The Author and His Creativity

[The writer’s monologue]

At first, there was a little bird inside the author that couldn't be caged. It had to be let out of the cage and fly in the sky in order to be happy. When it comes back, it either whispers close to the author's heart, or it dominates and directs the direction of the heart. Sometimes the author's heart will argue with the bird, and sometimes he will surrender; the bird is both the author's favorite friend and the most damaging friend that makes the author lose control.

Creativity torn to pieces

During the honeymoon period of belief, I heard that some people were hesitant to accept salvation. The reason was actually because they were afraid that if they believed, they would be restricted in the rules and regulations, and would be "unable to move" from now on. I was surprised and hurried to my father’s feet, widened my eyes and asked—

Believe in the Lord, isn’t it true that birds fly from cages into the sky and small fish dive from water tanks into the ocean? Isn’t it the case that man’s limitations are released and he enters into God’s infinity, experiencing what “eyes have never seen, ears have not heard, and human hearts have never imagined”? What could be more freeing than this? How could it be a restriction?

Before I knew Him, there was always a voice of fear in my heart: "Be careful, be careful, be careful!" Not knowing what to be careful about and how to be careful has become the biggest constraint in life, and it has also become a painful wall that keeps beating when the imagination spreads its wings.

After getting to know the Lord who is the first and the last, I secretly rejoiced: Now I am safe, surrounded by Him front, back, left and right, I can let my imagination run wild!

I love writing, starting with fellowship or church publications. My writing style has never been spicy, and my personality is not rebellious. However, I am naturally blind to frameworks, and I cannot think in a box. I soon discovered that the so-called internal articles were formulaic, and I was averse to the uniform style of writing. I always wanted to break away from the common patterns and branch out from the topics that everyone was discussing, and I didn’t like to repeat the tone used by too many people.

In that era, there were no seniors to lead the way and no companions to be courageous. I remember writing a testimonial, which started with a plot about a child getting lost, narrating the scene, and a conflict in which he was almost run over by a car.

"Is this a testimony? It's like reading a novel?!" the elder said to me, and I shyly accepted it as a compliment.

In a church environment where articles are usually published as soon as they are submitted, there is always a lot of acceptance for young, newly-believed authors, how they write, and how they are applauded. Occasionally, the elders would show signs of being uncomfortable or even uncomfortable, but I couldn't understand them.

Until someone said something more honest out of love: "Actually, the most important thing is to speak plainly and clearly. If you go round and round, you will not understand."; "Speaking clearly about the cross is the purpose. Too much prose will blur the focus." If you analyze and analyze the affairs of many people, don’t you think you are a sinner? There is no need.”…

These comments were influential but not a blow to the author when he was a young writer. Just believe that there is space inside and outside the box. Since you don’t know enough about yourself and can’t come up with a powerful response rationally and spiritually, then don’t insist. Maybe maintaining dialogue is the best attitude of the creator.

After writing for a while, during the church’s grand anniversary celebration, I was honored to be assigned to write the story of the founding pastor. At that time, I had officially written and published an article. The editor-in-chief first gave me great recognition for my writing ability and did not tell me any expectations for that article.

The little girl was very grateful for such trust, so she spent a lot of time interviewing, recording, and then thinking about how to write. In front of the computer, creativity is like a fairy in flowing dance clothes, dancing around the screen. Every time it comes to me, she blinks at me and invites me to dance with her.

For several nights in a row, I revolved around the prototype stories I interviewed, marveling at how God miraculously molded a life, and begging God to guide me. I listen, think, and gaze from different angles, use words to present the truth, and use words to lead readers to discover the rich revelations buried in the events.

After carefully handing over the article, I never got any response. About half a year later, one Sunday, I found out that the host was sending out the anniversary special issue, so I quickly picked it up and read it when I got home. I was shocked when I first read it. The article had been cut out beyond recognition, as if a painting had been torn into pieces, recomposed and then glued to white paper to become another painting. As I read and reread, I discovered that the editor only left "fragments of content" and did not care about the completeness of the article, nor any writing skills or creative weaving.

The meat is cooked, put it on the table, and everyone can nibble on it! No need to braise or fry, even the sauce for the plain meat is omitted?

For the first time, I discovered that during the creative process, the author must use creativity to digest any response that may be encountered, otherwise it is easy to give up this path, curl up in the traditional frame, and become rickety from then on.

