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What To Do When You Don’t Feel Like Creating

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Have you ever had times when you didn’t feel like being creative? They may last for a day or two, a week, or even months. It’s perfectly normal and okay. But do you ever think about what’s behind it and how to get out of that state if you wanted to?

There are periods in our lives that are simply busier than others. We have family responsibilities. We’re  more occupied promoting our existing material than taking on a new project.  In these periods of activity our energy can be drained, depleting our motivation to attend to non-essential tasks. It can be hard to make time for our creative pursuits without running ourselves ragged, despite the advice of those who claim we need to make room for everything at all costs to our well-being.

Perhaps you can’t spend hours in the studio or your writing room but what about bringing a notebook to draw or write in when you’re visiting your loved one in the hospital? What about installing a keyboard app on your phone to play with some melodic lines while you’re heading from one place to another on the bus? You know, just to keep that spark alive while you’re tending to other things. You don’t even have to use these tools necessarily, but just having them around may remind you that there is inspiration to be found everywhere.

If you discover you have the time to create but not the will, have a look at what is lying underneath.

I honestly can’t say I’ve ever been in a situation where I have not wanted to create something or other when the opportunity presented itself. I am an idea factory after all and it’s hard not to act when inspiration strikes on the daily. But I will say I have consciously hesitated out of fear – usually fear that what I’m working on won’t be good or that it won’t get out there and all my effort will have been for nothing. True, it’s easier to relax and experience someone else’s masterpiece than to try to create your own but it’s not nearly as rewarding and usually not as fun, but I have been able to get to the point where I can tell myself that it’s a work in progress until it’s done. What I’m recording or writing doesn’t have to be amazing in this exact moment. I’m going to see what comes out and keep making it better until it’s of an appropriate standard. If it really turns out to be a gong show, there’s still probably something I’ve gained in the process – learning a new skill, acquiring new information – so it’s not wasted time.   And I know my best work happens when I’m enjoying myself, when I’m having fun, so approaching every note or word with dread is not going to serve me or the project.

Maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit. If you’ve been writing children’s songs for twenty years and it doesn’t excite you any more, perhaps you would be reenergized writing for a more mature audience. Maybe you’ve been working with oils forever and you just need to try some watercolours. It’s not about stopping all together – it’s taking a different approach to what you’re already doing and seeing how that feels.

And, honestly, maybe you just need to take a break or move on to something else entirely. Yes, creating can be joyous, freeing, life-affirming – all that. But it’s also work. It still uses up our time as well as our mental and physical energy. And maybe that time and energy needs to be put towards other things – not necessarily forever but at least for a while.

So, don’t be hard on yourself if you feel you need to shift gears.  It’s easy to become overly attached to things like labels and the idea of no longer being an “artist” can keep us in an unsatisfying situation for longer than necessary. Remember – your value is not determined by labels and status. The best thing you can do for yourself and the world is living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful for you and part of that is having the courage to head out in new direction when you are inspired to do so.

What The Notre-Dame Fire Says About Our Values

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The world reeled at the news of the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris last week. And I’m not exaggerating too much when I say that. Most of the time I think it’s completely cheesy when someone claims the entire world is affected by anything. It’s like, get over yourself. But I know I wasn’t alone as I watched my social media feed be dominated by news coverage, memories, and hopes regarding the historic edifice. Having never been to Paris and not being a Catholic, I have no personal emotional connection to the building, but the loss of such a monument was saddening nonetheless.

Now, you can say what you want about all the money that was donated by wealthy tycoons to support the rebuilding. What more significant problems could they be solving with all that money? What is the Vatican doing about it? They have billions. You can interpret it how you wish – and I’m not saying your questions are not valid – but I would like to entertain another interpretation to the events following the incendiary incident.

While it is a pivotal location to the Catholic community, the people commenting on Notre-Dame are not only Catholics. The mourners cover every faith and non-faith out there. So it’s not just about religion.

Stories like Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame have brought the idea of the cathedral to the imaginations of the masses, elevating it to an almost mythical status. And visitors can’t help but be mesmerised by its beauty and power – the architecture, the stain glass windows. They are captivated by its art.

Think about that. The world is in mourning over the loss of art. Corporate moguls have donated over a billion dollars to the restoration of art

People – even those who pride themselves on their practicality and claim art is a waste of time that takes energy away from more important matters – are affected by art in ways they may not even know. Why do you think some governments over the ages have made the creation of art an illegal act?  It’s not because it is a waste of resources that should be utilized elsewhere. No, art has been outlawed because it has the potential to be so powerful, so influential, that it poses a threat to their domination.

