We often the words ‘child’ and ‘children’ used to describe ideas relating to creativity. Your creative projects are, in essence, your ‘brainchildren’ and we are often told about the need of collaborating with our own ‘inner child.’ But perhaps there are other benefits to thinking of our creative projects in this way and articulating the needs of those projects in the way we might to the needs of literal children.
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I would have to say discipline – not punishment, but discipline. By this I mean, as much as possible, simple daily structure. Coming back to the keyboard or easel at the same time. Committing to a certain amount of work, and if there’s a reason you can’t finish the amount of work set, adjusting the work or agreeing to come back again and do the work at a different time. The daily consistency really does make a huge difference, and both children and creative works thrive from the sense of safety and reliability created.
“Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.”
- Dr. Haim Ginott
Within context of your post, having an awareness of how our ‘brainchildren’ are influenced/sculpted might prompt us to be more selective about what we’re tossing about in our creative cement.
I think it’s interesting that you mention money. Artists seem to hate talking about money, and part of it is because the commercial side of things can get really ugly, and art is supposed to be this pure perfect thing that’s not contaminated by commercialism. I think that’s why lots of people are resentful of artists they perceive as “selling out.” So, yeah, there’s definitely a relationship with money that artists need to work on because sometimes you just have to have it to keep doing your work (or just paying the bills). There is definitely a commitment of time and energy that is just plain required to keep creating, and I’m learning about that right now. I’m absolutely in the thick of some *stuff* that’s been brought up by working through The Artist’s Way. Some of it is thrilling. Some of it is nauseating. I imagine that’s a lot like the stuff you go through trying to raise a kid.