I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I'm a huge fan of routines.
I don't mean that I like eating the same food everyday, while wearing the same clothes, while watching the same episode of M.A.S.H. That's boring, and I'm not talking about that.
What I am talking about is the power of using a pre-defined schedule to work on one's creative work.
If you're hoping to "get lucky" to find some time to work on your book/comic/film/sculpt, you're right; You're going to be really lucky to ever get it done. You've not dedicated your time and energy to really work on it.
Having time set aside to work on X is the way to go, if you can find the time in the first place. Yeah, like everyone else says, it's about priorities. For me, I can miss American Idol this decade in order to have more time to make monster stuff.
Once you've got the time, use the opportunity to really make progress and get stuff done. Watch the time and light a fire to get something accomplished in your window of opportunity.
Do. Not. Wait. For. Inspiration.
That approach, as they say, is for amateurs. Just start and ideas will flow, you'll make decisions, and you'll probably become inspired as you work. It's terribly true. I'm not always inspired, but I always need to make progress, and by doodling around... I usually find some inspiration and energy.
BookFace weasils and Twitter thieves.
That said, my greatest weakness is the evil of FaceBook, Twitter and email. I can get stuck in this cycle of checking one, then another, and then the third. Then, when I'm bored with the third one, I go back to the first one again, and start the cycle all over.
It's terrible and a massive waste of time for me. So I'm trying really-really-really hard to avoid this spiraling death cycle, and get crap done.
How do you get stuff done?
What works for you?
- Daniel