We may or may not ever become part of something on the level of Notre-Dame, as inspiring and delightful a notion as that might be. But we cannot forget that what we are doing as creators is important. It’s worth doing on some level. Even the most logical among us – those who love to tell us to get a real job or do something useful with our lives – still remember their favourite childhood story, the song that was playing when they had their first kiss. They are not immune to art’s power. They must acknowledge that someone wrote that story, composed and performed that song that became a part of their history – part of the soundtrack of their life, as I like to say.

If it is within us to do so, we have a right and a duty to contribute to the history of our and future generations with the art we create. We cannot know what will become of it. Our work may be momentarily enjoyed and forgotten. It may endure and be celebrated for hundreds or thousands of years. It is not our job to prophesy the fate of our art. It is our job to create it and share it as we are so inspired. As the reaction to Notre-Dame will attest, the world needs us to do so.

Hidden Clues : The Wisdom In Your Distraction

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You’ve probably heard people say that if you have goals you want to accomplish in your life, you need to look at those goals in relation to how you’re actually spending your time and adjust accordingly. The theory is that if you say you want to be a singer, for example, but are spending most of your time watching television rather than practicing or recording, in noticing this supposed conflict you can dispense with the distraction and redirect more energy towards pursuing your goal of singing.

This is a totally valid concept – we can certainly allow ourselves to be taken off of our path out of fear, especially when we’re talking about a potentially delicate thing like creative expression – but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, may I present another possible interpretation of such distraction?

What if you are, in fact doing exactly what you want to be doing? What if what you think you want isn’t what you actually want and, rather than resisting your “distraction”, it’s more about parlaying it into something more fulfilling?

So, let’s look at the watching TV all day thing – something many of us can fall prey to for any number of reasons. Maybe we’re searching for inspiration.  Maybe we’re legit tired or overwhelmed and need a break. Maybe it is a real distraction because you’re afraid that your practicing or whatever project you’re “supposed” to be engaged in isn’t going to work out somehow. Totally been there.

But what if it’s something else? When you’re in this mode, I invite you to take a conscious approach to it to see if there might be some wisdom or insight there for you. What kinds of shows are you watching? Cop dramas? Sit coms? Cooking or baking shows? Can you pinpoint what in particular you might be attracted to about those shows? Ha! I just wrote “shoes” down by accident and if I hadn’t caught it, y’all would be, “Wait. When did she start talking about shoes?” Anyway, have a look at that. Do you love all the medical procedures and terminology in your hospital dramas? Do you love the character development? Do you love the witty dialogue in your comedy?

In being aware of your thoughts during these moments of distraction, you may discover some new things about yourself.  It might be providing insight into some new elements you want to bring into your life. I love watching baking shows not only because I have a sweet tooth – believe me, I would reach into the TV and pull out those cakes if I could – but there can be such artistry and beauty to these creations. A visual feast as well as a gastronomical one. So, I don’t know if I need to become a baker necessarily, but I realized I definitely want to try my hand at cake and cookie decorating. In fact, I was on a waiting list for a class a short while back.  And, in general, I think there is more of a visual component I can incorporate into what I do. Maybe you want to take a stand-up comedy class if you find yourself repeated attracted to it. Maybe you want to try writing if you love the storylines and dialogues of your favourite shows. Maybe you want to look into the medical field if you love the operating room scenes.

If you’re someone who gets overly drawn into social situations that you feel are taking you away from your work – phone calls, coffee meetings, whatever – there’s likely a reason why you’re letting it happen. If you are always the one giving advice to your friends – and are happy to do so as opposed to resenting it – perhaps you’d be great as a counsellor. Do your meetings often take place over delicious meals? Being a food critic or a chef might be right up your alley.

My point is, these distractions might be giving you clues to complimentary activities or a whole new path that might be very fulfilling for you so it’s worth some contemplation and analysis, in my humble opinion. Of course, it could totally be a psychological mechanism to protect you from potential failure or frustration, too, but I’m just saying.

Have a great day!

Four Tips on Giving Constructive Feedback

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Lately, I have been tasked with editing a literary journal for a writers group. It was an honor to be asked and, truthfully, it has been rather fun. I delight in witnessing the creativity of others and it makes me feel good to help people on their artistic journeys.

Often, as we become more experienced artists, others will come to us seeking feedback, either looking up to us as mentors or viewing us as equals who might be able to offer a fresh perspective. If you haven’t already, I’m sure you will soon hear the words, “Can you have a look at it and tell me what you think?” soon enough.  Now, you can always politely decline if you really feel hesitant but, even if you are a bit nervous, why not try taking on the challenge?

