When we dream big, sometimes we tend to want to engage big, desiring to go from a blank canvas to a finished product in one sitting.

I recall many times as a designer, jumping into a project, arranging shapes and colors and type on the computer, getting lost in the process. I wanted so badly to immediately manifest a thing of beauty, a perfect harmony of elements in a two-dimensional world.

I wouldn't rest because my desire was so strong.

Now don't get me wrong, this feeling of playful flow is wonderful -- however, my body didn't always like sitting as long as I did without a break for stretching or a snack.

What I found most interesting is that as a result of this habitual practice, I began to actually believe that if I wanted to do anything creative, I had to block out 1-3 hours to really immerse myself and be productive. That's quite a challenge, especially when we live in a Western culture and take on a gaggillion commitments on a weekly basis.

So here's an alternative return challenge from me to you: think big and engage in baby steps.

Just like Bill Murray in 'What about Bob':  "Baby steps out of the office,… baby steps to the hall,… baby steps to the elevator."

A Dream

I've had a dream to write a novel for many years. I used to spend most of my time doing outlines, figuring out ahead of time all the possible scenarios and ways the story could traverse an imaginary landscape, taking the reader for a ride.

But here's the problem — I didn't allow myself to take a ride. There was very little discovery because I had done so much scripting. I fooled myself to believe that the outlines were skeletons and eventually I would flesh out the details.  And you know what? That might work for some people, but it hasn't worked for me.

I rarely fleshed things out and when I did, my feelings were not connected to the writing. I had become quite good at structure, writing from my head and lost touch with writing from my heart.

Pretty sad, huh?

An Exploration

For now, I'm inspired to write a novel as a way to learn about myself and try on a process I've never tried before. I don't have any current plans to publish. This is an exploration of me and my creative self, inviting the question, "how can we playfully co-exist?"

My process is all about baby steps.

Every morning, after I do a little meditation, I grab my laptop and write a bit of the novel. I don't know how long it will be when I'm done. I don't know exactly what's going to happen next. I don't know how I will introduce each piece that I write — will it all be linear or otherwise?  I don't know a lot of things.

Sounds like life, right?

I do have a vague sense of the story based on understanding plot structure, but when I write, I'm immersed in the details. The characters are starting to come to life, and I can see how they are all representations of me. Different aspects that I am uncovering, understanding and playing with.

The most crucial thing about this little ritual is that it is little. I write based on time, not based on length of the writing itself and each piece of writing is its own text file, titled based on that piece.

I give myself 25 minutes to:

-- turn on my laptop

-- sit on the couch with a blanket over my legs

-- review the piece titles

-- see what feels right to explore next

-- write

-- write

-- write

-- save

-- close

-- put away the laptop

-- acknowledge my 'showing up' and exploring

The writing isn't always good. Sometimes it's bland and boring and sometimes it's gorgeous and colorful.

It doesn't matter in the creative process. The important thing is that I show up. Day after day (missing a day here and there because I'm human), willing to see what happens next and being clear that I don't and couldn't possibly know.

Baby steps.

First, create the space in which to be creative.

Now You

For three weeks at the same time of day (if possible), try giving yourself a ritualized approach to a creative process in a limited timeframe, including the set-up and clean-up.

Don't fool yourself as I did, when it's time to create — create! The other important steps can be done outside that precious space.

What do you think? Does a baby step approach feel too methodical, or not methodical enough?  Have you ever held space for your creativity in this way? Has it "worked?"

Your creative process builds a habit, a channel, a doorway… care to discover what's on the other side?