A version of this piece originally aired on CBC Radio’s “Breakaway.” You can hear the original audio version here.
Hello, I’m Ross Murray, beloved columnist, salad dressing connoisseur and author of the best-selling self-help book Don’t Kid Yourself, Mister. Today, I’d like to talk about a condition that afflicts 2 out of 6 Canadians and in some areas as many as 1 in 3. I’m talking about… creativity.
Creativity can strike anyone, anytime, though probably not before 10 a.m. Creative people are just like you and me, except with weirder clothes and occasionally dubious hygiene. Creativity is a highly distracting affliction, but, with regular treatment and flattery, most creative people lead full, productive lives… Let me try that again: most creative people lead full lives.
There are two types of creativity. Some people are born creative, although early creativity remains difficult to diagnose. Many parents become convinced that their child is creative based on adorable fridge drawings and elaborate theatrical productions involving stuffed animals, but thankfully most children grow up to be only mildly creative or not very creative at all. Often creativity doesn’t manifest itself until late adolescence when the child displays signs of wanting to go to art school. Nothing can prepare a parent for that kind of shock.
Unlike genetic creativity, many people develop type 2 creativity later in life due to a deficiency in career fulfillment and Vitamin B. In recent years, type 2 creativity has reached pandemic proportions due to the proliferation of self-published semi-autobiographical novels. Every year, Type 2 creativity costs the economy roughly $2 billion in lost productivity, mostly due to people posting artistically filtered Instagram photos of their lunch during office hours.
Thankfully, Type 2 creativity can be managed through painting classes, amateur theatre and writing groups, although these measures can do only so much to control the creative type’s craving for constant validation.
Here are some of the warning signs of creativity:
- Feelings of euphoria quickly followed by feelings of utter worthlessness
- Feelings of being misunderstood and unappreciated
- An irrational belief that you could really make a go of it if you only had more time
- Dancing like there’s nobody watching even when everyone is watching… and pointing…
- Complete disinterest in organized sports
- Complete inability in organized sports
- Overwhelming feelings of ennui when you realize that nothing rhymes with “poetry”
- Using “ennui” in everyday sentences
- Difficulty concentrating on a single idea without being… barracudas in sombreros would look awesome
- Ostentatious use of colours and
fonts
- Dreadlocks
Fortunately, there is hope. While in the past, a person living with creativity would be ostracized and helplessly dependent on Canada Council grants, today, thanks to research and greater awareness that they’re only half-listening to you, creative people are fully integrated into society – except in Alberta.
In addition, many schools are combatting creativity with “One Child, One iPhone” programs.
You can do your part to fight creativity by continuing to vote Conservative and by wearing on your lapel the plaid ribbon inscribed with a short Tibetan prayer and a small bell on the end. Talk to your loved ones. Help them realize that there is no shame in creativity, or money for that matter. Working together, we can bring creativity out of the closet because, frankly, we need room in there for all those oil paintings.
Drinking Tips for Teens 
minus dreadlocks- that was me in high school…
Ha! What about now?
What do you think, Rosemary?
6 out of 11?
9 out of 11
Everything except the dreadlocks (that must be a Canadian thing.)
Thanks for this post – I needed it today.
Come on, you’ve seen the dreadlock artsy types, no?
Glad you liked.
I have. I usually think of three words when I see them.
(WASH. YOUR. HAIR.)
I think they must be heavy. Maybe they do it just so they can say, “I have a lot on my mind.”
I fit all of the signs except for the dreadlocks… 🙂
How about pigtails?
Bringing creativity out of the closet to make room for all those oil paintings… paraphrased, but that was my favorite part of this brilliant post. Wonderful read.
Hey, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed writing it; very cathartic.
Latest entry in the slam competition, Ross: ‘I used to be creative, and then I got a job.’
AKA “then I turned 30.”
Why are you singling out Alberta? I live in Alberta & I’m very creative – I write & other things.
Had to pick a province and, you know, when in doubt go for the cheap-shot stereotypes. In retrospect, should have gone with Saskatchewan; it sounds funnier.
