The Creative Writing Process

So, because I have been doing so much writing lately, I haven't hany images/graphics to post. I did paint a twelve by twelve abstract painting a few days ago that I plan on posting a pic of. I also got moved into my new office space. That is a really cool thing to share, but I haven't had time to do a bunch of extraneous stuff right now.

The reason I have been so swamped is that I am sprinting toward the finish line of JUMP VBS, the mission centric VBS curriculum that I have been developing for Team Expansion. The VBS centers around five stories, which are really monologues. They are the focus of each day's VBS material.  I had three other writers that were helping me with these, which is great because they are over six thousand words each. I am doing two of them, so just the stories alone are twelve to thirteen thousand words. Then there is all the other aspects of writing the curriculum; skits, lesson material, etc.

What I have found is that the creative process is different for writing than doing general art. It's difficult to write if you are listening to music with words for example. You either find yourself following the words to the songs, or unknowingly you start typing the lyrics into the middle of your work.

So, I've been trying to find some good instrumental music to have on in the background. I have some good Jazz, or soundtracks that have worked well. Also, made some Pandora stations based on Taio Cruz on Piano and Helen Jane Long (Thanks for those Lane).

I'm starting to wonder if the creative process is really that different though. I remember reading from several sources that Milt Kahl, one of Disney's Nine Old Men (creators of the original classic animated features), wanted complete silence when he was doing animation. The times when I have tried complete silence have been good, whether for drawing or writing.

The problem comes with the fact that in my new office there is a raccoon or something in the attic. When I don't have music on, and its quiet, he gets brave. He really likes the attic spot over my desk. So, I hear him scratching himself or walking around. Hopefully, those traps work soon.

Okay, I'm heading back to Word where I can keep creatively writing. Music or raccoon scratching....it's gotta get down.