Closing the Gap: Nurturing Creativity Through Structured Learning

Closing the Gap: Nurturing Creativity Through Structured Learning

Creativity is a mysterious and awe-inspiring force that drives many of us to pursue creative work. We are drawn to this path because we have good taste, an innate sense of what is aesthetically pleasing and meaningful. However, there is often a frustrating gap between our taste and the quality of our own work. This is a phase that all beginners go through, and it can be disheartening. But it is important to remember that this is normal and that the key to closing this gap lies in perseverance and practice.

Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life, eloquently captures this struggle in his quote: "For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be. It has potential. But your taste -- your taste is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you." Many people give up during this phase, unable to bridge the divide between their aspirations and their current abilities. However, those who persist and continue to create despite the initial disappointment are the ones who eventually find success in their creative endeavors.

Glass emphasizes the importance of doing a lot of work and setting deadlines for oneself. The volume of work we produce is what ultimately helps us improve and reach the level of quality we aspire to. It takes time and effort to close the gap between our taste and our skills, but it is a journey worth undertaking. As Glass says, "It’s gonna take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

But how do we approach structured learning after school? Radi, in his blog post, provides some insights into his own approach. He distinguishes between structured and unstructured learning, highlighting the intentionality and direction that comes with structured learning. He breaks down structured learning into three phases: discovery, sense-making, and experimentation. These phases are not bound by time and can take days or months to cycle through.

During the discovery phase, Radi explores new ideas and identifies topics he wants to delve deeper into. Once he has chosen a topic, he enters the sense-making phase, where he researches and synthesizes the information he gathers. This phase is crucial for deepening his understanding and forming a coherent knowledge base. Radi often creates visual knowledge maps to organize his learnings, using tools like Heptabase.

To maintain motivation and accountability in his post-school learning journey, Radi shares his progress and learnings in public spaces. He believes that the public record of the internet can serve as a powerful motivator, replacing the institutional oversight and external pressures that drive us during our academic years. By intentionally sharing his learning and progress, Radi creates an external incentive to stay committed and continue learning.

The idea of using the internet as a platform for public accountability is fascinating. Radi uses Glasp, a platform for annotating and shelving written content, to curate and document his reading and learning journey. This public record not only helps him stay accountable but also enables others to benefit from his discoveries and insights.

In conclusion, creativity and structured learning are intertwined in the pursuit of personal and professional growth. Closing the gap between our taste and our skills requires perseverance, a willingness to create a volume of work, and a commitment to structured learning. By embracing the three phases of discovery, sense-making, and experimentation, we can deepen our understanding and enhance our creative abilities. Additionally, sharing our progress and learnings in public spaces can provide the motivation and accountability needed to sustain our post-school learning journeys.

Actionable advice:

1. Embrace the phase of not-quite-good work and recognize it as a normal part of the creative process. Keep pushing forward and don't give up.
2. Set deadlines for yourself and commit to completing one project every week. The more work you produce, the closer you get to closing the gap between your taste and your skills.
3. Leverage the power of the internet as a platform for public accountability. Share your progress, learnings, and insights to stay motivated and create a public record of your journey.

Remember, anyone can create. With dedication, practice, and structured learning, you can make what matters and bridge the gap between your aspirations and your abilities.