The robots are taking over.
We’re hearing this all the time at the moment, with the growth of AI, but it’s not the first time this narrative has become popular. Since the Industrial Revolution, there’s been a fear that humans will be replaced by machines.
But also, a sense that humans are becoming more like machines.
The row over whether people should “get back to the office”, and do a standard 9 to 5, even when we know those things aren’t conducive to productivity or success, shines a particularly sharp light on just how much we’re expected to function as cogs and little more. Since the Industrial Revolution, and possibly since humans stopped being nomadic, we have gradually begun to see ourselves (or at least the majority of us) as resources to be used.
The biggest barrier to creativity for many is those daily routines - work, commuting, life admin, housework - that drain us of our energy. And that’s not entirely by accident. The system that wants you to fuel its machine has a vested interest in keeping you from dreaming bigger. It doesn’t want you using your imagination to think how else the world could be. It doesn’t want you telling stories or expressing emotions that might cause enough people to say “I feel the same way” that brings together a community that, together, are strong enough to fight back. For our current system to work, you have to believe that life should be devoid of beauty and play and pure joy, so that you focus on giving what you have to repetitive treadmill powering the lights.
So building a creative habit, flexing your artistic muscles - this is an act of resistance.
It doesn’t have to be big and bold. You don’t have to incite rebellion, unless you want to. But you do have the power to step outside the machine, even for brief moments, and dream of another world.
Creative sparks - week commencing 12th August
Saturday 12th August
Write down five creative activities that you’ve never done before, but that you like the idea of or would like to try.
Choose one.
Now make it happen. Buy the supplies and give it a go, or book a class to learn the techniques. Maybe there are some YouTube videos you can watch, maybe someone’s written a Substack all about how to do it, or maybe you know someone who could give you a few pointers on getting started. Just give it a try (and I’d love to hear how you get on!).
Sunday 13th August
Reflection prompt.
Journal, meditate or just spend some time thinking about what you want your message to the world to be.
If you had a chance to speak to everyone in the world and tell them just one thing, what would you say?
Monday 14th August
Go to your bookshelf (if you don’t have one of your own, go into your local library and choose a shelf that speaks to you). Take down the fourth book, and open it to the 23rd page. Find the 11th sentence on that page, and copy it into your notebook or onto a piece of paper. Now close the book and put it back on the shelf.
Use the sentence you just wrote down as your first line, and keep writing from there for 10 minutes. Keep your pen moving, writing down whatever comes to mind (even if that’s just “I don’t know what to write”) without stopping for the full 10 minutes.
Tuesday 15th August
Listen in on someone’s conversation.
It’s not as creepy as it sounds, we’re just going to get curious about the people around us for a bit. If you’re on a bus, in a cafe, in the supermarket, or just wandering about on the street, listen in for snippets of interesting conversation. You might hear half an anecdote, or the fall-out from some drama that you don’t know about.
Afterwards, spend some time thinking about what might have led up to that point, what the rest of the story might be, and what the relationships might be of the people involved.
Wednesday 16th August
Find an art gallery or other creative space in your local area. Go there today, if you can; otherwise put some time in your diary to go there when you’re free. Make sure this time is non-negotiable and cannot be cancelled.
Thursday 17th August
Reflection prompt.
Journal, mediate or just think about whether you’ve been told in the past that creativity isn’t for you, or that it’s not a positive path to follow. What messages did you receive as a child and a young person about being creative, and what stories has that led you to hold on to?
Friday 18th August
Go into a charity shop and find some old photos that you can buy. If you can’t find any, or you can’t get to a shop, just search online for black and white photographs.
Look at the people in the pictures and imagine their lives, their stories, who they were, and what mattered to them.
I’ll be back next Saturday with another week of prompts. Make sure you’re subscribed so they land in your inbox. In the meantime, feel free to share in the comments any of what you create in response to these prompts - I’d love to see it!
If you enjoy these prompts, please do tell your friends!
Love this: "For our current system to work, you have to believe that life should be devoid of beauty and play and pure joy". And these prompts are great - I look forward to working with them. Thank you.