I gave birth to three sons who ranged in weight from 7 lbs. 14 oz. to 9 lbs. 3 oz. My three favorite creative projects, I birthed them without medication, so I was very aware of the stages and the process. If you’ve given birth or attended someone who has, then you know that giving birth is work.
Yes, it’s magical, miraculous, joyous and life-changing, but it is still hard, sweaty work for most women. If you are one of those women who suddenly realized she was in labor and barely got to the delivery room in time for the doctor to catch your baby, don’t tell me. As easy as my pregnancies were, the deliveries were long and arduous.
A month of travel, along with the demands of my business, distracted me from working on my novel. Now, when I want to get back into the flow of storytelling and tale spinning, I find that I am working hard to gather up the threads of the tale again and I am reminded of what I learned giving birth to our sons.
- First, each project has its own timeline. Go with it. For our first son, Stephen, the birth trainer reiterated over and over to the birthing class that “when the apple is ripe it will fall from the tree.” Stephen was a week past his due date. Our youngest, Jason, was also several days late. But when our middle son, Christopher, was 10 days past his due date, the doctor did something to start labor. Suddenly I was in the middle of intense labor pains. If you force the timeline on your creative project, it’s likely you’ll work harder and suffer more than you would have otherwise. Work with your project’s inherent timeline as much as possible.
- Rest between creative contractions. In giving birth there are times of rest, when the body relaxes and recharges for the next contraction. There is an ebb and flow. So, too, with the creative process. Notice when you need to rest, recharge, and renew your creative energy. If you don’t, your creative energy will flag and the project may never be born.
- Breathe. Labor pains can be uncomfortable at best, painful at worst, and the best way to move through them is to breathe, slowly and deeply. When you feel tense, it’s hard to be imaginative and to work. Take deep slow breaths when you feel the discomfort of blocks or other creative challenges.
- Move. One of the ways to help the birth process along is to keep moving while you can. During creative birth, waiting for things to happen can be frustrating and just as tiring as working too hard. Get up and get moving to get the blood flowing again. Go for a walk or run. Dance. Clean the house. Garden. Let the body do its thing while your Muse is off gathering new solutions and ideas.
- Know when to push. Eventually, you have to push. You have to give that new creation some help getting born into the world. I know that sometimes finishing is the hardest part, but just keep reminding yourself of the reward of holding that finished project in your arms. Push.
- Ask for help. Support during birth is important. Going it alone is not easy or desirable. Find creative midwives who will support you. Look for professional groups and colleagues who have been birthed their own projects. Seek out coaches who know how to help you move through creative birth as easily and painlessly as possible, and who can make the process one of joy and delight even in the midst of the hard work.
When it’s all over, celebrate. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Marvel at your strength and endurance for to writing that book, composing that music or creating that program or product.
And tell your friends not to ask you what you are going to create next…until after you’ve had some time to forget your creative birth pangs.