After having dinner with a friend, I feel compelled to write this article in order to make other artists aware of the constant challenges that continue to hinder one's ability to make art. If you're an artist of sorts, then you might have trouble in one of the following areas, if not all, and here is how to help get yourself out of a rut of nothingness.
1. Do the damn thing already. I had drinks with a friend recently and he told me that he was in his mid twenties and he still hadn't created anything yet. I was disheartened by that fact because if you say you're a writer, producer, singer, or whatever, then you do that. No if, ands, or buts about it. If you chose to practice this art, then it's your job to set out the time to create, even if that means staying in.
2. You are the average of the five people around you. There is nothing probably more truer than this statement. In other words, if you want to be something, but everyone else around you is still waiting to be put on, then you might have to drop some people. A little sacrifice will go along way, but if 10 of your friends are unmotivated than the likelihood of you being so increases tremendously.
3. Focus on one thing at a time. Obviously, bills come first, then art. This advice especially is crucial for artist because if you want to create in the long run, your biggest hurdle is finding a way to replace the job you don't like with the one you want.
4. More focus! It's hard to complete anything if you have 20 million ideas in mind. Find a way to capitalize on one idea then go onto the next. In writing, it's simply finishing that article or screenplay, then editing it, and then going into the next big thing.
5. Edit or critique later. From what I've learned and from what other people have told me is that it is important to just get your wacky and crazy creativity out there , then focus on editing. If I know one thing, and that is it is far too tedious to try and complete anything if you're constantly changing and reworking as your writing or doing anything for that matter. Don't worry, you can spellcheck later.
6. Realize how bad you want it. It's sounds sexy to say that you're an "artist" but it takes a lot of sweat to create, nevertheless, get something made and sold. You're not a writer if you don't write, nor a painter if you don't paint. You may not have to do it everyday, but you have to enjoy the craft enough to be willing to stare at a blank canvas from time to time.