It’s that time of year again. Time to take stock and set goals and all that shit. Me, I’m looking to crank up the creativity this year. As Maria Popova at Brain Pickings pointed out, both Tchaikovsky & Jack White agree: Inspiration AND hard work are needed to keep the creative flame burning. First Tchaikovsky:
There is no doubt that even the greatest musical geniuses have sometimes worked without inspiration. This guest does not always respond to the first invitation. We must always work, and a self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood. If we wait for the mood, without endeavouring to meet it half-way, we easily become indolent and apathetic. We must be patient, and believe that inspiration will come to those who can master their disinclination.
Then Jack:
Inspiration and work ethic — they ride right next to each other…. Not every day you’re gonna wake up and the clouds are gonna part and rays from heaven are gonna come down and you’re gonna write a song from it. Sometimes, you just get in there and just force yourself to work, and maybe something good will come out.
And then there’s folk legend Woody Guthrie, who wrote the following “New Years Rulin’s” in his journal on January 1st, 1943:
