But then the day comes when your flowers wilt and there is not a drop of metaphor to be found anywhere. There's a river running through the valley: denial. But seriously....
I have run into a problem. "The" problem, if you may. I might have just reached what may be the end of a very long creative stretch. A marathon of effortless productivity filled with unicorns and rainbows of conceptual continuity, in-jokes, and self-referential/self-mythologizing amazement.
I have exhausted my backlog. I have backed up the files to remote storage. I have no projects of note or interest in progress. Well, I have no projects or project partners that are ready to produce right now. It's probably an intermission rather than the curtain.
I am at the bottom of a well right now. I'm trying to write out of it and listen to music to rejuvenate but the panic always begins to wax. These ruts are killer and they usually happen in the summer. While it's not summer, it's hot as fuck so my lizard brain is ready to ease back while my willful mind is balking.
I get frightened that my last creative idea has past. I know, crazy. But that's me...long history of void panic. Been here a million times ("...used to call me antsy/now she calls me crazy..."). But you never know...it can be a little dip or it can be a motherfuckin' black hole. I don't know yet.
It's not time to panic though. I have to work the go-tos first. I have several last ditch go-tos.
I. Mine the Emailings
I keep very few emailings as you know. The OCD doesn't let it accumulate. I do have the opportunity to look through the recents for nuggets that may spark a riot. Here are a handful of phrases that may push start the Corolla with the bad starter. These are from smart, funny, irreverent people who know the buttons to push:
"Why I LOVE the Infantry!"Anything? Something? No.
"...not guilty by reason of plumbing fueled temporary insanity."
"...it would've blown away like the tumbleweeds."
"Don't tell the swine, they'll be so disappointed!"
"High functioning stoners ad-libbing."
"…also the workshop of the mind where a lot of the good shit goes down."
"What's wrong? Swine flu?"
"I dig those LA Lakers tube socks not mention the crafty cross-up."
II. Haiku
Forcing oneself into a haiku, the rigidity of it helps to focus the mind; to get one's self into a place. Here goes:
No nudges todayAnything? Something? No. Yawn.
Sahara feast or famine
Humbling on empty
III. Photography
Nothing clears the RAM like new, fresh photos. Just go out and take some pics without overthinking the exercise. Just go out and let the situations and contexts guide...
Anything? Something? Sure I did the post-prod today but the image was the last of the backlog. I now have nothing shoot or work with.IV. Consuming
I sometimes forget that reading, listening to music, or just enjoying other people's work is the best salve. But I'm a producer, a creator....
The My Problem Thread: [clicky]
Keep Produuucing, Man®
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