Being stuck and the art of creating content
I’m stuck… I’ve not been blogging or podcasting. I don’t think I’m in a rut, I think I’m just overwhelmed. I am looking for a job, and I am trying to get my kids back, two things that are quite stressful. However, aren’t we all busy? I twittered about a month ago, I said:
Arrived at DFW, decided on the plane I don’t take enough risks… even the silly ideas could end up awesome, or spark it
And I have been thinking of this again. Partly inspired by those out there doing just that. CC Chapman with One Guy’s Thoughts, Chris Pirillo with his ustream stuff, Justin.tv, the Chris’ (Penn and Brogan) with Podcamp, Eric Rice with Saijo City in Second Life, iJustine with Tasty Blog Snack, and many, many more.
For another example, I give you Irina Slutsky, she recently alerted me to the Vlog Deathmatch. I watched her video along with everyone else’s. Were most of them goofy? yep. Were most of them silly? yep. Were some of them good and entertaining? absolutely. Who lost out by doing this project and putting something out there? nobody!
All the folks I have mentioned above have moved to do something different. They are going out on a limb, they create content, and are forging new spaces. What do I do? Analyze. What should I be doing? I should be going out on a limb, I should be creating content, I should be forging new spaces. Sure I blog and I podcast from time to time, but I need to do more.
So this brings me to my next point. By creating content, even if some of it is lame, is this a negative thing? Sure, consistently bad content will drive folks away, but is it worse then not making any content at all? I’m thinking so.
May 19th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Think of the Alpha and Beta sites out there in the world. Perhaps it’s a matter of building a “scratch space” for you, where you give yourself full and utter “permission to suck.” In that space, you can shoot a five minute video of you staring at the lens. Whatever. And that’s what THAT is. And then, you’ve got a place where you put the stuff you like.
Maybe you spend weeks in the scratch space, but suddenly, you get to that spot where you find an idea, and it really works for you. That’s what Clintus did. That guy was BUGGIN’, he was so frustrated by a lack of big idea for videoblogging. His big breakthrough became “Dare Me.” He does new media’s own personal version of JackAss. How cool is that?
So, that’s my plan. But doing NOTHING is worse than waiting until you’re really good. Practice makes… mistakes. You knew that. : )
May 20th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I completely disagree with you. I don’t care what the quality of the content is, just get out there and do it if you are inspired to do so.
If there is no drive to make content then don’t. But, it sounds like you are inspired but are looking for the right thing to do. Content is a big wide open word. It could be video, a virtual world build, blogging, painting, photography, or any other numerous things.
People focus too much on making that first thing perfection and it just isn’t going to happen except for a lucky few. Try everything and then figure out which makes you the most excited and then focus on doing that better then you are now.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I know it’s going to be fun and I’ll be watching/listening/reading/_______ to whatever it is no matter what the quality is.
May 20th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
My personal thoughts on this are definitely go for it no matter what it is. I know coming to a creative wall is a difficult thing to get over sometimes, but I think if you keep going no matter what the ‘quality’ of the product is you will just further your reach.
I am trying to blog every day (have skipped for a week now), and most the time it is junk, but I am still going (or trying).
I have told you this many times, but you are very creative and it is easy to see your passion for new media in your blogs and podcasts. Just keep doing it, and you will surprise yourself.
I second CC on saying I cannot wait to see what you come up with!!