Hi, I'm Rick.
For the past 45 years I've been an actor, singer, theatre director, playwright, a drama/writing and speech teacher, teaching artist, how-to book author, on and offline marketing copywriter and consultant and a creative block blasting coach.
A friend recently told me about stage32.com and that it'd be a good place to meet creative people from all over the world, talk about the creative process and maybe help some of them with some of their projects and dreams.
I'm not sure how to begin, so I'll start by saying I'd be interested in hearing what you're doing and dreaming about and some of the challenges you're having.
Not so much challenges in the nuts and bolts of acting, writing, directing, producing, animating, etc.
But more...
How do you deal with the stuff in your head or your heart that stops you from getting where you'd like to go on your artists journey?
Stuff you can't seem to shake.
What I've found is most of us creative types have the same types of issues, no matter what our art form is.
And many of us are multi-talented, and work with a variety of forms.
And can have different challenges in different forms which is frustrating.
I've also identified at least 43 types of creative blocks, any one of which can stop us, and sadly, often work in groups that make blocks seem worse.
So your question or answer mIght just help someone in a similar art form or a different one.
I'll start with this question.
What's the biggest fear you have when it's time to start something new, or take something new into the world, or to the next level?
Mine is, that no one will like it, or care about it, or if it's something I want to sell, want bad enough to pay a good price for.
How about you?
Let me know.
Thanks,
Rick
I appreciate your candor, Rick! It seems to me that people are often too afraid to remove their social "masks" or at times not self-aware enough to admit vulnerability, let alone self-doubt. In my book, that is actually a tremendous strength, not a weakness. Since only secure people admit such things. So KUDOS to you for that! It's also very human, and to the extent that we're in touch with our own humanity, as writers, I have to believe we will likewise be able to create wonderfully realistic and flawed characters, like ourselves. ;)
I share your sentiment, btw. My biggest block has always been questioning the practicality of spending so much time and passion crafting a story that may or may not appeal to gatekeeper types. I can easily convince myself that there are much more important and rewarding things to do with my time. Heck, I can even be downright incriminating about it! LOL My inner critic loves to tell me that I SHOULD be doing more altruistic, or at least more productive things with my free time. So I definitely get what you're saying, and asking.
In the end, like anything else, you have to take a leap of faith, and just go for it! Silencing that inner bully for good. At the very least, you'll enjoy the richness of the journey - the joy of creating something from nothing - even if you ultimately don't get to your desired destination. BTW, I really think that's the part that most people have trouble with - not being able to control the outcome. (Considering that the 3 greatest fears of humankind all have to do with the unknown - death, darkness, and speaking in public. :) Ironically, that also can be the fun part, since life can so often be mysteriously/miraculously serendipitous.
In other words, like my beloved mama' used to say "If it is meant to be, it will be, no matter what stands in its way." She also constantly reminded me to "never give up" - and considering that she dealt with a lifelong devastating condition and embodied the word "perseverance" I'll never allow myself to be a quitter. That said, if my passion fades I might chose to walk away some day - but I won't let any one fear make that choice for me.
That's my two cents, for whatever it's worth. :)
Time to get back to work, I've been having way too much fun procrastinating here today. LOL
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Hi Jean,
Thanks for responding. It's worth way more than two cents. At least to me.
This is the first post I've made on this site, and it was so nice to get a heartfelt,, detailed response.
So thanks.
I agree with you, the more human we are with each other, especially as artists, the better connections we'll make and the better our work will be.
I also understand what you mean about spending so much time writing things that no one may ever see.
And yes, the inner critic would love for us to anything but the thing that makes us feel alive and happy and we have to learn to tune it out or tell it to shut up and go away and keep going..
One thing I've learned from writing and directing plays and musicals I've written is that you just never know what's going to happen now or down the road. Or where that road may take you.
And my plays, (which are mostly for kids to do in schools), have had 3 lifetimes since I wrote most of them back in the 80's.
So we write what we're supposed to write when we write it, and see what happens.
And from looking at your profile, it looks like quite a few of your projects have done very well the last few years. So good for you!
My dad was like your mom and taught me not to quit. So while the things I write about and the forms may be different or rotate over time, I'm still doing it.
Keeps me sane if nothing else.
Thanks again for writing and wanting to join my network. You're in. And I'll be asking to join yours.
Rick
I try to write specs as if I'm being paid for it. Stay focused and just keep at it. If you're a staff writer on a TV show and you're making a living at writing, it would be hard to just sit around and say you're "blocked". Money is on the line and people are counting on you to do your job. So I adopt the same mindset with spec work.
If a scene is giving me trouble, I move on and go back to it with fresh eyes later. But the point is to just keep working as if there's a paycheck coming. It actually helps.
There is always someone who will like your work Sir Rick. You.
If you like / love what you did, then surely you will attract others to like it too. Just the same as selling an item. You must like it first.
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Hi M.L., Ana and Pamela,
I'm replying to you all at once because I can't figure out how to do it separately.
M.L. - Your idea reminds me of when I was in a lot of shows. About a week before opening I'd take the attitude that there was an audience there tonight and they were paying. And to do it as if they were sitting there. This got me into some sort of zone and kept me from getting frazzled when they were really out there and everyone around me was getting nervous.
Ana - Yes, I've found I have to love what I'm doing. And whether it's acting, singing, directing, writing or teaching, I have to find an angle into the material that is interesting, fascinating, inspiring or emotionally important. I have to care about it. And want to share it. Or it's very hard to stick with it and do well. And thanks for calling me Sir Rick. It made me laugh and I even told a few friends about it.
Pamela - Great Block Busting ideas! Especially that a block is not a block but a break. For the mind to rest and recharge. So important. And that there are many elements that go into writing and each one counts. And to try to enjoy and give yourself credit for doing each piece. And that we each have different life challenges and have to find a way to do what we do that works for us.
Excellent ideas everyone. Thanks.