TO EVERYONE WHO IS DETERMINED TO LIVE A CREATIVE LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT THE JERKS SAY. Text copyright © 2016 by Danielle Krysa. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Martha Rich. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. ISBN 9781452148496 (epub, mobi) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Names: Krysa, Danielle, author. Title: Your inner critic is a big jerk : and other truths about being creative / By Danielle Krysa ; With illustrations by Martha Rich. Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2016. Identifiers: LCCN 2015037482 | ISBN 9781452148441 (pb) Subjects: LCSH: Creative ability. Classification: LCC BF408 .K79 2016 | DDC 153.3/5—dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015037482 Chronicle books and gifts are available at special quantity discounts to corporations, professional associations, literacy programs, and other organizations. For details and discount information, please contact our premiums department at [email protected] or at 1-800- 759-0190. Chronicle Books LLC 680 Second Street San Francisco, California 94107 www.chroniclebooks.com CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 9 CHAPTER 1 Everyone Is Creative 13 FIND THE FUN. 14 NURTURED VS. NOT SO MUCH 17 Projects from the Kindergarten Drawer 19 NO SUCH THING AS “TOO LATE” 20 OWN YOUR CREATIVITY. 21 CHAPTER 2 Excuses Are the Enemy 23 VALID EXCUSES, SCHMALID EXCUSES 23 BUCKETS OF LIES WE TELL OURSELVES 25 ARE YOU SERIOUS? 28 Add Creativity to Your Calendar. 28 Set Deadlines. 30 Get a Room. 30 Form Habits. 31 Surround Yourself. 32 Procrastinate with Purpose. 32 NO MORE LIES 33 CHAPTER 3 Labels Are for Canned Peaches, Not People 35 WARNING: THIS LABEL MAY STOP YOU BEFORE YOU START. 35 “I’m a parent.” 36 “I work in a cubicle.” 37 “I live in a tiny town.” 38 “It’s too late.” 38 “I’m a fraud.” 38 SCHOOL: TO GO OR NOT TO GO? THAT IS THE QUESTION. 40 Self-Taught 40 Formally Trained 41 THE SCHOOL OF LIFE 45 FILL THE CAN. 46 NEW AND IMPROVED! 47 CHAPTER 4 Blank Paper Can Be Blinding 49 DON’T LET PAPER PUSH YOU AROUND. 49 EMBRACE CREATIVE POTHOLES. 51 UGLY IS A PERFECT PLACE TO START. 54 DEER IN HEADLIGHTS 56 Rule No. 1: Make Some Rules. 56 Top Ten Rules to Play Within 57 CHAPTER 5 A Green Eye Is a Green Light 61 JEALOUSY WAS MY GREEN LIGHT. 62 Say It Out Loud. 63 Write It Down. 65 Make an Admiration Action List. 65 Look Behind the Curtain. 65 Find Inspiration, Avoid Imitation. 67 YOUR GREEN-LIGHT ASSIGNMENT 68 CHAPTER 6 Your Inner Critic Is a Big Jerk 71 AN INVESTIGATIVE ASSIGNMENT 71 Step One: Identify “The Voice.” 71 Step Two: Pinpoint the Attack. 72 Step Three: Unmask the Guilt. 72 STAND UP FOR YOURSELF. 73 EXPERTS HAVE IT ALL—INCLUDING SELF-DOUBT. 74 THE SILVER LINING 75 Take It with a Grain of Salt. 75 Explore a Different Angle. 76 Discover a New Path. 76 TURN THE CRITIC INTO A CHEERLEADER. 77 Give It a New Name. 78 Rewrite the Script. 78 Prove It Wrong. 78 Talk About Pros, Not Cons. 79 Say Thank You. 80 A NEW FRIEND? 81 CHAPTER 7 No One Can Wrestle the Pencil Out of Your Hand 83 “ME TOO” STORIES 83 MY STORY 85 TURN CRITICISM INTO CREATIVE FUEL. 92 Put the Gloves Down. 93 Say It Out Loud. 93 Criticism of Your Work Is Not Criticism of You. 93 Click Delete. 94 Pick Up Your Pencil. 95 CHAPTER 8 Failure Leads to Genius 97 QUOTE OF THE DAY 98 REDEFINE FAILURE. 100 THE GIFT THAT GIVES BACK 100 YOU SAY FAILURE, I SAY FEEDBACK. 102 THERE IS PERFECTION IN IMPERFECTION. 104 NEVER NOT BE MAKING. 105 Find Brilliance in the Scraps. 105 Be Present (A Thirty-Day Challenge). 106 CREATIVE JUMP-STARTER IDEAS 106 Play Nicely with Others. 108 CHAPTER 9 Creating in a Vacuum Sucks 111 SUCKING SOURCE 111 LET THE SUN SHINE IN. 112 FIND YOUR TRIBE. 115 WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT SHARE 118 CHAPTER 10 Blocks Are Meant to Be Broken 121 Blocks Are Just Part of the Deal. 122 As Easy as 1-2-3 122 Imperfection 123 The Great Outdoors 123 Rules 124 STORM BEFORE THE CALM 124 ELIMINATE THE SOURCE. 125 Inner Critic 125 Outside Criticism 125 Deadlines 126 Commissions 126 Life 127 KNOCK-A-BLOCK 127 THE ZONE 131 WELCOME TO THE CLUB 132 Acknowledgments 135 About the Author 135