Real Life in the Real World - Creativity in Motherhood

It's Monday, which means that the elusive creature, creativity, is again on my mind. Actually, because August is the "unofficial start" of Ragweed season, my mind is much more concerned with begging for larger doses of caffeine and wrestling those foggy thoughts to the floor until they say "uncle." Thank goodness I have an incredibly capable and inspiring writer to take the reins of my blog for the day. She's smart as a whip, too!

Last week, I asked Kelsey Markley, creative writer and recent mother of one, if I could interview her about maintaining her creativity while meeting the daily challenges of being a mother (no small task!). I am continually inspired by Kelsey's creative flair and stick-to-itivness as a writer, baker, and photographer. Hopefully after reading this interview, you'll get a healthy spoonful of inspiration yourself! Without further ado, here's Kelsey:

Name: Kelsey Markley
Age: 23
Location: Savannah, GA
Occupation: Ranger wife, full time mom, and poet
Primary Modes of Creative Output: Poetry is my passion. Baking, photography, and crafts are my hobbies.
Self-Description: I write stuff. Sometimes it’s good; usually it’s not.

1.) Do you consider yourself to be a creative person? What is your personal description of creativity and/or What are the characteristics of a creative person?

On the most basic level a creative person is someone who, well, creates.

Culturally we view creativity as having an artistic connotation, but I think that’s a silly assumption. All people are inherently creative, and our creativity manifests itself in an innumerable amount of spectacular and mundane ways. Writing, cooking dinner, performing an experiment-- every day we take pieces of our environment and restructure them into something new. While a scientist seeks to quantify life, an artist seeks to qualify it. Two sides to the same coin, if you ask me.

So, yes. I suppose I would say I’m a creative person. I don’t think that’s anything special, though.

2.) You're a recent mother of a (most adorable) bouncing baby boy. How do you balance motherhood with your creative needs?

Patience, persistence, and perspective!

The fact of the matter is: it’s hard. Sometimes I have to go a week without writing because Liam has a cold or he’s teething. Even on good days I can only sit down and concentrate when the kiddo’s asleep.

The key is not to get discouraged. Find ways to take advantage of the time you do have. Perhaps you can’t sit down each morning and write a chapter, but you can think and plan on your feet. Jot down notes through out the day. The process may seem slower, but progress is progress!

Once I adapted to my new circumstances, I found Liam to be a huge asset. He’s instant inspiration. As Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” The world through a child’s eyes makes for endless writing material. On top of that, he’s my biggest motivator. I have to write for Liam. I have to achieve my dreams so he’ll know he can reach his. No pressure, right?

3.) Do you find yourself primarily “making time” for creativity or do you usually create only when “inspiration strikes?” Why do you think that is?

In college I was definitely an “inspiration strikes” sort of gal. Of course, in college I had all day to sit around, think, and people watch. Motherhood hasn’t allowed that luxury. I’ve learned to nurture my creativity through daily tasks: be it cooking, adding artistic flares to furniture, or documenting Liam’s life. I try to keep a creative mindset active all day. That way. when Liam goes down for a nap, I’m already thinking and ready to write. On good days I can scrounge together four hours of writing, so I have to make time where I can get it.

4.) How do you deal with/overcome creativity blocks or obstacles?

I deal with obstacles by plugging my ears and singing loudly until they go away. No, really.

I actually don’t believe in writer’s block. I think the concept is an excuse we use to forgive ourselves for bad writing. In my experience, writing is difficult the majority of the time. Creative epiphanies are the exception, not the norm. I try to stay a step ahead of creative blocks by forgiving myself in advance for any bad work I might produce. This grants me the freedom to sit, write, and hope for the best. You could say I’m arguing semantics rather than providing an actual paradigm shift, but hey-- it works for me.

5.) What are your most vital creative tools? What makes these tools so essential?

I’d have to say silence is my most vital tool. I write best when the house is still, and I can sit alone with my thoughts. I prefer to write with pencil and paper for the same reason. I’m a bit ditzy, and computers provide easy distractions. Silence is definitely the most important thing, though. I think it’s important for an artist to be introspective.

6.) What is a recent moment of victory in your creative life?

I’ve spent the summer working on sequence of poems, and I finally arranged them into a progressive order. In a nut shell: my biggest victory of the week was writing my table of contents.

7.) What do you think counts as a creative success for you? and/or What do you hope to achieve
creatively?

For me, creativity is less about the product and more about the process. People talk about the benefits of working out: they feel better, are more energetic, and rest well at night. Writing is a workout for my mind. Poetry makes me feel alive, productive, and worthwhile. I’m more confident after I’ve written for the day.

I’m not sure what ends my creative pursuits are driving me towards, but I’m content to enjoy the ride until we get there.

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Isn't she lovely?

What about you? How do you balance the challenges of life in the real world with your own creative endeavors?