Channeling Creativity OR Methods to my Madness

I'm not sure exactly who this is for, other than just a "hey, I'm not freaking special, quit calling me talented!" rant.

How do I write? What is the method to my madness? Well, to explain this, I'm going to have to divert your attention towards "channeling."

And no, it's not just for psychics.

In the end, my methods are divined from a lot of things...

The first step is to network your ideas. That's right.

For example, what is it you really want to say, or what is it that you think would make the most impact? Some people often believe that you stick with one idea, and expand on it.

I find this to be a bit unaccurate. You start with one idea, and weave it into other concepts you're familure with.

For instance....

lxxy.

lxxy is an amalgum of popular culture drops from science fiction and "alternative news" sources, and has a back story that is based off of real things--SERPO and John Titor.

Expanding upon these concepts, we have devised a lair, a Museum of Oddities, and numerous ways to travel through time and space. The other half of the foundation of lxxy, is it's true scientific grounds when it comes to quantum physics, zero point energy, etc, etc.

But of course, all of this planning is useless unless you don't do the basics:

Practice, practice, practice.

Refining your craft isn't about looking up to the idols you admire within it, but finding a comfortable level of happiness of output. I'm quite happy with the work I'm doing, and many of you are too. (THANK YOU!)

(Also, please tell Janetta to work on her book.)

Most hubbers will take different pieces of what they've done, or what they like to do, and put it up and out. Many will create original content, or spruce up their old stuff, so it better reflects the times and their own feelings to date.

I'm no different.

However, as lxxy progressed, he began to take on a life of his own. lxxy, you see, is not just some alternative account of mine. He has a long and storied past, mostly seen at poetry slams and the occasional concert . He is the frontalien of alienUplink , while I am the producer. He's the DJ of Megatronic Radio , while I am the producer. You get the point.

He is, and has been always, my self-created muse , or focus of creativity.

I'm not here to spoil the fun, or toot my own horn, so I will say one last thing pertaining to this...

....they call it HubPages. Layers. You may have found G|M through lxxy, as some have. And that is just the beginning--our work intertwines and intersects, but are totally original on their own merits.

There is always common threads to a HubGroup that I or lxxy put out. Crosslinks are never placed at random, or in a bid to win more of an audience. That's what HubGroups are for. We use them as new information pathways, or little easter eggs.

I love my fans, I love the HubPages community.

I speak with many often, and if it's not in the forum than I'll shoot e-mails. Sometimes, this turns into Twitter, or an IM name exchange.

By surounding myself with those I admire, and those who admire me, I have now created a very nice group of people to converse with. This has many advantages:

1. Forming new Friendships
2. Meeting new Perspectives
3. Learning new Things
4. Gathering more Media
   

Step Two is really a step that you have to take through out all of this, but it's best to introduce this to you as the second method. Why? Because...I dunno, I said so.

Anyway, back on track: clear the air.

What do I mean by this? Well, I find it works for me to keep a very simple, humble existence. I'm not saying you need to do this, or if you did it my way, you'd have the same results. No, that's not at all it.

What works best for me in practice, is not what works for you.

Notice that YOU part? That's right, get to know yourself. Take life in stride, gain the ability to focus--and then let that creativity flow. For example:

• I think about new content while waiting in line at the store.
• I think about new content while performing repetitive tasks at my job.
• I think about new content when I'm playing a video game.

By clearing the air, getting in touch with yourself, and realizing you RAWK, you're going to stop worrying about the what-ifs of if someone doesn't like it, it'll never work, it just sounds too strange....what if it is? What if it isn't? You'll never know, until you try it.

So there you are again, ready to hit "Publish Now." You've read the article, made sure the text went well, and now you're sure it's finished.

It isn't, but it's finished for now.

So you publish it...do you walk away, begin something new? Many do...

...me, I spend a fair amount of my day going through my Hubs. What worked? What didn't? Can I add something to it, making it better? Should I just...scrap it?

You won't know until you listen to your audience, because when you're writing and widebanding, it's no longer JUST about YOU. If you wanted something just for you, you can easily pick up a spiral notebook and make a scrapbook.

By constantly reviewing my work, responding to the comments, watching the traffic falling or rising, I get a better grip on what works. And then...I take what I think works, and go off with it to another Hub, in a new way, and start this whole process again.

So remember, the next time you think I'm "talented"--just remember, I'm just obsessive and pragmatic.

I hope I've left you enough food here to nosh on.

"Quite Unusual"

By Front242, off of "Official Version" EP

The sun went down and the ground started sort
of grinding
A blinding light tore across the sky
A cyclone swept the landscape out and left it
completely flattened out
And several twirls of smoke unfolded like gigantic
flowers

The way the morning broke was quite unusual

I should have wakened up at once, but this was no
concern of mine, so I kept on dreaming

My eyes roamed over the burning ruins

In less time than it takes to tell

And I felt like
And I felt like being numbed,
I felt like mesmerized

The way the morning broke was quite unusual
More than words can say

In less time than it takes to tell