Taxed

‘When forced to work within a strict framework, the imagination is taxed to its utmost and will produce its richest ideas. Given total freedom, the work is likely to sprawl.’T.S. Eliot

I didn’t used to believe this. Now I do. Writing has been a side hustle of mine for years—both in a paid and voluntary capacity.  This year, some changes in my work life meant that I was put into a position where my writing became my main hustle. I was both excited and terrified. All of a sudden I would have five days a week to write. I thought this was all the freedom I needed to be the writer I’d always wanted to be.In years gone by my writing and editing took place on the bus to work, early in the morning before the birds or on weekends. It had to fit around the rest of my life. Now the rest of my life fits around my writing—how crazy is that?! With all this freedom on my hands I started to fill it up with talking about writing and creativity with awesome fellow creatives and not actually doing it! Wow. Dangerous territory...This is where I had to do some real talk with myself, set up a routine and put myself in a position where I would be taxed. What this looks like for me is creating my own goals and deadlines. And actually, I deliberately create tough deadlines for myself with my clients. Not silly ones where I have to stay up all night like a lunatic, but ones where I put myself in such a position that I am stretched.Before taking on one of my clients a writer friend of mine said to me, “Always take on the projects that you know will stretch you.” And that’s what I did and intend to keep doing. But this needs balancing too.You can work in such a way where your imagination is taxed, where it’s strained to produce the best, but without compromising your health and wellbeing. Deadlines are helpful, absolutely. BUT it’s important to exercise wisdom. Allow space to let your art ruminate. I have to factor that into my schedule. In my office I have two chairs. One is for writing and the other is for thinking, for ruminating. This serves me so well. 

The truth is that the disciplines and habits you form can put pressure upon and tax your imagination. This is a good thing.  So don’t play the role of a tortured artist unnecessarily. Play the role of a free artist whose discipline allows the imagination to be taxed forming the very best art you can.