Samplers and Remixers

[majes]

The bane of my creative spirit is the counter-point that it is not creative at all. Whenever I write something, being it for a game or a story, or even this post itself, I am haunted by the feeling of "all these words have been said before." The very notion that there is nothing new under the sun is as old as anything, thus this post is, no doubt

Comments

[avivasedai]

post-it note:

I want to come back to this. I have similar thoughts (shocking!) and experiences, upon which I can elaborate, when dinner is not mid-cooking.

[crazybone]

Good writers borrow, great writers steal, legendary writers steal from themselves, and epic writers steal from themselves but cover their tracks so well no one notices:)
There is no such thing as true/Platonic ideal/Ur originality of stories. That's doesn't mean we shouldn't tell them because it's part of who we are. And sharing part of who we are with loved ones or the world isn't a bad thing, even if we don't always get the results we want. Anyway, those are my thoughts. Hope they help in some way.

[majes]

They do, and they are appreciated.

[shadesong]

Just saw this quote on Tumblr and thought of your post....

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations. Architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable. Originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery-celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said, ‘It’s not where you take things from. It’s where you take them to.’”
- Jim Jarmusch

[staircasewriter]

We all feel that way. It is part of the process. Just keep doing it anyway!

[majes]

I can feel that I am at the beginning of a creative time. I think this is the psychological equivalent to the moment before you get up off the couch to go do the things you are wanting to do. First you are there enjoying the couch, then you complain about how you are tired and the couch is so comfy, then you grunt, get up, and finally go to do what you meant to do. Thereafter, when it is done, you wonder what all your fussing was about and why you didn't do those things before. You feel committed to this creative time and are sure that now that you have gotten started, you are just going to fly through all sorts of great works. This enthusiasm lasts until you end up on the couch again.