On letting the creativity back in…

Over the past few months, Stilus has come in to its own. I really feel that the past couple of years are starting to pay off when it comes to my business being what I always hoped it could be. I have regular commissions each day for various blogs, and enough ad hoc work coming in to feel as if I am earning a decent living.

Fantastic, right?

This morning, though, I feel a bit sad. When business was erratic and I didn’t have much to do, I spent a lot of time writing fiction. I used to churn out at least four thousand words a day, as an average target. I wrote stories, novels, poetry and blogs often, as I waited for the business to develop and grow. I was involved with all sorts of networking and aspirational activities in an attempt to get the Stilus brand out there and develop a customer base.

On the one hand, I’m over the moon. Sometimes I have to turn work away because I can’t accommodate it all, which is not something I would ever have considered before. I remember my very first job was to re-write someone’s CV. I charged him thirty pounds, and spent a good day on the document. I wrote it, formatted it, made a cover letter – did everything short of going along to interviews on behalf of the guy. And then I invoiced him, with trepidation. Anyone who has worked with Stilus and I on a project knows that I am hopeless at admin, and invoicing sits way at the bottom of the list when it comes to what I would like to be doing with my time.

However, the first invoice is magical. It’s the moment when you write down your new business account details and then post it off, looking smart on headed paper, and eagerly await the money coming in.

How proud I was thinking about that thirty pounds. I waited in anticipation.

I’m still waiting to this day.

My first customer? He never paid me. I called him, and he said the cheque was in the post. It wasn’t. I cried with frustration. The guy’s name was Dale Savage, by the way, and at the time I did his CV he worked for Aviva. Not sure where he is now, but with a CV like the one I did for him he is probably going to pop up in Alan Sugar’s boardroom at some point. I’m going to make him the keyword on this blog post because I can.

I hold a grudge against that man. I never met him, but he was my first taste of true disappointment.

Anyway! I digress. Back to creativity.

I’ve decided that, no matter how busy I am, I need to make space to write for pleasure. Writing for pleasure involves tackling fiction, letting words pour out on to the page, hopefully making them dance, and then walking away with some characters in my head which kind of develop themselves. Over the past few months, swamped in the production of articles and blog posts for other people, I’ve forgotten how amazing that feels.

So, this week, before the Blob makes a path in to the world (five weeks to go – can I write a new manuscript in five weeks?) I’m going to start a new file on my laptop and start pouring words in to it. It’s about time!

As for you, lovely readers, why don’t you join me? If you have anything niggling in the back of your mind – a short story, a novel chapter, a poem – get it out on paper. We owe it to ourselves to get that beautiful feeling of creative fulfillment, no matter how much work there is on or how busy we are. I challenge you right now to pick up your pen. It’s Sunday. Go for it!

Jen x