The Power of Creating: Bridging the Gap Between Taste and Skill

The Power of Creating: Bridging the Gap Between Taste and Skill

Creativity is a beautiful yet often frustrating journey. It is a pursuit driven by our innate desire to express ourselves and create something meaningful. However, as Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life, eloquently puts it, there is a gap between our taste and our skill when we first start out. This gap can be disheartening and discouraging, causing many to quit before they reach their full potential.

Glass's quote about creativity resonates with so many of us because it speaks to the common experience of all artists, writers, musicians, and creators. We start with high aspirations and a keen sense of what we consider good taste. Yet, when we begin producing our own work, it falls short of our expectations. We become disappointed because we can clearly see the gap between our taste and our current abilities.

The truth is, this phase is normal and necessary. It is a crucial part of the creative process that everyone must go through. The key is to embrace it and keep pushing forward. As Glass advises, the most important thing we can do is to do a lot of work. This means setting deadlines and committing ourselves to finishing one project every week.

By consistently producing work, we gradually close the gap between our taste and our skill. It is through repetition and reinvention over time that we improve and refine our craft. Each project becomes an opportunity to learn, grow, and make it better than the last. This is the essence of creative careers and projects – it's not about simply being creative, but rather, it's about creating.

In 2017, Glass further emphasized this truth at SXSW when he urged creators not to wait, but rather, to make the thing. He advocated for taking action, making a version, and then continuously improving upon it. This advice holds immense power because it reinforces the idea that anyone can create. Just as anyone can cook or paint, anyone can bring their ideas to life and make what truly matters.

To bridge the gap between our taste, intuition, and ambitions, and what our skills are capable of producing, we must focus on building a volume of work. Our body of work becomes our true masterpiece, our real project. It is through this continuous creation that we develop our abilities and create something that aligns with our deepest desires.

Taking all of this into consideration, here are three actionable pieces of advice to help you on your creative journey:

1. Embrace the gap: Understand that the gap between your taste and skill is a natural part of the creative process. Instead of getting discouraged, use it as motivation to keep pushing forward.

2. Set deadlines and create consistently: Commit to finishing one project every week or set a deadline for yourself. This will help you build a volume of work and improve your skills over time.

3. Embrace imperfection and learn from failures: Not every project will be perfect, and that's okay. Embrace imperfection as an opportunity to learn and grow. Analyze your failures, identify areas for improvement, and use that knowledge to make your next project even better.

In conclusion, creativity is a journey that requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to embrace the gap between our taste and our skill. By creating a volume of work and continuously improving upon it, we can bridge that gap and bring our visions to life. Remember, anyone can create what truly matters – it's all about taking action and making the thing. So, go forth and create, for the world is waiting for your unique voice and perspective.