3 motivations for creativity
In 2006, teacher Amy Walter took her first grade class through a section on poetry. She published an interesting paper on her findings (which you can read here with a free account). Walter discovered that the poems her students chose to share generally consisted of at least one of three elements.
The poems were funny, silly, or happy
The poems were long (or at least not too short)
The poems showed off a skill or taught something
Are any of these elements at play in the creative work you choose to share? Do you primarily create things that you believe your audience will find enjoyable? Do you create them in a manner that feels substantial or “professional” enough? Do you create them with a tertiary desire to come across as smart, admirable, or talented?
In my work with creatives, we often discuss our early creative experiences, because they’re formative to how we engage with creative work as adults. If our early creative motivations were to impress classmates and teachers, it’s probable we carry those same motivations as time goes on.
Creative work is meaningful to its maker, despite any external enjoyment, professionalism, or increase in status. Often, we let the audience dictate not just what we create, but whether we engage in creativity at all.
Creative work is so connected to “self-work.” Heal the inner child.