There is an idea that, even though someone may be at the top of their field, they may not make the greatest teacher for any number of reasons. It takes a certain something to be able to impart knowledge in a constructive way that the recipient can really learn from and not be put off by. Having been a voice teacher for ten years and having proofread many pieces of writing, I have learned a few things about offering creative advice that I thought I’d share with you. So here we go.

Tip #1: Know Where Your Mentee Is At.

We are all at different stages on our creative journey. Some of us are just starting out, some of us have been working on our craft for decades. Before you start offering criticism, take into account how long your mentee has been creating. The longer they have been doing it, the more detailed feedback you can provide, using the vernacular of the trade. With newer artists, it’s best to keep it simple and to not overwhelm them with too many things at once. When they are just beginning to explore, you don’t want to risk them becoming discouraged. When I was working with a young, beginning voice student, I would take it step by step – if they were having troubles matching pitch, I was not going to focus so much on the quality of their vibrato until the more fundamental skill was under control for the most part. First things first. Try to recall how you developed your skill set – if you in fact felt it helpful to you – connect that to where your mentee is on their trajectory and use that as a gauge to determine how deep to go.

Tip #2: Try Suggesting Rather Than Dictating

Maybe I’m too easy on people but I tend not to dictate when mentoring – unless I’m really in the zone. Then I’m all, “No. Stop. Do it again.” I kind of like me in that mode, to be honest, but you have to be aware of when it may it may not be appropriate. Anyway, I had someone involved with the literary journal mention to me that they not only appreciated my “expert” feedback but the gentle way I shared it and I honestly don’t know which part meant more to me – the fact that they saw me as an expert or the fact that I was gentle. I know these days we talk about being more assertive and assured – the recommendation particularly applying to women – and I agree we do need to own our knowledge and experience, but a little tact can go a long way. Try saying, “Perhaps you might try…” or “Let’s look at what can happen when…”. Not only does it help to ease you into the issue, it also creates awareness that creativity is, in many ways, a fluid, evolving, experimental thing. There are certain elements of your craft that may be rather definitive – like a question should be followed by a question mark – in which case you can be more direct (but still kind) in your recommendation. But there are some things that are more trial-and-error. What works for some might not work for others. Many singers are all about posture and being upright and, yet, there are amazing vocalists who hit the high notes bent over with their head against the wall. You can’t argue that it works for them so, really, the best you can doing in some cases is try it out.

I was actually faced with a conundrum of sorts when a writer who had submitted a narrative piece mentioned that he preferred to use spaces between paragraphs rather than indents. I thought that, while it isn’t the way literature is customarily presented, aren’t rules and norms meant to be questioned? After all, these existing norms came into play by replacing previous norms.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget The Why

When one is teaching or advising, it can be rather tempting to simply say, “do this” or “do that” and expect the student to obey without question. But even if they do follow your instruction and give you the result you desire, they aren’t really learning. They simply know that, in this specific case, this is what they’ve been instructed to do, even if the situation may or may not ever arise again.

But a more in-depth explanation allows your expertise to really shine while giving the mentee something tangible they can take into the future. If they have written, “The two tonne truck hit the pothole, splashing water all over the windshield” – this example really hits home for me living where I do at this time of year J – instead of simply adding a comment telling them to “hyphenate two tonne”, take the extra step and explain how compound adjectives are usually hyphenated when they come before the noun but not after. In doing so, in addition to correcting the immediate error, the writer will have new information to improve their writing on future projects.

Tip #4: Thank Them for Asking and Receiving

It can take a lot for someone to ask for help. If an artist is coming to you for advice, know that it’s because they value your input. No matter how high up you are on the creative ladder, resist the temptation to get a swelled head about it and simply express gratitude that they have seen you as worthy of providing feedback – something like “Thank you so much for asking me. I am honoured that you feel I have something to offer your project.”  And if they show appreciation for your comments after the fact, which they hopefully will, realize that receiving criticism can be hard for many of us. Our projects are our babies and part of what keeps us going is somehow believing we’re awesome. You can try responding with, “Thank you for hearing my comments. I know it can be hard to receive feedback on something close to our hearts. I’m glad you have found my suggestions to be helpful.”

So those are a few tips to help you give constructive feedback. Just my suggestions, of course. 😉

 

Finding Your Sweet Spot: Why Fame May Not Be What You Really Want

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Hello all!

So, I was in New York City last week – my first time in the Big Apple – and I had a blast! Caught up with old friends, saw some shows, went to museums, had high tea at the Plaza. The whole nine yards.  It was thrilling to witness “the best of every industry”, as my friend put it, that was represented in this mythical city. Seriously – since I’ve been back, it seems that every TV show and movie takes place in New York.

But that’s not my point. My point is, while watching these truly talented performs strut their stuff on the Broadway stage, I couldn’t help but wonder, would I want to be doing that?

