Don't let constraints constrain your creativity

I’m feeling a bit behind on a large piece of work. Feeling the pressure, a part of me said, “You should skip posting this week. It would be irresponsible to waste time on something fun before your work is finished.” A variation on the childhood theme of, “Finish your chores before you can go outside and play.”?

And yet, after much trial and even more error, I’ve learned I must protect my momentum in a creative project. I’ve also learned that if I wait until my to-do list is empty, I’ll be waiting forever. (If I didn't know that before writing my dissertation I've definitely internalized it now!).

And so I struck a deal with myself. If I only spend fifteen minutes on a post what could it be about?

Constraints felt like an obvious theme.

It's also a theme that’s come up recently in conversations with my coaching clients. When they tell me they don't have enough time to devote to creative pursuits, I share with them a question Julia Cameron shared with me at a creativity workshop a few years ago.

What’s the tiniest next step you could take to make space for your creativity?

Not just tiny. Tiniest. The most minuscule movement you can think of.?

So making space for a long abandoned love for travel photography might look like simply taking one picture with your phone every day. Perhaps find a friend who would enjoy a similar practice, maybe one you’ve lost touch with, and commit to share your photos with each other. Maybe just start with 7 days and see how you like it.?

If that feels like too much then how about simply looking at some of your old travel photos for 1 minute a day.?

Or if that’s too much, how about finding a few photographers to follow on Instagram for creative inspiration.

You get the idea.?

It’s so easy to get caught up in “if only” mind. If only I had my own studio, then I’d be able to pick up painting again. If only I had “a room of one’s own” I’d be able to write again. But that’s a recipe for continued creative frustration.?

Rather than resist our current constraints and let our creativity suffer, we can make peace with them and maybe even turn those lemons into lemonade.

The reality is that creativity can thrive under constraints. Constraints can act like the banks of the riverbed whose structure allows the water (creativity) to flow freely.?

A classic example can be found in children’s picture books. There are already some pretty narrow guidelines for the format: typically less than 500 words, 32 pages, 14-16 spreads. But a few examples take these constraints to the next level.?

I was delighted to discover a fun fact on the inside cover of our copy of Green Eggs and Ham. It turns out it came about because Dr. Seuss was challenged to write a book using just 50 words. His success inspired one researcher to call the way constraints facilitate creativity, “The Green Eggs and Ham Hypothesis.”

Another example is one of my childhood favourites, Animalia by Graeme Base. He followed the well established category of alphabet books—there are literally hundreds — yet managed to reinvent it at the same time.?Spending three years working on highly detailed Durer-inspired illustrations, he sought to fill each page with as many objects beginning with each letter as he could, turning it into a tantalizing treasure hunt.

I credit this book with launching my lifelong love of alliteration -- a compelling case of constraints contributing to creativity. (I couldn't help myself).

Guess which letter has the most words in its little poem?

This made me think of perhaps the most impressive and enjoyable example of alliteration I've ever seen. The scene in V for Vendetta when V meets Evey --surely one of the best character introductions of all time. The delight I get from watching this scene is a bit ridiculous. It makes my face hurt from smiling. Yes, I'm that much of a language nerd. (I've pasted the transcript below if you can't watch the video, although Hugo Weaving's voice takes it to a whole new level).

If I had more time I would think of a tidier ending to this post. But, suffice it to say, I hope you enjoyed these examples of constructive constraints and that you feel inspired to not let constraints constrain your creativity.

*V's monologue: But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.