I’ve just finished reading the book Untitled: Thoughts on the Creative Process by Blaine Hogan, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about it with you.
First, let me talk about the intriguing title. “Untitled”, as Blaine explains in the book, is usually the default name of a new file in most Word Processors. So when you create a new, blank file, it is called “Untitled”.
He talks about the challenge of the blank page, and how the creative needs to fill it with something beautiful and meaningful.
The book is divided into four parts: the work; the inside out; failure, fear and making mistakes; and worth it. He focuses on different aspects of the creative process in each part.
In the first part, for example, he explains why he thinks that having ideas are not what matters. What really matters is how you execute your ideas.
As he explored this theory of his, I thought of Apple as a real example of what he was talking about: Apple was not the first one to think about portable music players, yet it reshaped the music industry with the iPod. It wasn’t the first one to think about a smartphone, but it certainly brought it to a whole new level with the iPhone. And more recently, it took the idea of a tablet and created the iPad, and revolutionized the computer industry. Apple had an awesome execution of older ideas.
He also talks about getting inspiration, about our fears, experiences (and how we turn them into our art), our challenge of living in the information era, with lots of information but not much time to digest it (and lots of junk too).
I’ve never thought of myself as a “creative”, but reading Blaine’s book I was able to identify with much of the struggles and challenges that a creative goes through. So I understood why he chose to open his focus to any creative: because we are all in some level creatives. No matter if you write a blog, or a journal, or you’re an author or actor or musician, or if you make up bedtime stories for your kids, we all create art somehow.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
It is the artist’s job to accept that the work will be very, very hard; to understand the importance of deep reflection, and to fight the forces of fear and resistance, all in the name of filling blank pages and creating beauty.
Vision is easy. Ideas are even easier. It’s execution that separates the amateurs from the pros.
If you’re getting stuck, perhaps it’s time for you to step away from the screen and go analog as well.
The blank page is indeed a challenge. But Blaine doesn’t talk only about writing, he talks about any creative process. So you if you use your creativity to express yourself in some way, I recommend you read this book. It will open your mind about your art and the creative process.
If you are interested, check out the following video with an interview where Blaine talks about the book. He mentioned a few ideas that he explores in more depth in the book:
I didn’t take the time to watch the interview… mostly b/c I simply don’t have time … but creativity really does fit into most lives; the hard part is discovering where and how it can be absorbed and observed. My husband’s spiritual gift is “creativity”… and it’s connected to helping others [usually pianists or builders or various “learners”] gain their creative growth. I’ve acted, written scripts, written songs and poetry, stories and lessons. One hard issue for me is that with the computer world there are so many billions of words “out there” my writing that used to be very foreground is now very background. Just have to trust the Lord that the right words will be in the right place at the right time.
I’m glad that God uses you and your husband in such wonderful ways, Jo. Keep creating! God will take care of taking your creation to the people who need it. God bless you and your husband!