You see, many of us are programmed to crave the spotlight. We are taught that those we see most often – the Beyoncés, the Bradley Coopers, even the J.K. Rowlings (as famous as a writer can get) – are the most important people in our society and their status is the only measure of significance and success. We are told that if we desire anything in this life, it should be to be the focus of attention in the biggest arena possible.

Now, I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing to go for fame or to want to be the front man. Some people are sincerely meant to be in that position and they inspire the world with who they are.

There are times, however, when the thirst for fame can be misguided – not because we may not be talented enough but because, if we really think about it, it’s not what we actually want.  When we’re striving for anything, it behooves us to actually look into what is involved in living that life. For example, being a prima ballerina seems like a beautiful vision – and they do look lovely and strong – but if that’s what you want to be, be prepared for really sore feet, Like bleeding and blistered more often than not.

The shows that we saw on Broadway involved an incredible amount of physical activity ; not just two people sitting in chairs chatting away.  And one of them, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – completely brilliant, by the way – was constructed in two parts of three hours each. That’s literally six hours a day of running around and throwing suitcases and all sorts of crazy things!  Would you be up for that? Would you be willing to move to a metropolis like New York if it meant being at the top of your field? It’s a big switch if you’re used to living in a small town. What about having to be “on” when you’re not feeling well? I remember watching a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera and, while the cast sounded glorious as always, there was so much sniffling and snorting backstage because most of them were sick.

There are often ways to adjust things to better suit our inclinations. For example, you can love singing but not love performing live so you could potentially consider becoming a studio musician. Or you can do community theatre as a hobby rather than going for a full-time career as an actor and all that comes with it. Even so, however, we can still look at where our real talents and inclinations lie instead of towing the party line of fame and fortune. Well, I say that but, in many cases, it’s the ones who don’t have the fame who are actually making most of the money so I’m not really sure why they put those two words together so often. But that’s another topic of discussion.

When I was in university, I went to see a counsellor on a regular basis. Hey, we all need someone to talk to at certain points in our lives.  Anyway, there was a session when I when I expressed my confusion that I would be watching these people on stage and be totally captivated them but, at the same time, wasn’t sure if that was what I should, or wanted to, be doing. I knew could sing but was insecure about my voice at times, I wasn’t sure how I felt about travelling from place to place without fully experiencing it, being isolated, and I was adaptable to a certain extent but didn’t really like being up too late most of the time. I’m usually in bed at 10:00 most nights unless there’s a special event or something.  So what was it that made me want to be these “rock stars”, for lack of a better word?

And then my counsellor suggested something I’d never thought of before. He suggested that perhaps I was meant to be behind the scenes but I was attracted to something else about these people, like their confidence or level of skill. It wasn’t the fact that they were performing so much as they knew they were meant to be performing and they were damn good at it. And, to someone like me who was in a state of flux, that knowing would be incredibly attractive. He made me realize that I could be that assured and skilled as a songwriter or a producer or a director or whatever and have that same sense of self-possession and satisfaction as those “rock stars” seemed to have.

Because, really, I will follow whatever path is right for me and if being in the public eye comes with it, I’ll accept that with grace and humility. But I don’t care if people are screaming my name. I don’t need to be chased down the street by mobs trying to get my autograph. I’m more interested in being respected in my industry, being the one who those in the know whisper about as I stand in line at the grocery store. “Do you know who that is? She’s the one behind <insert life-altering, world-enhancing creative experience here>.”

So, if you desire being in the spotlight and entertaining the crowds and honestly love it and all, or most, of what it entails, go for it. Reach for your marquee dreams and good luck to you. But if you’re at all feeling a sense of disconnect with your creative path, I ask you to consider what your soul is really craving, look at your true gifts and talents and what skills you’re willing to acquire, and learn to be at peace with that.

You may be a good guitar player but maybe you’d be an even better recording engineer or producer or even artist manager. You may be a decent novelist but you’d really be a brilliant journalist or editor. There are so many parts to play in this creative world, so many roles to fill, and none is more or less important or valuable than another, no matter what celebrity mags try to tell you and no matter how some of those celebrities – I won’t name names – like to give the impression that they do everything themselves .

I’ll leave you with this. We love our lives the most when we are giving the best of our authentic selves to the world, whatever that looks like. So don’t be afraid of discovering what you’re really here to do. You’ll only be happier for it!

In Swimming Tigress news, I’ve just put up some new tracks for licensing on Pond 5 . So, if you need music for your media production, whether it’s a commercial, TV show, web video or podcast, check out all available tracks here  https://www.pond5.com/artist/tprochera#1 .

