[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

For someone whose career aspirations and life’s passion revolves around the creative arts, I’m embarrassed to admit I’m probably one of the least creative people I know.  When sewing, I need a pattern to follow.  Any meal I make requires a recipe.  Whether performing on my trumpet or at the keyboard, a written score has always directed my fingers.  In other words: improvisation is not my middle name.  Imagine my surprise when I took my first creative writing course at ASU and learned there were no “formulas” for good writing.  Guidelines, yes.  Absolutes, no.  Obviously, there are dos and don’ts, but as a rule, there are no rules.  I still remember asking my professor what we were supposed to write about for our first story: Whatever you want.  Although slightly freaked out at the time, over the past few years, I’ve learned that the freedom in being creative gives me license to try on a new me for size, or to see what Someday may look like from different angles.  I still use patterns to sew, recipes to cook and sheet music to play.  But when it comes to my writing, it’s a mystery that unfolds one word at a time … and I like it that way.

Do you lean towards creativity, or logic?