February 8, 2005
meaning scales
Right now I’m converting “How To Be Creative” into a book. For the benefit of any potential publishers out there, this is roughly who I think the book will appeal to:
It may be modest, it may not be. It could be a little candle shop; it could be a software company with the GNP of Sweden. It doesn’t matter. Meaning Scales.
1. The Sleeper Has Awaken.
We are entering “The Creative Age”. We have started to look for meaning.
We are hungry. Meaning is the prey.
That doesn’t mean we suddenly quit our accountant jobs and go back to film school, or give up selling real estate and start cranking out our first novel.
Some of us might, but not all. That would be far too predictable.
It means we’re starting to recognize that our work is just as much part of real lives as our evenings and weekends, that our jobs are not mere economic units that pay for “our real lives” outside the office.
Our jobs ARE our real lives, dammit, and we’re going to fight like hell to make sure that people recognize and respect this, not just our colleagues, but even sometimes ourselves.
We’re not quitting out jobs in droves to go open organic bakeries and internet startups because we’re too lazy to go get a real job in Corporate America. No, we’re leaving Corporate America because “real” is EXACTLY what we want our jobs to be.
Real to us.
And maybe we’ll stay within the corporate structure. Maybe we’ll just go find a better corporation. One that’s getting with the program. One that doesn’t take its own strength or its people for granted.
Or maybe we’ll just stay with the jobs we already have. Maybe the change that’s required just needs to happen silently, from within.
Maybe there’s more than one way to crack this nut. Maybe that’s what being creative is really all about.
We are turning off the TV. We are using the internet, reading books, attending museums, buying paint, taking night classes and purchasing art in unprecedented numbers. We suddenly feel alive and excited about life in a way that would have seemed crazy a generation ago.
We are learning to sing.
We are starting to write in record number. We have discovered blogs. 40,000 of us start new ones every day. Will it make money? Who cares? This isn’t about money; this is about getting our thoughts together.
Our thoughts are coming together because we are no longer asleep. We’re not even sleepy.
2. Meaning Scales.
Our eyes are open, and now we’re looking for fun things to do with them.
As Buddha says, there is no one road to Nirvana. Enlightenment is a house with 6 billion doors. While we’re alive, we intend not to find THE DOOR, not A DOOR, but to find OUR OWN, UNIQUE DOOR.
And we’re willing to pay for the privelege. We’re willing to give up money and time and power and sex and status and certainty and comfort in order to find it.
And guess what? It’ll be a great door. It’ll add to this life. It’ll resonate. Not just with us, but with everybody it comes in contact with. The door will useful and productive. Alive and kicking. It’ll create wealth and laughter and joy. It’ll pull its own weight, it’ll give back to others. It’ll be centered on compassion, but will be intolerant of dullards, parasites and cynics.
It may be modest, it may not. It could be a little candle shop; it could be a software company with the GNP of Sweden. It could involve politics or working with the elderly. It could be starting a design studio or opening a bar with Cousin Mike. It could be a screenplay, oil paints, or discovering the violin. It doesn’t matter. Meaning Scales.
3. I intend the book to be bought and read by people who connect with what I wrote above.
I believe their number to be extremely large, and growing larger. I want to make a book for these people, to read while sitting on the john.
[UPDATE:] Just added this post to the book outline.
Thank you.
Damn, Hugh — I’d buy one. And one for my boss. And one for my whole team at work. And one for each of my good friends graduating from the University of Cincinnati this year.
If I had money, I’d even publish it myself.
If you don’t have any publishers that see the light, maybe you could self-publish. I’ve had my eye on AuthorHouse (http://www.authorhouse.com/) for a while, perhaps to publish whatever I write this summer for the sheer thrill of seeing my work in print. Worth checking out, at least, since their prices are reasonable enough — once your work is in print and has distribution, they’ll sell like crazy… it’s just a matter of making them available.
Hugh’s Turning “How to Be Creative” Into a Book!
Hugh MacLeod is in the process of turning “How to Be Creative” into a book. Just left a comment — I’d be one of the first in line to buy it. (Probably many copies, in fact.) You can read “How…
I’ve read many books on the quest for meaning in life, and work that matters .. but I still want to read yours. Let me know where and when I can buy it.
Yes.
This is why I read your site, Hugh. This is the real shit. The shit that matters.