Have a fabulous day!

Tiffany

So Many Projects! When You’re Swamped With Creative Inspiration

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Sometimes we can get creatively blocked – our current projects have been completed we have no ideas for new projects to undertake. That’s alright. We don’t have to be “on” all the time.

But sometimes – at least I hope you’ve experienced this – there are so many ideas going through your head – so much inspiration – that you don’t know what do with it all and you can’t decide what project to actually focus on. That’s not a bad problem to have. J I’m actually in the process of releasing an ebook about how to keep those creative juices flowing – I regularly have several ideas a day and I want to help others have the same type of flow -so keep tuned for that.

Anyway, realize that you can be working on more than one project at a time. You don’t have to spend eight or ten hours a day on one book – it’s alright to spend the morning on one story and the afternoon on another. You may think you won’t make as much progress but your attention can only be sustained for so long. There comes a point when you think you’re working but what you’re putting out is, well, how shall I say it – gobbleygook. So it’s probably a good idea to split your time up a bit to keep things fresh.

Understand that all of your ideas may not come to fruition – perhaps they were never meant to – and those that do won’t necessarily happen at the same time. Some projects may have to be put on the back burner for a while. You have to trust that the projects you chose to undertake are the right projects for you for some reason or another.

Alright – enough with the preamble. Here are some tips to help you decide what to work on and when.

First of all, you can narrow down the projects that actually inspire you. Some ideas are just random passing fancy – you see a butterfly and you think you should do an art installation about butterflies. And maybe you should. Maybe it’s going to be your signature piece. You can certainly keep all ideas on tap, but some things hit you in the gut and keep coming back to you. Those are the ones to go for because they will keep you working.  Keep in mind, however, that this is a creative industry so, if you do want to make a living at it, some projects may be more marketable than others. But , even if it doesn’t make you millions of dollars, you can still be learning something from the process – maybe it’s a new technique, maybe it connects you will something that can help you in the future.

Is there a deadline of some kind? Even if you’re not hired to work on a project with an expected turnaround time, there can still be better or worse times to put something out there. For example, if you are interested in composing some Christmas music with the hopes of having them licensed for holiday movies, you’re not going to start the process in November and expect to hear your handiwork on your TV screen in December.  I mean, the following December maybe but these things are set in motion months ahead of time.  Books discussing trending topics need to be finished rather quickly or they will no longer be relevant by the time they are published. If you’re writing a play for a specific situation, like a fringe festival, it has to be completed before the start of rehearsals, not before the start of the festival. Kind of obvious, I know, but it had to be said. 😉

While we’re on the topic of deadlines, if you are interested in obtaining grants to fund your projects – something many artists do – you have to be mindful of deadlines for applications and when you are allowed to actually begin the project. If you have an idea for a grant-worthy project, you will likely need to do preliminary preparation well ahead of time so you can submit your plan before their deadlines – depending on the funding organization, some programs are always open to submissions, others accept a couple of times a year. And, even when you are accepted – which would be awesome – you may not be allowed to begin your project for another several months, according to the agreement.  So, with the long-term preplanning involved, you want to get started on it as soon as possible while having other projects to fulfill you in the meantime.

In fact, it may not be a bad idea to always having one short -term and one long-term project on the go. That way, you can scratch that itch that wants the immediate satisfaction of completing something – and might make you some money in the process – and still have that magnum opus, that masterpiece they will be talking about for generations to come.  You can be submitting articles to your favourite magazines while you’ve got your epic novel on the go.

So, those are some tips if you are in the blessed situation of finding yourself overwhelmed with inspiration.  Have a fabulous day and keep on creating!

 

Tiffany

Know What You Know: When you’re confused about your creative path

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So, just a warning to y’all – this post might get a little “woo woo” but, even if you’re not into that sort of thing, you might get something out of it anyway. Just saying.

In your creative life, do you have some aspects of it that you enjoy more than others? Maybe you like writing the songs but you don’t like performing them. Maybe you love the creating part but not so much the promotion.  Do you sometimes wonder how it’s all going to play out? Or maybe you have so many interests and you’re struggling with figuring out what you’re supposed to do with it all.

Well, I have a story to share that might help you chillax a bit, as the kids say. J

My sister and I have a weekly catch-up phone chat on Monday afternoons, something I quite look forward to the point where I’m counting down the minutes once noon strikes.

Well, a couple of weeks I was talking about my career, which is doing well but there are things about it that have confused me for some time. I have often wondered whether performing is part of what I’m here to do or whether I should stick to the creating. Exactly what musical genre should I be working in? I’ve always done a bit of everything – classical, pop, country, children’s music – and enjoyed them all but sometimes I think I should be focusing on one style.