Have you got any followers from Saskatchewan? Maybe you were trying to be controversial & get a rise out of me? Get me to comment again? Pay attention to what you write? Just because I don’t always comment doesn’t mean I’m not reading – it usually means I’m behind in my reading again because I keep finding more wonderful bloggers to follow & then I can’t keep up!
I go in waves. I’m off WP for days and then try to catch up, failing, of course. And, no, no. I swear it was nothing personal. Sorry to hear about your premier. Or congratulations, depending on your political persuasion.
Embarrassing is the most used word in our household
“Feelings of euphoria quickly followed by feelings of utter worthlessness”. If this is a criteria, I’ve got creativity coming out my ears. Waiting for the euphoria to return…
Validation and euphoria is the science behind blog comments, I think.
It’s a huge problem here in the US, too.
And we know it’s often a genetic condition. For example, my dad got it from me.
I got my good looks from my son.
In my eagerness to learn more about my affliction of creativity, I clicked on the link : “You can hear the original audio version here.” and I learned about “Hamster-based learning”, “Drinking”, “Lawn Ornaments’ and various other exciing topics. But no “Creativity”. I checked all the way back to 2011 and either I missed it or this was an attempt at “Shameless Self-Promotion” (another topic, by the way). I must admit, this was a creative way to get us poor blog readers to dlve further into your tortured soul, Ross. Clever. Very creative. Be gone oh Ennui! Come hither, oh, Euphoria!
Oops. Usually they’re pretty quick about posting the audio. Come back again. (Oh THAT old line…!) Thanks for listening to them, though. You are a rare blogger indeed.
I’ve read this post at least 10 times now and I don’t understand a word of it. Are you saying this creativity thing is spread through intimate contact? Like static electricity? I’m baffled. Don’t we put some kind of cream in babies’ eyes when their born to prevent this sort of thing?
(On another note, I think this is probably my favorite post of yours that I’ve read, Ross. Brilliantly funny my friend. I laughed from start to finish. All 10 times.)
Thanks, Ned. I was attempting to walk the line between self-loathing and dark cynicism while wearing a tutu. Which is also how creativity spreads, by the way.
I knew I should have washed that thing before I put it on…
This might be the funniest thing I’ve read over here. And that’s saying something. It’s like you unscrewed the top of my cranium, peered inside and reported your findings.
I just read Ned’s comment and he said pretty much the same thing. I think you’re onto something here. This is GOLD, Rosemary. GOLD. Where are those FreshPress jack-offs when you need them?
Golly! (Don’t you think more people should say “golly”? So retro, you know what I mean?) Thanks. I thought this was only so-so, so what do I know? I think it’s a case of “know your doubt-plagued audience.” As for FP, there’s apparently some way to recommend a post, but don’t ask me how.
So-so?! Holy smokes. (They should start saying that again, too.) If that’s so-so, then Prince Albert is in a can, your ass is grass and my lip shits.
If I had known there was a way to recommend a post for FP, I’d have been recommending each of mine all along. Is that allowed?
Ha! I believe I’ve seen some self-recommends on Twitter. And why not? If you think your piece is worthy, why be shy? But who knows if it has an impact. Those FP ways are mysterious.
Ummm…because you’d sound like a megalomaniac and an idiot recommending your own stuff? That was one of my clever sarcasms. There’s no way you should do that.
Hang on, hang on. I’ve never done it because, well, I feel queasy just thinking about it. But, going back to the topic of this post, creative people tend to be shy about promoting themselves — the business end, if you will. But we all do it by posting to our Twitter or Facebook accounts, so why not promote this way too?
Recommending yourself for FP is kind of a douchey move but I’m not sure why. It’s like porno. I can’t define it but I know it when I see it. Self-promotion on twitter and facebook is okay. But nobody nominates themselves for FP, right?
I just did a quick non-scientific Twitter search. Survey says, “yes.”
I think they have an email address. You can also ping them on twitter. @freshlypressed, I think.
This is an excellent post. Definitely deserves the recognition.
And BOOM. You get Fresh Pressed. If you scroll up, I believe you’ll see that it was MY idea that this be FPed. I called it. I think I also called them jack-offs, which probably guarantees that I’ll NEVER be FEed.
I also don’t say many nice things about the FP experience. But other people enjoy it, so have at it, I say.
