This project is now edging towards the six month mark and in that time I have learned a few lessons (one day I might collate this wisdom in a pamphlet called Impulsive Idiocy for Beginners, but that’s another story). You may be aware that the purpose of the blog was to experiment with various different ideas in order to work out what things I’m good at, what I enjoy doing most and whether by any small chance these elements could combine. At the time, a year seemed like a reasonable period in which to do this, but now it’s clear that I didn’t need that long. I think that I’ve already tried most of the things that are possible within the rather limited realm of quick-fire posting and now I’m just repeating myself. Making more cartoons, spoof letters or abstract illustrations isn’t going to tell me anything new; once you’ve done these things a few times they cease being a challenge and instead become part of a quota. That’s essentially all I’m doing now – variations on a theme to honour the commitment I made. It is still, I hope, mildly entertaining but the point of the blog has been lost. Am I any nearer to deciding which creative outlet I should concentrate my efforts on? Not really, no. Six more months of half-arsed effort isn’t likely to yield the answer either.
The upshot of this is that I have decided to call a halt to Creative Year at the half way stage – i.e. the end of this month. I realise I already have something of a reputation as a quitter in the eyes of some, but there would be no reward for carrying on. No one’s going to hang a medal round my neck or affectionately ruffle my hair. Without wishing to sound dramatic, it’s been quite a drain to maintain this blog and on several occasions I’ve been working until 3.00am to complete a post for the following day, feeling like crap in the morning and then worrying all over again a few hours later because I’m out of ideas for the next one. There’s a fine line between keeping your brain busy and dragging out material from its withered, restless remains. I could keep doing it until the end of September but I can’t see any point. My lack of enthusiasm would be obvious, the posts would be increasingly uninspired and only a handful of loyal readers would remain. It’s a shame, yes, but if you give it a few seconds you’ll get over it.
I will continue to blog in the traditional manner, perhaps after a short break and probably in a different place. Further details to follow. In the meantime, thank you very much for supporting Creative (Half) Year and try to enjoy/forgive the remaining posts.
