Dance like you are secretly not wearing any underwear

Having a more creative role at work brings about a fresh challenge. Previous to taking on this day job I was working in splendid isolation writing and living in a small converted barn in the middle of nowhere. I had zero neighbors and very little intrusion into my creative process, a process that included loud music and a surprising amount of moving around. Now I work in a large open-plan office space with roughly 25 people. I still get to listen to music but just on ear-phones. Where this gets problematic is in keeping still. And not singing.

For me creative freedom and freedom of movement have always gone together. Space. Mental and physical. And I am very aware that I was lucky to have both of these in abundance over the last couple of years. I got to go fast and loud, all day and all night.

Only about 40% of my writing actually happens at the keyboard. If the work is going badly there will be pacing. If the work is going well then there’s a lot of walking around, talking to myself, folding laundry, taking a shower, doing the dishes and so on. If the work is going especially well then, oh yes, there will be dancing.

Creative freedom does not mean throwing out all the rules or never bothering to learn them. Colour theory, the three-act structure, audience genre expectations. Stating: “I never follow the rules,” is a self-imposed rule. And it’s lazy. True freedom is not just raw talent. It’s raw talent channeled through discipline into grace. It is obtaining a high level of understanding of when to apply the rules, the effects they can have, and when best to break them. Creative freedom comes from skills grown and crafted until the breadth of your ability delivers you unto a state of Relative Calm.

To be fair, I haven’t actually asked if there is a No Dancing policy here at work. It’s not like this is some weird remake of Footloose meets The Office, (someone please make this show). But this is my first venture into working for a large government organisation. I had to pee into a cup to get this job. And I’ve only been here a couple of months. Too soon to start a rebellion? Maybe not… It’s something to think about. Maybe that's the coffee talking.

My point, and I do have one, is that creativity should be celebrated. Creative triumphs, no matter how big, should incite some kind of joyous semi-rhythmic arse wiggling. To music. Loud music.