I’d rather have people that show up and continue the conversation than have to figure out 3,000 ways to say “thanks!” to people I’ll never see again.
Fuck that high-minded shit. I’d like it just once.
But this post did deserve it. It’s really, really funny. Nice work, Ross.
No reason you shouldn’t get it either. You’re writing is great.
the fact that you haven’t gotten it is just evidence of the random and capricious nature of the fp process.
All kidding aside, it’d be nice but it’s not what I live/blog for. I concur that the ongoing conversations are the real reward. I find the comment conversations even more satisfying than the post I throw-up.
Ha. Throw-up. That was an accident.
Barf blog.
I agree with everything you say. And you’re no-punches-pulled writing deserves more notice.
Now, I seriously have to get back to my real job.
Why start now?
It really is. Now that I know that @FP actually pays attention (thanks again, Guap), I might actually recommend. Probably the trick is not to bombard them.
As for the experience, each time is different. This one is getting a lot more traction/reblogs than others, I think because it speaks to common experience of a lot of bloggers (as opposed to my first about travelling across Canada and my second about cat litter, which frankly was not my favourite piece by a long shot). Even here, though, there are a lot of other pieces of mine I’ve liked better. But it’s an overall pleasant experience.
A very gracious acceptance!
I am glad they picked yours – your writing is generally very good.
I don’t know if I had any influence on fp, but if I did, I’m happy to bask in your reflected glory.
My only disappointment is that no one has mentioned my head on Steve Jobs’ body.
I wanted to let you know but, again, that old humility tick, right? So, yeah, Guapola tweeted it to @FP and they said thanks and sent me a notice. It was really that easy. FYI. If this were a hockey game, you’d get the assist.
Was a cash payment involved? You can ping me offline and tell me if you’d like. Is the Canadian dollar devalued?
Canadians in general are devalued.
That’s the old Canadian can-do spirit I read so much about.
I think I read that they are making creativity legal in some states here in the U.S.
Brilliant post, Ross!
Making it illegal may actually make it more attractive to many people. And thanks.
Reblogged this on Telefoniaone's Blog.
It’s a shame that such a common illness can’t be cured… 😝
Thankfully there are plenty of support groups.
It’s weird that you’re a best selling author and you can’t spell the word “colour” correctly.
You mean “best-selling athor.”
I hope w can out the creatives, then maybe move them into some sort of facility.
I need that valuable refrigerator space for my doctors appointment cards, not those whimsical kids drawings!
Those drawings eventually transform into tuition bills.
Ooops – so many creationists on here 😉
What, if we do not live in a real world but in one just existing in some creative mind? Should we BAN creativity – or make it a religion??
Mind blown! Creativity existing in the ultimate creative mind. The ultimate echo chamber.
😀 Loved this! I’m married to a type 2, thankfully sans-dreadlocks. (On an almost related note, there’s this strange reoccurring theme amongst people who dream of me– in many many of their dreams, I have dreads.)
Also, when a word doesn’t have a true rhyme, you can always go Seussian and make one up.
Awkward Nigel Moetly,
loved to read his poetry.
That’s great. Ever read any Ogden Nash? He was a master of that as well. He was big in his day but I don’t know if anyone even knows who he was anymore.
The cow is of the bovine ilk; one end is moo, the other milk.
I am, perhaps unsurprisingly, a fan of Nash, 🙂 Since I’m turning 30 in August, I’ve had his “A lady who thinks she is 30” running in my mind… “Miranda in Miranda’s sight is old and gray and dirty, 29 she was last night, this morning she is thirty.” It’s not one of his ill-rhymed or nonsensical ones, but I like it nonetheless. 😀
🙂
Reblogged this on evemeredith and commented:
I love this writer.
yes, i recognize the symptoms, while i do have a lot of hair, i have yet to try the dreadlock route. and you had me at salad dressing connoisseur. there is almost nothing more alluring in a man.
Is it the hint of garlic or the general oiliness?
it’s that lemony zest
LOL @ “dreadlocks”
Thanks.
Crap. I just quit my job because I thought I could make a go of it if I only had more time.
Wait, you had a job? Tell me it was a temp…
“Combating creativity with One child, One iPhone”…. So sad, but so true. Thanks for the backhanded encouragement to artists everywhere.
