On an creativity email list I'm on one of the members has to write a book proposal before Christmas. She has just had this great opportunity land in her lap. Now she's a translator, cellist, composer, actress, and shamen. And has been multi creative for probably about 30 years. But she reports being terrified at the prospect of having to produce this new thing. Immediately the group shot back suggestions the best one being to of course allow herself to produce the worst book proposal ever ! Allowing ourselves to create badly is one way into allowing ourselves to create at all and there is always a place for a rewrite. Othe suggestions included a) admitting one is terrified sometimes helps the fears go away b) setting a timer and just working for 10 mins or 15 mins whatever seems smallest and doable c) changing locations working in a cafe instead of home d) rewards and treats for each task completed.

I wanted to write about the terror of creating because there is an assumption that somehow it will go away others have it licked. They create smoothly and efficiently without this yukkyness but its not true. Even those with long creative CV's will come up against the terror of beginning again. Fear and terror are not a reason not to to something infact I think that they often are a reason to keep going. Some of the best things are done from fear. I've got at least two things on my to do list which have fear associated with them and that isn't a reason to put off doing them but to start.