This article draws a very important distinction for the artistic endeavor. Why is it important to distinguish between a creative process orientation and a creative product orientation? A large part of the reason has to do with pressure. There is a lot of pressure involved in putting out a finished product to the world, and the associated fears have squelched many a worthwhile project.

So let's start by looking at creative process on it's own merits, entirely separate from proving, selling, and other aspects of the product marketplace.

CREATIVE PROCESS

Is an open ended, messy, experimental exploration.

It is about playing with your materials, both internal and external and seeing where they take you. It is not trying to prove anything, and thus is innocent, like a child's scribbles and mudpies.

You don't have to be a professional, you don't even need to be "good" at it in order to enjoy creative process. You dance around your bedroom to your favorite music, you find yourself dabbling in poetry writing, or suddenly want to try painting. This is for YOU, and so in order to keep your explorations in the sphere of innocence and safety, I recommend that you (at least at the beginning) not share with others. As soon as the idea of showing others our work comes in, it changes the dynamic, so just let this process be about you and for you.

Within this Process based container, you can explore all your curiosities, attractions, and whims of creative outlets and both have a lot of fun, and get to know yourself much better.  You may also stumble across therapeutic methods that help you deal with difficult emotional states. For example, I did a regular personal "dance lab" for a few months one Winter, and whenever intense or angry energy would come up, I would put a big red veil over myself and put on a specific music track and have a spazz out dance. When I would get either too vain or too shy, I would dance with masks to help me get out of myself. I didn't read these ideas in an Expressive Arts Therapy Book (though my bookshelf is full of them and I do recommend them), I just stumbled upon what worked for me while giving space to my process.

Some BENEFITS of CREATIVE PROCESS include:

•    Deepened Self-Insight- gaining access to wise, resourceful aspects of yourself and better understanding your multi-faceted being

•    Easing Suffering- Finding and making creative tools to move through difficult and painful times

•    Having fun with materials and forms without any pressure to make a product or money

•    Stumbling upon a favorite outlet or medium that will become a life-long love affair

•    A great excuse for enriching, self-nurturing time for yourself

* You are Hereby Granted Full Permission to be Messy, Explore, and Create within a realm of Process for as long as you want.  

TRANSITIONING INTO CREATIVE PRODUCT

What do I mean by creative product? Some examples include: recording an album, publishing a book, making a show, a play, choreographing a dance, designing a clothing line, and in any media, creating something for the purpose of being seen or purchased by others.

There may come a time when your organic creative process matures into a genuine desire to create something to share with others. It is only natural for a cultivated garden to bear fruits. But we must be careful as we transition our orientation into product, because many issues can come up such as: people's opinions and expectations influencing our work, ego needs to be seen, loved, validated, etc...,

Self-sabotage in many forms, critical voices (inside & out) squashing the innocence and joy out of it.

   A personal story.

I used to write a lot of songs and sing pretty much every day. For me it was a form of prayer and a joyful and easy extension of my poetry. For many years I mostly sang for myself, nature, and close friends. The times that I did share with larger groups, I got a lot of encouraging feedback and struggled not to let my head swell from the compliments. Part of me insisted that I keep this gift a pure prayer, while another part wanted to share the gift, and the kid in me still liked the idea of becoming a rock star. Finally I decided that I really did want to record a CD. Unfortunately, that inspiration turned to fears and projections and a bunch of subtle self-sabotaging. After years of this, I realized that I wasn't singing any more for devotion's sake and that I had gotten too much in my own way and I threw my hands up and stopped singing and playing the guitar for many years. I let a part of myself push me towards a product, and in that lost a precious gift in my life.

I still haven't fully reclaimed my singing, and that is why I emphasize caution and clear motivation when moving toward a product.

TIPS for Transitioning:

1.) Make sure you feel that the time is ripe and it is a natural internally driven decision

2.) Do some journaling and give a forum for all the different voices in you and their opinions on this decision. Don't ignore the critical voices, just get their messages down on paper. Often these voices have a really good piece of advice, though it may be hidden under a discouraging sound bite. Once you have all the sound bites down on paper you can look at them and see where potential conflicts may arise. Exploring polarized or conflicting voices in theater or on the page can be a highly effective way to resolve them and thus prevent them from playing out in a bigger way in your life.

3.) Keep a commitment to some agenda free process time. Allow yourself to doodle and free write and sing nonsense songs even if you are in a serious process of writing a book, recording an album, etc...

CREATIVE PRODUCT

During process we are always trying to keep the critic and the editor at bay, but now is the time to summon the editor onto the scene. You will need to feel strong enough in your offering to hear others critique and take it into account. This is the time when you really open yourself to feedback and take others perspectives into consideration, as you are now creating for more than yourself- you are creating for an audience, for the world.

The trick is to stay connected to your authentic inspiration and motivation and also polish your works with the world in mind.

At any time that you get too spun out on external orientation and fears, give yourself permission to dip back into process for process's sake and find your well of inspiration there.

Avoid the temptation to add a time pressure and try to push your product out too fast. Give it time to ripen and develop, as a mother does a baby in her womb.  This is not a doo dad from an assembly line, but a creative extension of your essence, extended as a gift to the world. Try not to think too much about the monetary aspects just yet and focus instead on doing the best job you can.

Some blessed days you will just spill forth content and progress gracefully and swiftly. Many days you will want to procrastinate and distract yourself and dig your heals in the dirt. You will need to find your own balance between allowance and self-discipline.

Do your best to enjoy the process. Make it a labor of love.

Doing what you love for all the right reasons will help you to love yourself. Creating from selflessness and self- love will steer you from many a pitfall and greatly enhance the chance that your creation will be of true value and benefit and be loved by others.