It was rather conflicted, wasn’t it. You’re welcome.
That was one of my favorite lines, too.
Check this recently FPed piece for counterargument: http://hipmombrarian.com/2014/03/11/10-reasons-why-i-will-continue-to-give-my-children-handheld-devices/
It all sounded familiar until “dreadlocks” were mentioned.
You know you want them.
My name is New and I have Type 2 creativity… *pauses for group’s slow-clap*
We have muffins. Garnished with shaved white chocolate and basil, of course.
I have Hypergraphia. No one new why until a scan revealed ‘suspicious activity’ in my temporal lobes. They tried pills to quell the impulses but I had compliance problems. Eventually I escaped and took up residence in cyberspace. And somewhere along the way I began to realise…. Oh look there goes a butterfly.
I had to look up “hypergraphia.” I thought it would have a longer definition.
Thank goodness I opted out of getting dreadlocks. Loved this by the way! Gave me some much needed chuckles.
Glad you liked it.
Funny post. They also have Etsy shops!
Ha! Forgot about that one. Perfect.
Pssht! There’s nothing irrational about my belief that I could really make a go of it if I had more time. Nothing, I tell you! Damn these limited hours in a day…
I could be making a go of it right now if it weren’t for Wisconsin and Oregon. (And Dayton and Syracuse before that.)
Classic Wisconsin.
If only my hand can accurately draw or paint, then I wouldn’t be just daydreaming about mermaids, unicorns and fractals…
Daydreaming is the best part.
Einstein said something like that.
Well, he would know.
Best post ever. Nothing more need be said. Except I feel that I should stick up for Alberta, somehow…
Poor Alberta. This is like when you make a tiny joke to a friend and then all of a sudden you realize the entire room is listening. Love you, Alberta!
Me too!
Reblogged this on afreshsliceofrye.
Reblogged this on Fresh Photography.
And interestingly enough, because of you, I’m going to use the word “ennui” in a post title. It’s inevitable.
Hell of a post. Really.
Thanks, man. I’ll look for it.
And I’ll be following along too, cause you have some good stuff my friend. Nice to meet you, Ross.
Absolutely hilarious. I even read some of your comments on the way down and they are hilarious. I think I snotted a little bit on this one: I got my good looks from my son.
Anyway, while I am a sports blogger, I do have an interest in sports, but don’t worry, I don’t have any ability to play them. And I am totally focused on one.. ooooh look a penny!
This was great. I laughed the whole way through. Looking forward to more!
Really glad you liked it. Really gladiolas are flowers.
I am on my way to post a comment. It’s taking me a while, as I read the comments and your responses to them. I love your sharp wit, rossurray!
Unlike in the real Internet, WordPress comments are sometimes the best part. A virtual troll-free zone. (I probably just jinxed it.)
umm……..
………darn it!
It’s okay. It happens to the best of us.
Thanks, eh. 🙂
Reblogged this on sotonz's Blog and commented:
Teens beware
Even I don’t really understand. But yeah…creativity for looking penny indeed right. 😀
No one understands but that’s okay.
Oh… I didn’t mean it Ros…! Really, I can understand little because of my lack in English. May be I should try my best to learn more. But indeed I got some points of what you wrote. 😉
I meant that no one really understands creativity or why we do what we do. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Me too… I have no idea what comment I wrote. Hahaha… anyway your welcome!
Or may be because your writing is too high for me the beginner to reach and to understand. 🙂
Reblogged this on dhoconnor and commented:
Big 🙂
Nice article,glad i came across it….while am i here,why don’t you check out this
http://gopaidweekly.com/?ref=111816
Reblogged this on rhi123456's Blog.
Reblogged this on Day's Lee and commented:
Are you creative? Read this funny post by Ross Murray about creative people.
“Difficulty concentrating on a single idea without being… barracudas in sombreros would look awesome.”
Bunny! Squirrel! Bright shiny thing! (In case the barracudas in sombreros do not work in your next post.) Excellent creativity, worthy of a pressing. Congrats!
Thanks very much, bikerchick57. Those 56 other bikerchicks ain’t got nothing on you!
No they don’t! Ha!
(y) wow
Thanks.