Creativity that can be pulled and shaped

Creativity is a kind of elasticity that allows the author to not be rigid within a fixed range, but to re-stretch and reshape.

When literary and artistic workers talk about creativity, it is not difficult for them to foam at the mouth. If you are a literary worker first, you will not be able to adopt the attitude of "that is my personal freedom, what does it have to do with you" when creating.

I have always felt that literary workers are like prophets and must be sensitive to messages from above. At the same time, we must walk with the message among those who receive it, sometimes being rejected and beaten, and sometimes waiting patiently for the recipient to be mature enough to open his ears.

I have seen some artists and writers actually experience having their hands and feet chopped off on the way to creation, and in the end they actually ran away from home, which made me feel distressed and helpless. Fortunately, there are gradually more groups that, in addition to giving enough creative space to this group of lambs who are regarded as misfits, also feed them spiritually and nourish them in relationships, so that they will no longer continue to be a family but wait. The restless prodigal.

I think most people don’t want to use creativity to be rebellious or confrontational, but within the faith community, it can sometimes be misunderstood. Therefore, in addition to spiritual parents who adhere to the truth need to be renewed, they must be humble enough to see the possibility of growth in themselves, be willing to have a deeper understanding of Abba, the Father who bestows creativity and is full of creative enthusiasm, and proactively give space for creativity to flow in the home. The creators themselves can also refuse to respond with rebellious criticism or avoidance, and become intercessors for the spiritual family. They can seize the role of communication or guidance and help the family members in heaven understand what beautiful and sacred creativity is.

If the creators themselves do not take the initiative to serve as bridges, family members who are unfamiliar with this field will often be exposed to it from the news or related negative products, creating a greater sense of fear.

Creativity is elastic, allowing the author to have limitations but not rigidity, allowing him to be molded.

Creativity that is casual but not casual

The Internet age is here, and now not only the doors and windows cannot be locked, but the roof is almost lifted. Words are the main means of transportation on the Internet, which means that authors no longer need to be limited to publications of a spiritual group, or print magazines and newspapers in one place, nor do they need to be edited by editors to decide what creativity is? What is rebellion?

Finally there is a world where authors can stimulate their creativity without restriction, let themselves open their senses and thoughts, run freely under the blue sky, be challenged, questioned, cheered and moved. It's so good, so freeing. However, there are more places for creators to breathe, which means that what the lungs of thought take in and spit out may be unfiltered air.

Creativity can be random, but it is not casual.

Serious authors, based on cherishing words and respecting readers, should not use their free rights to wreak havoc on their senses and thinking, and should not let their souls be reduced to animalistic out-of-control when their creativity is flying.

These are easy to talk about, but people are really weak and can be influenced or even persuaded without knowing it. Others remind me of my changes when they see them, but they still refuse to admit them and give me lots of excuses. I hope that all literary workers will admit their weaknesses, seize the opportunity to dig deeper into the truth, and walk with Abba Father every day, but never lose their courage in creativity.

write it down first

People often ask: I don’t seem to be a very creative person, what should I do?

Have you heard the touching theme song "When You Believe" from the cartoon "The Prince of Egypt"? The famous American composer Stephen Schwartz won an Academy Award for writing this song. This outstanding composer, who has composed music for Broadway musicals and then for Disney and DreamWorks animated films, once faced a period of creative exhaustion while writing music for the film "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." So he went to another composer, John Bucchino, to complain.

After hearing this, his friend only said: "You just started editing too early!" Schwartz suddenly realized. He said that during the creative process, he often switches hats unconsciously; sometimes he just writes out his ideas nakedly, and sometimes he switches to editing, constantly evaluating what is good and what is not. When you are too quick and eager to turn your creativity into a finished product, your creativity will be suffocated and starved of oxygen, making it impossible to survive.

Indeed, in the stage of seeking ideas, the author is the author. Don't rush to be an editor. Don't rush to ask: What can this do every time you are touched? What kind of article can be written? Can I write it? Will readers accept it?

I am also most afraid of seeing that every time someone sprays a spark during a group brainstorming discussion, I will be eagerly asked how it can burn into an eternal fire.