Well, my sister, the life coach, could sense my frustration and told me to stop. Just stop. Then she says – and this is not a direct quote but I’m gonna put it in quotes anyway – “Stop thinking about all of the things you haven’t figured out and making it more complicated than it has to be. Tell me what you know. What you know you love and what you know you want.”

And I thought about it for a minute. And then I told her, “I know I love music. I know I love writing. I know I like my voice when it’s working for me and I know I don’t like the frustration I feel when my technology isn’t working.” You see, I am a pretty tech-savvy person – I’ve been using computers almost my entire life – but when something isn’t working you don’t want to be in the room. I’m learning to relax around it and accept that things happen to everyone but it’s a process that takes time.

Anyway, my sister goes on to explain that when you focus on what you know you know, you are drawing more of that into your life and the unknowns are allowed to become clearer. When you worry about the unknowns or, worse, look backwards at the ways things didn’t work out in the past, your mind is cluttered with doubt and fear and you don’t give the Universe the chance to work its magic and do things that you didn’t imagine could be done.

So, if you’re wondering if you should change your path, if you should take on a new opportunity, try to get your mind on the things you’re sure about. Maybe you know you want to make more money. You know want a chance to work with a certain group of people. You know you want to travel more.  You know you love writing. You know you love your craft but you don’t enjoy the marketing. Know this and honour this and then watch for the little clues along the way as you’re just doing what you enjoy doing. The path or decision will become clear step by step. You will be at a coffee shop – because you felt like going to a coffee shop – and start a conversation with someone who just happens to be a literary agent, someone who love supporting and promoting writers. That opportunity you thought you were interested will mysteriously disappear– because you wouldn’t have liked it anyway – but in its place is something even better that allows you to use the best of what you are and love in ways you may not have even anticipated but that are totally fun for you.

If you know what you want and what you love, if you trust that anything that doesn’t work out or doesn’t happen is not going to take you where you really want to go anyway, you will receive insight and inspiration that will show you the way to the opportunities and paths that will truly fulfill and delight you.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey!

Tiffany

The Grace and The Grind: The Benefits of Slogging it Out

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Picture it.

You are going about your day – perhaps you are on a walk, perhaps you are washing the dishes. All of a sudden, you feel The Muse touch you with her magic.  A brilliant idea enters your head and you rush to your work space before the inspiration can escape.  And it doesn’t stop there. Next thing you know, the poem, the song, the painting, is complete. There is not a word that needs to be changed, not a brush stroke that needs to be added.

This is what happened to me recently and, if you haven’t experienced it, it’s a beautiful thing. I was struck with an idea for a song and, in the process of writing down a potential title, the song seemed to complete itself.

When we can spend months, if not years, agonizing over the details of a creative project, it can be such a relief to have something go smoothly. We find ourselves eternally grateful for that ease that makes us believe this idea that inspired us was destined to come to pass.

But we have also often heard that it is in the challenging times that we experience the greatest personal growth and this can apply to our creative pursuits as well.

Those projects that are harder to wrap our heads around can lead to exploration, the acquisition of new skills. In theory, we would always love to be growing and evolving but there are times when we can find ourselves almost unconsciously stuck in a rut, doing the same kinds of things over and over again because it’s comfortable. Our fingers just go to those chords, those turns of phrase keep appearing over and over again. I know it happens to me from time to time.

Then an idea comes along that excites us so much we have to engage even we don’t know how it’s going to turn out. Maybe it’s in a new genre or style. Maybe you’ve been painting in watercolours but have a vision of something in oils.  Maybe you have just a title but no idea whether it’s going to be a poem, a short story, or a novel. And if the idea wants to be a novel and you’ve never written one before? That’s scary stuff!

It’s scary but it can also be fun because it now presents you with an opportunity to, in this case, do research into how to write a novel – the type of structure, narrative arcs, character elements. Sure, after you’ve looked into it you can choose to abandon any precedent and recommendations but at least you will have some new tools under your belt should you want to use them.

So, enjoy the easy times when everything is in flow and be grateful for those pursuits that ask you to reach further, to dig deeper. You will be the better for it!

 

Disneynature’s Born In China and Thoughts on Perspective

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Image result for disney born in china movieSo, I was recently watching the latest Disneynature documentary, Born In China. I am a lover of nature and I enjoy opportunities to explore different environments.

The film tells the story of three animals and their families – a snow leopard, a giant panda, a golden snub-nose monkey. It was fascinating to watch the family dynamics and to learn about how these creatures interacted with each other and their surroundings. Did you know that a female giant panda lives in solitude unless she has offspring to care for? It was news to me!