Really I enjoyed by reading your stuff
Well, I do have dreadlocks. Not by choice. My kids never let me take a shower.
Ha. “Mama, you rasta!”
What if you have all of these symptoms, minus dreads, are creative in your mind, but lack any such motivation to put that creativity to work? Does that make you a conservative? 😉
Or a patron of the arts. [Points subtly to book plug at right…]
I never considered myself a creative person, yet 9 out of 11 items on the list apply to me on some level or another. [You can rule out the last item, as I am bald, that is no dreaded hair to lock.]
I think I currently display many of the symptoms of creativity! So clever and funny. 🙂
Thanks very much, and thanks for the reblog.
You’re welcome! All of us creative people have to stick together!
Damn, you should write a post on how to be as funny as you are 🙂
I sort of did, here: https://rossmurray1.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/on-writing-the-funny-little-frog/
Reblogged this on Humyn and commented:
This is a clever and funny blog post. I think many of us have some symptoms of creativity. 🙂
This is hysterical. Thanks for a good laugh and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you and thank you. I’m having fun.
Hahaha bullshit
Yes, but premium bullshit.
hilarious! well written! I love Canada..
Canada thanks you.
I must be type 1,2,3,4,5 and so on for Creativity!
That may, in fact, be multiple personality disorder.
Reblogged this on mhomer1 and commented:
Funny 🙂
Reblogged this on Best Of and commented:
Heartbreak of Creativity: I loved this blog and wanted to share this everywhere. It’s going on Pinterest- Warning: If I like a blog this much.. I pin it.
Reblogged this on OSCaR LaND…THE BLOG.
Reblogged this on Apps Lotus's Blog.
I believe I am a rare case…Or at least curious as to if it is possible to carry both Type 1: Genetic and Type 2 Creativity? Halfway through elementary school, teachers became afraid of my type 1 creativity so they sent me away once a week with others that potentially shared my condition. However, later on and most recently I have begun showing symptoms of Type 2…The latter of which I think has a lot to do with me feeling the need to blog my rambling thoughts for the world to see. Any clever suggestions for curbing the side effects and symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 Creativity?
The only true advice I have is “Hug it out.” That and “Avoid Adam Sandler movies.” Hope that helps.
“Ennui” is one of my favorite words. I even have a colorful hand-made drawing of it on my fridge.
Fridge art! Perfect.
Reblogged this on M/M Paranormal Romance and commented:
This is awesome! This is perfect for anyone with a creative bone.
thanks for this very creative look on creativity..lol. I wrote a similar post about creativity, I do love the last line about bringing it out of the closet to make room for more oil paintings,..<3 that please check out my Manifest Destiny,Maker manifesto..aka..ode to creativity here…http://mendomadelocal.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/manifest-destiny-a-maker-manifesto/
Will do.
Hi Ross, I enjoyed this blog. I think that creativity though not only hits those Canadians but us American’s as well. Happy painting!
I get paid extra to include Canadian content. Next up: Mr. Dressup!
Brilliant post, think I’m kinda type 1 spliced with type 2, but without the dreadlocks!
No one likes the dreadlocks! I think I missed the mark on that one. Thanks, by the way.
You’re welcome.
Oh man…I JUST saw your reply (DECADES later) lmao! Your stuff cracks me up…and if I WERE to have dreadlocks, they would be BEAUTIFUL dreads! My hair is wonderfully long…down to my waist…and shiny and full. ..and dreadlocks most CERTAINLY would be my number 2 “look”! 😉 Keep writing…and I will keep reading! I hope, of you comment again, to see it so much faster! I was THRILLED to get a reply from someone I admire for thier wittiness!
Timeless, that’s me. Thanks for the kind words and hair images.
Reblogged this on jorilou.
Creative Mr. Murray. Love the imbedded sarcasm.
Thanks. That’s the name of the game.
Any man who uses the word ‘thricely’ is a man I approve wholeheartedly of.
Fine work, sir!
Thanks for catching that. Just made that for the occasion!
Haha wow. You are talking to me directly dreadlocks and all. Bravo. Viva la ideas
Congratulations! You are my first dreadlocked customer, I believe. Help yourself to a free blog post.
Just enjoy creativity it knows no color or creed. Slowly it’s being sapped from humanities consciousness and it’s our job to help revive it.