When should creativity be allowed to fly, and when should editors speak out? This requires experience and maturity on the part of the creator. If, due to perfectionism or other factors, you let your inner editor nag you around when your creativity starts, your creative feet will indeed become heavier and heavier.

Bob Goff, a very popular author in recent years, just wanted to write a book many years ago. He is a well-known public interest lawyer, law professor, and honorary consul of the Republic of Uganda in the United States. He has many special life experiences, but when he wants to write, he doesn't know where to start.

He, who has published several best-selling books, mentioned that creativity comes from practice notes. When he met interesting people, heard interesting words, unusual events happened, or went to a strange environment and had special feelings, he wrote them down in his notebook. At the moment, he just records directly, without order, without extra thought or additional comments. What I saw, what I heard, what I felt, just a few words intermittently.

He said that when he looked through these notes that "seemed like a mess to others" afterwards, he found that only a few could actually be used as material for articles, but there was always a chance for creative sparks to be ignited. Some of them even felt like they were just emotions at the moment when they were written down. When I re-read it afterwards, I see that there is a story behind the emotion.

What kind of support can we give the author, or anyone who serves, under the night sky waiting for the stars to fall?

Creativity turns to creation

I heard from the elders that in those days, when taking pictures, you had to stand up straight and smile, but there was always a child. In every photo, his head was always tilted, his hands restlessly placed on his sides, and his facial expressions changed a lot. That kid went on to become a creative. This is not a formula, but I encourage people who want to seek creativity to always tilt their heads at an angle during observation or thinking, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes on tiptoes, and sometimes squatting down to look up.

For a while when I was in college, I often sat in the driver's seat of my car, lowered the backrest, and looked out the window. Once I stopped in front of a big tree. From my half-lying position, through the car glass, I could see the sunlight breaking into diamonds and setting in different positions on each leaf. When the wind blows, the leaves sway in different postures, throwing out different lights and shadows, competing to show off the high-end clothes they are wearing. Those are the most gorgeous leaves I have ever seen. Because the head is tilted, the angle is changed.

Creativity is not actually the same as creation. From creativity to creation, one must have discipline, execution, discernment, and the will to accept failure and learn from setbacks. Creation is when the big net of creativity is taken back, leaving the big fish behind and throwing away the debris.

For creativity to become creation, it must be examined by the heart and explored by the truth. It is never a random act.

Therefore, when the author asks for creative freedom, he must also ask himself: Do you have a clean heart to examine the ideas you get? Do you have bright eyes to explore the truth and choose which ideas can further become creations? Which ones are fresh but must be discarded?

Creativity is not about walking under the night sky and waiting for a star to fall on you. But the author really hopes that many nights, when he wants to go to the night sky and look up at the stars, he will not be stopped, and when he comes back empty-handed again and again, he will not be questioned about the meaning and effect of doing so.

I sincerely hope that the spiritual community can give creators the greatest support; in every creative process, there is an author who is both fragile and strong. Care about the author as a person, that is more important than focusing on what the author does.

HoweverI also admit that as creators, we have our own responsibilities for growth, so that beautiful ideas can be transformed into valuable creations.Junior creators care about whose creativity is better; creators with depth care about what kind of life they have and turn their creativity into creation.

I don't know why, many years later, the little bird in the author that cannot be caged has not been wrinkled by the years. It is still out of the cage and can only be happy when it flies in the sky. When it comes back, there are also whispers in the author's heart.

But because the king's throne was set up in the center of the heart, even though the little bird still loved to fly, it still loved to come back to tell the news. After returning home, it finally found its place. After making noise, it quietly waited for the king's order, allowing the heart to Start slowly.

How can you use creativity in your life, work, and ministry? The Lord of creation is full of creativity. May you and I be able to examine the resources He has given us with our hearts, explore the creativity gained through truth exploration, and activate our hearts in all aspects of life with renewed vision and intention.

Ruixin is a writer. Her articles have been scattered in newspapers and magazines. She was a columnist for "Universal Light" magazine and "True Love" family magazine. She is currently a writer for "Beijing Foundation" magazine. At the same time, he has been running the "Private School Madam" blog, "Give me your sincerity" blog, "It's You" blog for many years, and has a Facebook page "Grab Happiness". He is the author of the books "The Footsteps of a Wanderer", "Managing the Family and Mind", and "The Wisdom of Discipline".