Why We’re Creative

I don’t care what you think of Ethan Hawke. Or if you don’t think about him at all, frankly. I’m a GenXer, so I grew up with him as one of the primary heartthrobs of my favorite teen movies, most memorably: Reality Bites.

Regardless, you owe it to yourself to take 10 minutes to watch his brilliant TED talk on creativity.

One of the insightful points Hawke makes is that we don’t just embark on creative pursuits because our soul calls us to, because it’s our passion… 

We also get creative to build community. Yes, we get creative to connect with other humans.

I love that Ethan Hawke highlights this point. 

We often think of writing as a solitary activity: The author alone at the computer in the wee hours of the night. 

But when we write, we do so in order to share. To touch other people. To bring them into our world. To reveal our mistakes so that they don’t make them. To help guide them on their path.

This is really beautiful. And it’s important to remember when you’re sitting alone at your computer during the wee hours of the night.

We’re creative, at least in part, to connect.

Writing Tip of the Week: Write to Connect

The aim of this week’s exercise is to actually share your writing. 

1. Choose anything you’ve written, from a journal entry to a poem to an essay to an excerpt of your book.
2. Now think of one person whom you trust, who you know won’t be too critical but rather will err on the side of supporting you with all their heart. And share it with them.
3. Then reflect: How does sharing your writing impact your relationship? Does it bring you closer together? 
4. Make a commitment to continue sharing your writing on a regular basis, with this same friend or in community.

And if you want to find other authors to connect with, talk to us! You can join our upcoming Fall 2024 Cohort of Your Bestselling Book, which begins September 16. Apply today.

Aloha, 

MeiMei

Quote of the Week

Creativity can have this feeling that it’s just nice. It’s warm, or it’s something pleasant. It’s not. It’s vital. It’s the way we heal each other.”

~Ethan Hawke