Also had to reblog.
Awesome. Thanks. And I agree with your previous comment.
loved this post! Sounds like a description of me alright! (Although I do not wear dreadlocks – i have let my hair do its own thing for weeks tho 😉
Let your freak flag fly, baby!
Reblogged this on A Musing Author and commented:
I love what he’s saying and the humorous ways he’s saying it. This brilliant article on creativity is a work of art!
This is so true! To be honest, I’m not sure if I’m a creative person or not. I certainly wasn’t a creative child, but everybody develops at different points along the way, right? http://pezcita.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/portrait-of-the-author-as-a-young-artist/
great post……………#wordpress!
Thanks very much.
“Every year, Type 2 creativity costs the economy roughly $2 billion in lost productivity, mostly due to people posting artistically filtered Instagram photos of their lunch during office hours.” He he love this …
Thanks.
Fantastic piece. Thanks for helping me start the day with a smile!
My pleasure. Thanks for reading.
This is great, I can relate to everything except for the dreadlocks! But you see I work with posh hair products so dreadlocks is not a good idea…
Probably the first time I’ve seen “posh” and “dreadlocks” in the same sentence, in fact. Thanks for reading.
Wow, this piece (and i never use this expression) made my day. And really, when you consider the enormity that task- actually MAKING someone’s day- all those components, actions, experiences and interactions, it’s crazy.
But seriously, very well done sir.
I’m looking at the cosmic greatness of your avatar and it makes me realize how small and insignificant one day really is in the vast immeasurable scheme of things. You know what is big, though? My thanks.
(Whew, that was a lot of work!)
Reblogged this on j. kennedy's theory of everything and commented:
For the successful, struggling, & starving writers and artists; this is the best blog you’ll read all week.
Very nice! I was waiting for you to point out the “organized clutter”. Our precious projects that we have to use the word organized with in order to gain acceptance from – the other people.
Most of that clutter’s in my brain, actually. Thanks for reading.
I have type 2 creativity. Deep down I know/ think I am extremely creative. I fight a battle between being too talented and actually not having any talent at all. therefore a battle between worrying about not getting recognised for my talents or being ashamed when the world realises I have zero talent haha . Brilliant article 🙂
That’s a losing battle. You need to not care about either of those things and have fun. Thanks for reading.
Reblogged this on simplycomplex and commented:
Insightful
Hahaha. This was highly amusing, I was giggling quietly in my cubicle while reading it.
Is there no hope for Type1 creativity? Is there no hope? We don’t HAVE those kind of creativity combating programs in the US- oh, wait, I think our standard educations system actually treats it pretty well, never mind.
While it’s definitely a sign of Type 2 creativity, I hate it so much when people insist they could X if only they had the time. Grates on my nerves; clearly they do not understand how most actual painters or writers or whatever actually create their art – in the cracks of time they have.
Cracks of time indeed. I’m just coming off a long weekend of being by myself at home — a rarity, trust me. And I wrote and wrote and wrote. It was frankly exhausting. In fact, having the long spaces of time between actual doing allows me to think and stew, rather than just forging ahead. Vivres les cracks!
haha. I’m creative!!
Well, obviously!
^^
Reblogged this on Stay Positive! and commented:
Good that he listed Dreadlocks… else I would be fully diagnosed as creative!
Reblogged this on vipissana8115.
Ha, check on so many levels, even the dreadlocks! I was 17 and Type 2 had worked its way.all through me. It went downhill from there right through to the semi autobiographical novel last year. They’ve exhausted all treatment options.
Hey, everybody, we finally got a dreadlock!
Congrats on your novel. Seriously.
Thank you, Ross. Told you I wasn’t messing around, eh? Medical students in an effort to understand the epidemic will study my brain patterns-)
Great post, thanks
Thank you.
very nice post… thanks
Thank you.
…
Reblogged this on NiDuan's View 倪端話端倪.
Reblogged this on H.G. Fields and commented:
I often suffer from this affliction, too.
Reblogged this on In a Nutshell.
Why does everyone seem to think dread locks are the most out there part of that list? Come to Santa Cruz! And why are sports and creativity mutually exclusive? I tend to think they involve similar processes. But then again I was always the smallest kid on the team.
