How to stay inspired
(A post-event pondering)
Creative work is community work.
After the event, what next?
When the body feels exhausted by the very real labour of setting up, tearing down (and everything in between!), how does one proactively take forward the benefits of one great night — to make it mean more?
What I mean by “more” is something
would call a “funding moment.” Something that helps to sustain the energy required by our work, by our leadership efforts when things are hard.Because so often things are hard! It’s difficult to push a project through, to find like-minded partners, to foster a dream team when giving feedback can, at times, feel like a nightmare.
So, I reach for tools. After our Ceres Productions’
event with celebrated author Emma Donoghue, I decided to use something from my past research on photography and learning. I wanted a tool to sustain the energy that came from an excited full house. How to stay inspired?Philospher Roland Barthes’ description of a photographic “punctum moment” is a detail that emerges when you look at an image anew. A punctum moment is one that changes the meaning of the image. And when I look at the photo of
and me sitting next to Emma today I see something new. With fresh eyes I see the group of keen readers who sit just outside the frame. My punctum realization — that creative work is community work and storytelling brings us together — changes the meaning of the image for me. I can keep going because of who sits outside the frame.I hope this note finds you if such a tool could be of value in your work. And if you have any to share with me I’m here for them!
Nice read Natalie, feels almost like you're talking directly to me🙃 "My punctum realization — that creative work is community work and STORYTELLING BRING US TOGETHER — changes the meaning of the image for me. I can keep going because of who sits outside the frame." [Emphasis mine]