who you are. You already have principles and know how to create because you’re already doing it on a daily basis. All you need to do is start searching not for how others do things but for how you do things and why you do things that way. These questions can be overwhelming, but there are tools that can help you figure yourself out. A practical piece of advice would be to create your own creative manifesto.
When creating your creative manifesto, there are many resources on the internet that will help you do it. My advice would be to create your manifesto; do not “write”, but rather create your manifesto. It’s not easy; you need to confront yourself and look deeper into your inner unique world. Before starting, think and feel what would be the best and least stressful way to create it. For some, it might be writing a short story, creating a list of rules; it might look like a to-do list or it can even be scribbles or random drawings.* Remember that a creative manifesto is not for others; it’s for YOU. If you start doubting yourself or questions start popping up again, just come back to your creative manifesto. You have already answered those questions in the beginning, and don’t worry if the manifesto cannot answer the questions; it might be time to revisit and review it, or you may have missed something the first time you did it. As with everything in life, creativity is a process.
*If you are interested, I wrote a two-column heroic poem that starts and finishes the same – in a perfect circle.