Or Salt Spring Island in BC.
All joking aside (because that was kind of the point), athletes are creative in their own way. My son plays basketball, point guard, and a term I hear is how a player “sees the floor” — seeing the possibilities and movements before they happen. It’s almost mathematical.
Thanks for the comment. I really liked the post. Keep pushing that rock up hill !
help i think i have creativity what can i do?
Take two commerce courses and call me in the morning.
What about ostentatious use of punctuation?????!!!!!
Definitely(~)
Nail on the head…I suffer from type 2 creativity myself. My dominant symptom are the cycling feelings of elation and worthlessness. Thank you for helping me with the diagnosis.
Loved the post
It’s the first step to incurability.
Glad you liked it.
I love the thumb on the chin photo, good job.
You mean, good “Jobs,” right?
Pingback: An Open Letter to Mr Ross Murray « Jill's Scene
Reblogged this on Jill's Scene and commented:
Two days since first reading this and still laughing!
http://jillscene.wordpress.com/category/odds-n-sods-n-reblogs/
Reblogged this on The Writer Monkey.
“An irrational belief that you could really make a go of it if you only had more time” is not a sign of creativity. It is the sign of a wannabe creativite. I hear a form of this line every time I do a book signing or anyone finds out I am a published writer. Then I have to stand and listen to their rehashed uninspired ideas for novels, and eager offers of sending me their five page manuscript written ten years earlier. I’ve learned to smile and do my magic disappearing act, leaving only the pained smile hanging in the air. I was born creative.
I once had a self-proclaimed Marilyn Monroe expert outline the plot for his sci-fi novel in which Marilyn and JFK time travel in order to kill Hitler, setting off parallel universes and I think a robot uprising. I never did get to hear how it turned out. Nod and smile, nod and smile, hope for rescue. Thanks for your comment.
You forgot to mention that creativity is hard work.
I have brain calluses.
I should have guessed that.
Very well observed. I’ve got the long hair (and probably the bad hygiene, but my wife is good to me and only tells me bout it if we’re going out), but they aren’t dreads yet.
I also happen to think another symptom of true creativity is the dislike of the word creative as a noun, as in: yes, I’m a creative. A creative what? This is usually uttered by people who believe that a Christmas card containing their hand-drawn interpretation of an otter, and printed from their home computer set up, is the epitome of creativity itself.
“I’m a creative.” I’ve never heard anyone say that. Yuk. I’m a shocked.”
Reblogged this on Tarek Elbakry's Blog.
First time I have ever come across your blog! I love it! Very much enjoyed reading this. Made me smile. I write a humor based blog too. I’d love some tips if you had any? http://rightnoweverywhere.wordpress.com/
I’ll have a look but giving humour tips is like trying to describe how to play golf: theoretically possible but not especially helpful. We’ll see… Thanks for the comment.
I got one. You’re dating piece. “Get a t-shirt made with a photo of your future child on the front.” That made me chuckle. But stop right there. Don’t milk it. OR better yet, build on it somehow, making it crazier and even more exaggerated/twisted, i.e. “Ask him seductively if he wants to come to your place for a drink and a pregnancy test.” Maybe not that, though, but you know what I mean.
I’m so glad I don’t exhibit any of those creativity signs. Are they contagious? I’m a hack who is comfortable in his mediocrity. On another note, is that a box of red clown noses on your background pic?
Why no, it’s a box of beads. But I like the way your mind works. And you call yourself a hack!
Loooove it. I have almost all of your symptoms…except the dreads, but I used to hang out with people that did. *Reblog!*
I like it in quotes and exclam. “Reblog!” So emphatic.
Glad you liked and thanks for the follow.
Reblogged this on The Vagrant Writer and commented:
I just found this blog today. It expresses my love/hate relationship with creativity.
I have two Facebook Friends who live in Alberta. I’m going to have to share this with them – only because I love breaking their chops.
When I was a kid, I remember hearing my mother tell my father how creative I was. My mother took great interest in my creativity because she was a writer for Reader’s Digest at the time. I learned at a young age about writing, and by the time I was in fifth-grade, I was writing essays that had the teachers accusing me of plagiarism. I learned back then that the core of creativity is not something that can be taught, or copied. Creativity is something that comes out of the imagination of one who sees the world around them in a unique and unparalleled, perspective. That is hardly an award-winning recipe for the bored and unsuccessful.
