Creative Flow in the Summer Heat
Rediscovering My Passion
Summer has a funny way of playing havoc with our creative routines, doesn't it? Here I am, running a bit late with this week's rambling thoughts, but honestly, I can't bring myself to feel too guilty about it. We're experiencing what might be the best start to summer we've had in years, and sometimes you've got to embrace those moments when life offers them up on a silver platter.
The Exercise Connection
I stumbled across an interesting article a few days back about the connection between walking and creativity. Now, I wish I could properly credit the source, but it seems to have vanished into the digital ether, one of those frustrating moments when you know you read something brilliant but can't track it down again. Anyway, whoever you are, thanks for the insight. Fortunately, I had saved the quote.
Aerobic exercise, like walking, increases blood flow to the brain, especially to the prefrontal cortex — the part responsible for focus, decision-making, and memory. It’s like giving your brain a software update every morning. But the real magic? Creativity.
I've experienced this connection myself, not just while walking, but also during and after sessions at the gym. There's something about getting the blood pumping that seems to unlock the creative parts of the mind.
Feeling the Heat
Of course, there's a caveat to all this exercise-induced creativity, and it's sitting right outside my window as I write this. When the ambient air temperature is hovering around 30 degrees Celsius, coupled with the relatively high humidity we've been experiencing, the whole "energizing effect" of physical activity gets turned on its head. Instead of feeling invigorated and mentally sharp, I'm left feeling rather wilted.
Such is life, though. It means a shorter post this week, but hey, better than nothing, right? Sometimes we have to accept that external conditions – whether it's sweltering heat, family commitments, or the demands of the day job are going to impact our creative output.
A Fresh Perspective
Returning to the project I started way back in 2017 has been a breath of fresh air. Instead of struggling to find motivation to open the project, I now look forward to every session and can’t wait to dive back into the story.
The first order of business when revisiting such an old project was to review the proto-manuscript again, this time with fresh eyes and several years' worth of additional life experience. I decided to print everything out, including all the good bits, the rough patches, and the rest.
I picked up this trick from Joanna Penn's podcast, The Creative Penn. Part of her editing process involves printing the manuscript, but formatted with two pages per page in landscape mode. It took a few attempts to figure out the technical side (you'd think after all these years I'd be better with these things), but I eventually cracked it.
The process was straightforward once I worked it out: compile the document from Scrivener to a Word file, which resulted in a 70-page document. In the Print dialog, set the Layout to "2 Pages per Sheet" and in Paper Handling, set "Scale to Fit Paper Size." Simple when you know how, as they say.
Resisting the Urge to Perfect
I've been working through the printed manuscript over the last few days, and I'm resisting the overwhelming temptation to start editing. When you're dealing with such an old manuscript, I think it's important to appreciate what you've already laid down on the page before you start wielding the red pen.
I mentioned recently that there are some problems with the story, some quite serious ones, actually, but that doesn't detract from the quality of the writing itself. Frankly, I'm pleasantly surprised by what I found. The voice is there, the characters feel real, and the world-building holds up better than I expected. I just hope my brain hasn't been so scrambled by the intervening years that I can't match that style anymore.
The Plan of Attack
So what's the strategy moving forward? Well, as I said, I'm sorely tempted to dive straight into editing what I have so far. It would be so satisfying to polish those rough edges and tighten up the prose. But I think that would be a fundamental mistake at this stage.
This is still a first draft, after all, an old and very incomplete one. The best approach will be to resist that urge and focus on finishing the story first. Only then will I allow myself the pleasure of starting the proper editing process.
If I didn't stick to this discipline, I suspect I'd never actually finish the thing. I'd get lost in an endless cycle of revision and re-revision, polishing the first act to death while the rest of the story remains unwritten. We've all seen writers fall into that trap.
Final Thoughts
A short update this week, I’ve been enjoying the weather, possibly a bit too much. Much of my creative energy has been devoted to the old story over the last days. So, I’m going to wrap this up for now. I’m sure I’ll have some riveting incites next week.
Until then, take care. Mike