Navigating the creative gap
Every writer, at some point in their journey, stands before the expanse of the creative gap.
I first learned about the creative gap from NPR personality Ira Glass way back when around 2011ish.
In a four part video series, Ira Glass illuminated a common struggle for creatives: the discrepancy between one's refined taste and the initial quality of their work. He called the distance between these two places the creative gap. (You can watch a beautiful video by Daniel Sax here.)
The gap represents the distance between where we are currently in our craft and the pinnacle of where we wish to be. It's a space filled with all the skills not yet mastered and the learning we still have to do to get to the other side.
He emphasized for beginners this often leads to disappointment and discouragement.
In other words, the masterpieces we imagine in our heads are often not what makes it to the page and that pisses us off.
All the quippy dialogue, carefully planned plot twists, and dynamic characters floating we envision, flop dramatically on the page. And so we believe we're never going to be a good writer, why keep going, stop now, hide under the bed, get a job as a barista.
What no one tells us is that everyone has spent time in the creative gap. Even our heroes.
Enduring the creative gap is part if the learning process.
The creative gap is real, but it's not insurmountable. You can get through it with persistence and by creating lots and lots of writing.
Strategies for Narrowing the Gap
Here are three things you can try this month to help you bridge the gap:
Write regularly: Dedicate time to write, regardless of inspiration levels. Keep a log to track your writing days and times.
Set achievable goals: Split your big writing dreams into smaller, doable steps. Use a checklist to mark off completed goals.
Read more, think deep: Explore different kinds of books and think about what makes them work. List the books you read and jot down insights gained.
As you stand at the precipice of the creative gap, don't forget, every writer you admire once stood where you stand now. They too faced the daunting expanse, armed with nothing but their dreams and determination.
The journey across this gap is not merely about closing the distance; it's about embracing each step, each word, each story as a building block towards becoming the writer you aspire to be.
This month, challenge yourself to write a little more, dream a little bigger, and read a little deeper.
So, take heart, pick up your pen, and start building your bridge across the gap—one word at a time.
The world awaits the stories only you can tell, and every word you write is a step closer to the other side. The only way out is through, and the only way through is to keep writing.
Your voice, your stories, your dreams—they matter.
Keep going, keep growing, and, above all, keep believing in the importance of your words.
Jocelyn
Hello!
My name is Jocelyn.
Story warrior, book lover, day dreamer, gardener, and creative. I help serious writers roll up their sleeves, get their novel ready for publishing, and reach readers. When I’m not elbow-deep in the story trenches, I’m outside world-building in my garden and battling weeds with my three criminal mastermind cats.
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