I love the way you characterize people who are exhibiting alarming traits of creativity. Do you hang out at beginner, craft fairs or Home Depot, home-improvement seminars? I bet you get a kick out of watching them cutting 4-inch, ceramic tile for the first time and slicing their fingers open, right?
Don’t get upset. I’m just busting your balls. I thought it was hilarious.
You obviously are a columnist.
Sorry, I read “sharing with Alberta,” thought “Uh-oh” and zoned out for the rest.
Maybe true creativity can’t be taught but it can be nurtured, which is probably what teaching should be in the first place.
No blood; I’m a pacifist. A pacifist columnist. A pacifnist.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I love Alberta.
Haha! Very funny and creative.. 😀
Thanks!
Reblogged this on shadows of my soul.
Reblogged this on Adri Ception and commented:
One more time I feel like I belong in a group… very well said, I love this post!!!
Reblogged this on The Urban Algorithm and commented:
Guilty as charged!
Warning signs of creativity is relevant,that’s what i think!
Reblogged this on wallykstuff and commented:
Never accept defeat,you will surely win the battle!
In regards to your first point:
Interestingly enough, I was sitting in my Psychology class and had to listen to a three hour lecture on Bipolar I and II Disorder. A few slides in, my teacher pulls up this slide basically saying all create writers artists and musicians are generally Bipolar.
Of course, here I am a Creative Writing major sitting in a class with a bunch of Psychology majors. My minor is Psychology, that’s why I was there. It’s an upper-division class so you’re only there if you need to be.
I want to stand up and scream “I’m not crazy!” but then I figured I’d be proving his point, so I just left class early and got a milkshake.
I love a happy ending. And, yeah, I cry BS to your prof. Sensitive, maybe. Aware, yes. Bipolar? That’s nuts.
Reblogged this on BlowJob Confessional.
Just skimmed, really…didn’t read a word of your post, so can’t say whether it was funny or not. Well, except maybe the one Iphone, one child part…. And the crack about the kid wanting to go to art school. Oh, and the fancy-font lovers. Other than those, and a few other parts, I didn’t read a bit. So it is mere coincidence that THIS is here:
A challenge-“No rhyme words for ‘poetry’?”
Seed planted, my garden did grow a tree.
Tree flowered. For fruits,
I watered its roots;
Then grass grew, and I had to mow a tree.
Take THAT, funny boy.
(Who’s suffering from ennui NOW? : )
It’s got a real flow, I see.
Congratulations, you’re the only one who gave it a shot.
I remembered today I wrote this. There’s almost a “poetry” rhyme at the end. Happy Poetry Month!
This smart #ss has been thoroughly kicked. Blew me out of the water, sir! Fantastic post–content and form. Loved it.
In response, rather than continue to attempt miserably to toot my own horn, in honor of April and your appreciation of verse, may I steer you to grandmalin’s blog, BREATHING SPACE, and her post “stargazing”, where, in response to a “42 words” writing challenge, I believe she produced a quite lovely poem:
That’s quite lovely.
“Difficulty concentrating on a single idea without being… barracudas in sombreros would look awesome.” This is my brain. Every. Single. Day. My brain is like a web browser that has at least 10 tabs open at any given time, and prone to opening more tabs based on a simple string of words that erupts into 5 more trains of thought. This post made me chuckle, because it was so tongue in cheek, which I always appreciate. I like the phrase that says, “If you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?” However, I much prefer the phrase that says, “If you can’t laugh at yourself, call me, and I’ll laugh at you.” This was brilliant, simply brilliant.
Thank you very much.
Reblogged this on vivekadityacs's Blog.
Apparently I’m two months late on this… (WHO AM I?) but this post is amazing. Thank you for highlighting the absurdity of the riddle of creativity. And I agree. Barracudas in sombreros WOULD look awesome!
Thanks. It really took off, this one.
Overwhelming feeling of ennui trying to think of a witty response to this that rhymes with dreadlocks.
When you’re starting to fall asleep at a meeting: head rocks. You’re welcome.