Forming Habits

Ever wondered what it takes to get really good at something? 

I know there’s a lot to be said for talent, but honestly, nothing can replace hard work and practice. 

I wish I could say that I’m really good at practicing, but the truth is, I get frustrated when things aren’t easy the first time.  Just last week, I attempted to make my first buttercream roses, and I had quite a few issues.  Of course, most of it was because I hadn’t learned what I needed to. 

For example: Who knew there was a difference between waxed paper and parchment paper?  I grew up believing they were exactly the same. 

Apparently not.  That could have saved me a lot of struggling that night.

In nursing, it’s the same.  I went to four years of school where information was crammed into my brain to the point that I didn’t think I’d be able to remember anything else.  It’s only after years of practice and using my nursing skills that I feel confident in what I’m doing.  After two or three times inserting catheters, or starting IV’s, I finally feel like a competent nurse.

Okay, maybe not this kind of practice.

So I guess it makes sense that I’m only now starting to feel like I know what I’m doing as a writer.  It’s taken years of practice.  But not just an every once in a while practice.  Daily and constant. 

There’s always something more to learn, something more to improve.  Each time I learn something new, and once I master a skill, it’s on to learning a new one.  It’s a matter of forming the habit. 

What habits are you forming?

Creative Outlets

I know it’s been a week since I last posted.  I took a mini vacation to go visit family. 

One of the things that I looked forward to (other than spending time with my family and celebrating with my sister and brother-in-law) was the chance to make them a cake to help them celebrate.

I’m one of those people who likes to find creative outlets for my energy and ideas.  There’s always something running around in my head, and I love when I can find something that helps me take those ideas and make something physical out of them.  It’s the act of creating something real out of whatever’s clunking around in my brain.

I started really trying to make cakes a few years ago when I had a friend who made amazing cakes.  I loved the creative license she could take, making whatever she imagined, using colors and shapes to paint ideas.  I started out by just experimenting with flavors and icings.  I knew that for cake, taste is most important.  No matter how it looks, it has to be good enough to eat. 

Fortunately for me, I had quite a few supportive coworkers who would try anything that I made.  And because they were good friends, they let me know when they didn’t like something.  Actually, I knew it when there were leftovers. 

But over the past year, I’ve been experimenting with decorating.  I try to find something new to try for each cake that I make.  The cakes for this weekend, I used modeling chocolate for the first time.  There was a lot of trial and error, but by the end, I think I got the idea of what I was supposed to be doing.

And here’s the final results!

For a Mechanical Engineer

For an Elementary Education Major

What kind of creative outlets do you use?

Out of Control

A few weeks ago, my mom came to visit, and I decided to make a birthday cake for her, since we’d missed her birthday. 

Now, I’ve recently (over the past two years or so) been experimenting with cake making, and I’ve really learned to enjoy it.  I love the creating process and the ability to create something that people can enjoy.  Ironically, it’s very similar to writing, except the result is must faster.  I can make a cake and have someone eat it later that day.  With writing, I’m still waiting for the chance to share it with others.

However, one of the things that I struggle with when I create is the ability to give up control.  I like to make things perfect, so when something goes wrong, I have the tendency to get frustrated. 

With the cake that I made, I ran into more problems than I normally do, and I got incredibly frustrated.  The cake wouldn’t bake, and once it was finished, it was too crumbly and wouldn’t cut.  Even the whipped cream topping I had turned into some kind of runny, milky, mess.  Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong.  Even though the cake was delicious and turned out okay, I was still frustrated with it.

I wish I could say I don’t do the same thing when I write, but I can’t.  The greatest thing about creating is knowing that there’s always the chance of losing control.  There’s always the chance that mistakes, or things that don’t turn out the way that you want can be the best thing that happens.  Sometimes the characters or the story itself can resist to what I’ve planned and prepared, not because it was a bad plan, but because that’s not how it’s supposed to turn out. 

So that’s my goal for now.  I’m trying to release some of that control and give it to the actual creative process.  How about you?