Letter 36: September 8, 2008
One of the most popular ways of describing "creativity" is in terms of the Four Ps, first identified by Mel Rhodes in 1961. The Four Ps are the creative person, the person's mental processes, the creative product and the (in Rhodes's words) "influence of the ecological press on the person and upon his mental processes." Rhodes emphasized that although there are four distinct strands, they must operate in unity.
I was reminded of this the other day while chatting with a client who's used my favorite method - simple accountability - to overcome years of writer's block and who has been writing her novel daily for two or three months now. We were talking about the importance of working through the first draft even though it's crap (it seems to be the fashion in Hollywood to call it a vomit or puke draft) (you see, everyone knows this is how it is).
And I heard myself say how important it is not to confuse the process with the product.
And then I got to thinking about the Ps.
Because when we're talking about writing, unity or not, sometimes the Ps do have to be handled separately. As the writer, you don't have to do anything about the Person - just step out of your own way and let the puke flow. Similarly you don't have to do much about the Press of your surroundings and society during the writing phase. They're a distraction. But here's the thing. While you're going through the Process of a first draft, you don't wanna be thinking much about the Product. You will, of course. But watching your words with a critical eye? Even going back and editing? Those are not the ways of getting to THE END of the first draft.
And until you draft it you can't edit it and certainly can't publish it, and the Press doesn't matter.
I'm noticing it's a while since I wrote anything about editing or about polishing. Of course you can block there too. But not so much. I like to imagine that if you have what it takes - as you do - to go through the puke process, you'll find the next stage easy.
Something you can try today: you're the writer, stop reading it.
David
David Jung McGarva
+1 (818) 707 1871
Write me: david at todayiwrite dot com
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