Anyway, I noticed something near the end of the film that came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I’ll try not to give too much away in case you’re planning on seeing it if you haven’t already.

The snow leopard, Dawa, a gorgeous creature, and her two young daughters had been having a rough time of it. They were run out of their territory by a rival and, with winter upon them, food was scarce.

That was rather poetic, wasn’t it?

Anyway, a herd of chiru – which I believe is the Chinese name for yak, but I could be mistaken –passes by and Dawa takes her shot at a young one as it would be easier to overtake than a full-sized adult. Of course, the baby chiru’s mother doesn’t approve and defends her child against the intruder.

In a moment of clarity, I found myself being aware of my thoughts and I wondered why I was rooting for Dawa. Didn’t the baby chiru have its own right to survive? Didn’t the mother chiru have the right to take care of her child?

And then it struck me.

It was all about perspective. It was about whose story was being told.  The chirus may have had just as perilous of a journey, the mother likely cared for her offspring just as much, but because I knew more about the snow leopard and her cubs, because they had the cameras on them and were being viewed through a sympathetic lens, I wanted them to win. The baby chiru was not a sympathetic character in my eyes. It was nothing more than a walking meal.

In our art, we often must choose a perspective from which to view the situation, and we need to be aware of the effect the perspective has on the story and the audience, good or bad. We, as artists, have the power to manipulate thoughts and emotions. Who do you want the audience to relate to? What do you want them to take away from the experience and what role does perspective have in that? Every character in a narrative has their own story and their actions can often be viewed in more than one way. A somewhat obvious but fascinating notion!

On a personal level, it’s also something to be aware of as we go through our days. A person who may be cast merely an extra in the film of your life has their own rich world of experience and that awareness can help us treat others with a little more consideration and compassion.

 

In Swimming Tigress news, I uploaded several new images to Pinterest –inspiring memes that you might get something out of! New voice clients, lots of new music coming up – goodness all around! And don’t forget to visit the Swimming Tigress Shop for inspiring books like A Candle At Both Ends and Mocha and the Moon, fun sheet music like Brain Freezes and my children’s album, Ladybug Crossings!

 

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Tiffany

 

 

 

Tips on How to Navigate Networking Events

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Related imageSo, today, let’s talk about networking. Some people love it. Some people dread it. Some people think it’s a waste of time. But it can be a useful tool if you do it right.

First of all, what is networking exactly? Well, in its essence, networking involves people in related fields connecting with each other with the intention of forming professional partnerships. I’m going to discuss it here in terms of actual networking events rather than random encounters.

These events can arise in various ways. An organization, such as a film group, may have regular gathering for those involved in the film industry – everything from writers, to DOPs to animal wranglers. There may be networking events associated with a specific conference or festival, like NXNE or Canada Music Week or TIFF.

So, let’s say you’re a screenwriter and there’s a monthly gathering of film people coming up. Before the day even arrives, you might want to practice a little spiel about you and your work. Just a few sentences – something you might have time to reveal during a ride in an elevator – in case someone asks what you do. And they will. It never hurts to be prepared because you probably don’t want a potential collaborator asking, “So, what do you do?” just to respond with, “Oh, I don’t know. Stuff, I guess.” You’d be surprised at how easily you can get stumped with such a question, especially when you’re dealing with what you do all day long. You would think it would be easy enough to talk about but when you’re put on the spot words can fail you.

So, the day of the event arrives.  You may be going by yourself or with friends or colleagues, which gives you a bit of a leg up because you have a home base of people to talk to. Sure, this can provide a level of comfort but be careful that you don’t stick with the same people the whole time. You need to be able to branch out and make new connections eventually. That’s really why your there, isn’t it?

If you’re a social butterfly, you may be comfortable with approaching people you don’t know and that’s definitely part of the battle because many people are not okay with talking to strangers. But even if you are open to it, you may find that, like I just advised against, people in these situations tend to congregate in groups of familiar faces (because they aren’t hip to what it means to network like you are 😉 ). This can leave you feeling like the odd man out, especially if you’re new to the whole thing. On one hand, it’s kind of a loss for them because they could be missing out on meeting folks like your fabulous self but fear not! These clique dwellers don’t have to remain entirely out of reach.

When I have experienced insecurity around networking events, a feeling which comes and goes for me depending on my mood and the environment, I like to rely on an old trick – the food table. If there is a table of appetizers etc. at the event, which there often is, attendees will periodically show up to grab a little something, sometimes in pairs but often as individuals. In this scenario, they have been removed from their group and you can strike up a conversation, like a predator going after the prey that has separated from the herd.

