To document is to remember
Your creative habits may be small. but keeping the files either physically or digitally scanning them, adding a little date on each day, or writing down things that you are feeling at that moment can count as documenting your work.
In your creative journey, oftentimes, it is just you practicing every day and you believe that you are doing good and you keep on going for years.
However, you don't get the chance to document it.
So, when you want to check the work you did in the past. You can't.
That is why it is really important to document the process. Your creative habits may be small but storing the files either physically or digitally benefits you and your creative journey in ways you can't imagine.
Your creative work doesn't take a lot of time to document.
Adding a date on each page or writing down things that you are feeling at that moment counts as documenting your work.
In this post, I share a few points on how to document and why documenting is important. These are all personal experiences and tips from books, articles, and other sources.
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Documenting our creative habits is important for several reasons.
- It helps us to see how far we have come.
Creative habits is a lonely journey until you find your scenius.
A scenius is a group of people doing the same thing as you or willing to amalgamate different ideas.
Until then, you probably are on your own and that is a good thing too but to see the progress of how far you have come - Documenting your work is the only way. - It helps us to stay accountable.
Being accountable for creative work is a good thing, but no external habit-tracking apps can help you if you don't personally want to take accountability. So, having accountability for your creative work can help you push past your regular explorations, and daily progress will result in some amazing work. - It provides inspiration and motivation.
Seeing our past work can spark new ideas for the progress and learning you are practicing now. It can help you transform your old ideas than imitate them.
Many authors and creators have documented their work for years, often in the form of journals or diaries.
For example, the novelist Virginia Woolf kept a diary throughout her life, which not only provided insights into her creative process but also into her personal life and the world around her.
Similarly, the artist Frida Kahlo kept a journal throughout her life, in which she recorded her thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
One of my favorite artist and writer, Austin Kleon has a daily log and journal method that he mentions brings out his best work.
There are many examples not only in the creative fields but blogger, Author, Podcaster Tim Ferris, American Naturalist Henry David Thoreau, World renowned Physicist Madame Curie, and many more.
These documents have since been published and have given readers a unique insight into the lives and creative processes of these iconic figures.
