I have been thinking about this topic for several weeks; the idea that we create things with our imaginations that have never existed before.
The idea of making something from nothing came from a number of different directions, including a couple weeks when I found it difficult to fill this page with a post that I felt was worth your while to read. I had to write a column when I had nothing to start with.
Another jumping off point was, I believe, speaking to new(er) writers at the convention we attended in November. One question that comes up whenever an established writer talks to someone just starting their creative journey is “Where do you get your ideas?”
You see, someone just starting out in a creative endeavor is almost always convinced that the idea (and they think they only have one) is precious, that they have to execute it flawlessly because they may never have another. This can lead to creative paralysis as the creator becomes afraid of “wasting” that precious idea.
Making something from nothing is acknowledging that the idea is not precious, that ideas are everywhere and nowhere, and that being creative does not hinge on having a new, unique, important idea. It is accepting that we can create something without that special, important idea.
It’s easy enough to read and accept that statement, but it’s much harder to internalize the practice of making something from nothing. You have to train your creative brain to see ideas when they come along, and you have to learn to trust yourself to find ideas when you need them.
Trusting yourself is a tough thing. It’s having confidence, believing in yourself, giving yourself credit for your creative output - and that’s something we have talked about a lot here. It ties in to imposter syndrome, to the loss of status that comes with leaving the day job, to the turmoil that comes with the massive changes brought about by retirement.
How can you possibly believe in yourself when everything in the world around you is telling you that you’re a beginner who knows nothing?
Practice.
Practice looking for ideas.
Practice asking “What’s next?”
Practice flying blind.
Practice believing in yourself.
And maybe this is actually one of those “fake it ‘til you make it” moments. Because the more you practice, the more you can start believing in yourself. That’s the first step to making something from nothing.
The truth is that we really aren’t creating something from nothing; we are synthesizing all our learning, all our experiences, all the creative art we have seen, heard, read, watched, eaten, consumed in any way. We are creating something from within ourselves, based on the sum of our experience of the world. Sure, something may trigger that creation, but in the end everything we create comes from us, from who we are.
You want an example of what I’m talking about?
I’ve just watched the latest season of the Great British Baking Show (available on Netflix). The show follows the standard reality show setup of weekly eliminations culminating in finalists vying for the top spot in the finale, with the assumption that the finalists are the most competent of the participants.
Setting aside the ways in which “reality” can be distorted by editing choices, the finale showed the viewers how their chosen finalists faced their final challenges. Each of the three finalists had shown incredible talent and skill in earlier episodes. They clearly had extensive knowledge of terms and techniques, and an understanding of the complexities involved.
But they didn’t know everything.
That was clear in one of the segments of the final episode, where they were challenged to produce a specific type of baked good without a recipe provided - and none of them actually knew what it was they were being asked to make.
They were asked to make something from nothing.
How did they respond?
After the initial shock of instructions that said “Make 12 of this item,” they began to work the problem by trusting their practice, knowledge, and experience. They searched their memories for something they could apply to the problem, and they moved ahead with creating something - even when they didn’t have a perfect, precious idea.
I grant you these people had a depth of experience, lots of time to practice and perfect their skills, and the benefit of support staff, producers and directors, and skilled editors who could make them look good. However, in the end they were the ones making something that came from their own imaginations.
So how do I get my ideas? Well, there’s this P.O. Box in Weehawken. But if I told you what it is I would have to turn in my Super Seekret Writing Guild card…
Or you can just let your inner two-year-old out to play. That kid has a million ideas.