So, now you are at the food table and a pleasant looking person is heading your way. You have finally mustered up the cajones and have the opportunity to start a conversation. What the heck do you do then? Regale them with a detailed account of your morning hygiene routine? Ask them why on earth 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?

Well, you can start by commenting on something about the food – hopefully positive because people don’t like complainers unless, of course, they’re hilariously funny. “These spring rolls are amazing! Have you tried one yet?” or “Someone should throw this shrimp back in the ocean because they aren’t doing anybody any good up here” might be fun openers. You could also exchange names while complimenting the other person – maybe on something they’re wearing. “Hi, I’m Tiffany. Those are great shoes.” Then you can ask them what brings them to the event – that will lead into a discussion of what you both do in the industry. This is where your practiced speech comes into play. You don’t necessarily need to spill all the beans at once. Start off with, “I’m a screenwriter.” Then let them ask, “What kinds of scripts have you done?”  Let the conversation evolve piece by piece. You might want to avoid being overly aggressive. “I’m a screenwriter. Wanna produce my script about a lizard man who discovers he is a cow having a dream?” I’ve seen people do that and it smacks of self-centeredness and desperation.

Here’s the thing to remember as the conversation progresses. The person you are talking to may be the answer to all your prayers, the one who finally helps your career take off. And maybe they aren’t. But regardless, they are still a person. Have a real conversation, ask questions, get to know them, and detach from expectations of possible outcomes. I have too often witnessed and experienced the beginning of a networking conversation and, when one party discovers that the other party isn’t “important enough”, isn’t worthy of talking to, they lose interest and just walk away.

Don’t be that guy.

Some people may take this approach as a way of saving time and energy but, even if the other party understands this on a logical level, they might still feel put off and be unwilling to work with or help you in the future should such an occasion arise. There’s no need to go burning any bridges.

Here’s the thing.  You don’t know where the conversation is going to lead. If you are a screenwriter, your intention may be to pitch your latest script to all the producers in the room but you might find yourself inspired by an unexpected conversation with a composer or a horse wrangler.  You might be meeting your new BFF or romantic partner.  Even if you are going to think of it strictly in terms of making business connections, you never know who the other person might know. That horse wrangler might be the brother of Steven Spielberg – if he has a brother. I don’t know.

Anyway, don’t dismiss someone just because they don’t seem to be the type of person you were hoping to speak to.

That being said, you also don’t want to keep the conversation going for too long, unless you both are totally vibing on each other somehow and are ready to go off and get a proverbial or literal room together. The goal for you, and likely everyone else in attendance, is to meet several new people during the course of the event, not just one. And once you start a conversation, a polite person may not be able to remove themselves if there is someone else they want to talk to.

I would say ten minutes is a good length of time – long enough to learn a bit about each other and see if there is potential in the relationship but not so long as to be dominating.  You can close the conversation off with, “It’s been great talking to you. I should probably let you continue working the room.” Awe! Aren’t you considerate? Then you can exchange cards or agree to meet again over coffee or something if you have some actual business to discuss.

Now, let’s say there is no food table or, God forbid, all the food is gone! What happens then? Well, I know it’s a scary thought but you can simply stand in with an existing discussion – provided it doesn’t appear to be private. You don’t want to barge in on two people talking about a recent break-up or anything. You might get the stink eye for doing that.

If it’s a decent size group and they seem good-natured enough, just stand there with them and they will likely widen the circle to accommodate you. Don’t feel the need to talk right away, unless of course you’re addressed. Listen for a little while, click in with the vibe, and then feel free to share and take part!

A final thing I will say is that if you discover that you’re not feeling it that day, if you’ve given it a good attempt but you’re just too tired or too nervous or you’ve met a couple of people and your sociability account is maxed out, that’s alright. Don’t be hard on yourself. We all have times when we’re feeling more or less willing to be around others and maybe it’s better to step back and try again on another day than to put yourself out there when you’re not up to it and end up making a bad impression. Have you ever been at a party where there was a guest who was just not in a good frame of mind and you figured it might have been better if they had just stayed home?

Don’t be that guy.

So, think of networking as a chance to build some confidence, practice talking about what you do, and you just might meet someone who will be in your life for years to come in some way or other. If nothing else, you’ll probably have some good laughs. There are always entertaining conversations to have so enjoy and don’t worry about it. It gets easier with practice!

 

Now, in Swimming Tigress news,  Swimming Tigress Music has now listed much of its catalog on Sheet Music Plus!  You can visit the publisher page here. Of course, you can also access the entire catalog here on our site at the Swimming Tigress Shop , including the songbooks Bad Moods and Seven Other Super Reasons to Sing a Silly Song and Brain Freezes and Seven More Super Reasons To Sing A Silly Song.

Have a great day!

 

 

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