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L.E. McQuinn's avatar

Beautiful post! Big Magic had an enormous impact on my creative life, too, and I think about that same passage often--in fact, I was JUST talking to a friend about it last night because one of my favorite ideas I had was implemented by another author, and it's made me so afraid it will happen again. But I love what you said about there being no room for fear in the creative process. It really is a waste of time, time we could put toward bringing other ideas we have into the world.

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Ahhhh yes!! I have to remind myself everyday that fear is really not that great at creativity 🤣 Over coming it is easier said than done of course, but we persist! Thanks for reading Lindsay 🥹🫶🏼💕

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L.E. McQuinn's avatar

“We persist” is right 💪🏻

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Marco Marquez's avatar

I absolutely love Big Magic! A former writing teacher recommended it to me and I found it so helpful, glad to see its impacted you as well. great piece!

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Thank you so much for reading Marco!! It’s such a fantastic read, and I read it often 🥰

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Tonya Whittle's avatar

I’m probably alone when I say I didn’t like this book …

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

To each their own! 🤍

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Sarah Noack's avatar

Ohh I love this! I met Elisabeth Gilbert this year in March and it was LIFE CHANGING!! Needed this reminder to act on my ideas before they're passing on, so thank you! <33

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Omg amazing!! Thank you so much for reading, I needed the reminder too 🥰💕

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Angela Tyler's avatar

I love your take on the idea finding a home! I used to have zero ideas for novels and now I have two very different ones besides the one I’m currently working on, and I’m constantly stressed about it.

Also Big Magic is so brilliant, I need to re read it

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Ahh the pull of two different ideas at once!! I totally get it—it’s like, why did you both have to show up at the same time! 😂 And yes! I try to at least skim through Big Magic once a year. So many good reminders I need to hear 🤍

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Angela Tyler's avatar

hahaha yes!! Exactly!!

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Alison Zamora's avatar

Beautiful writing, as always!! I can’t remember who shared this idea, but I’ve come across it a few times. Oh! It was Rick Rubin. In his book, The Creative Act, he says, “If you have an idea that you’re excited about and you don’t bring it to life, it’s not uncommon for the idea to find its voice through another maker. It’s not because the other artist stole your idea, but because the idea’s time has come.”

I think about this a lot. I had an idea to create a travel agency solely focused on trips to Paris. I didn’t follow through on it but someone else did and now she’s reaping the rewards (and perks!) of that.

I also used to feel down about this, but Rick’s quote helped me see it differently.

I was also struck how you talked about the annual seasonality of the ideas that come to you. I experience the same thing! I wonder what’s up with that?!

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Yes! This is exactly it. Ideas want to be created, and even just rethinking about it now, it actually feels encouraging instead of discouraging?!

I know my idea returns every spring for personal reasons for sure. It’s around my birthday, Mother’s Day and a few other key dates that mean something to me. I also think I take comfort knowing that my thoughts and feelings want to be turned into something. It reminds me I’m an artist at my core! 🤍

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andrew's avatar

Beautiful piece!!! I also believe in this concept of how ideas move about the world 🩷

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Kristen Garaffo's avatar

Eee thank you my friend!! 🤍

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