Pundits, experts and historians always look for the singular moment when things change. I don’t believe that specific moment exists. A collection of moments, however, does, They coalesce,
I read your manifesto a few weeks ago and found it inspiring. You’ve got a little bit of the revival-tent preacher in you. I think you could position the book as business/motivational.
There is no doubt that a revolution is going on in business. I think your observations about making the conversation better are right on. Maybe that’s what the “one-on-one future” is really about.
We are beginning to expect immediacy, personality, humanity. Is this technology-driven? I dunno, but I think so.
As for “…starting to recognize that our work is just as much part of real lives as our evenings and weekends…” I’m not sure whether that’s part of the revolution. It’s definitely part of successfully growing up, in any case. I’m doing my best.
Now I remember why I started reading your blog. Exactly what I was looking for then and am looking for now.
Totally wow and do I connect or what!!
Would buy it… would recommend it…
You go Hugh!!
Hmmmm…
Getting beyond the echo chamber for a moment, how is your book going to *meaningfully* build on books like Richard Florida’s ‘The Creative Class’ — and his follow-up ‘The Flight of the Creative Class’ — and on the voluminous pop/academic literature on fostering individual creativity?
Is your proposed differentiator cartoons?
Bravo. Let’s get going. (1) How to BE Creative isn’t what your talking about is it? Your talking about bringing the creative side of us all OUT, right? The fact is we are all running around doing and not feeling, creating — you want to help us change that. (2) People are scared to be creative, bring them over the hurdle. Everyone isn’t as talented as you, but they want to express their essential selves…help them in your conversational tone and with your cartoons. (3)Drop the business focus, we are humans, think through that one. (4) We all want to know we can makes mistakes, but we are all so fucking scared of life we don’t do anything but sit home and say “what if?” .. Emphasize fallibility! Make fun of it! …I have more ideas, but you have the talent to bring it to life! Get people in touch with their inner talent! Bravo!
My proposed differentiator is “Cooler Powerpoint Slides”.…
Hugh,
I spent a summer as a publisher’s assistant, and one of my primary responsibilities was filtering query letters. I can tell you that you have to have a credible strategy for positioning your book, and you have to be up front about having it. Otherwise, a mid-lister like the book you’re contemplating is exceedingly unlikely to get any interest. For details, see Larsen’s ‘How To Write A Book Proposal’.
Representative excerpt:
“The first part of your proposal must convince readers that your book will have what it takes to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”
love the post.…love the differentiator…no doubt, your slides will be more interesting that Peters’…one question and excuse my ignorance…
why involve a publisher? use the blogosphere to sell your book…break the whole hardcopy book paradigm…in fact, involve people like Godin, Scoble and Peters, then blow up the book making/selling industry…start a revolution and begin using some of the thoughts/ideas that are being shared on your blog and others…do what a recent cartoon of yours demanded…
“being fucking totally amazing.…”
i have faith that you could do this and you have the talent/message that people will buy…
imagine the top of your pyramid if you are seen as the person that revolutionized an industry…be the Hughtrain…
I’m so glad I found your site. It gives my dull corporate existence something to believe in and look forward to.
How To Be Creative is a book I’ve been waiting for for a long time.
Compassion excludes intolerance of others, dullards, parasites, et al. You can observe, let go and surround yourself with others who get it. Or, you can distract yourself evaluating and labeling. Unless, of course, you need your anger and fear to fuel your creativity? Buddha says creativity comes from a quiet, peaceful mind. Anger is noisy.
How about starting a mailing list for everyong willing to sign up right now for a copy? I would. And it would give you some sort of feel for how many to make for the first printing.
I haven’t bought any blog cards yet… …can’t really decide which one fits me. But any book you write; I wouldn’t be buying it as a reflection of me , so to speak, but I’d be buying, …err, supporting a reflection of you, or the whole creativity struggle thing.
Seth published his Purple Cow book first in a milk carton, then the Free Prize Inside as a cereal box. Hmmm. Hughtrain…
Irresistible Marketing
True, true, true, true! I think any product, service, business or individual that tries* to tip its hat to the divine spark becomes utterly compelling. We’re not talking ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘non-aggressive’ business here — soulless pacifism s…
Have you ever been BAD?
No, not in the ‘good or bad’ sense, but have you ever suffered from Blogging Addiction Disorder.I’m serious — I seem to be suffering from a severe case of BAD syndrome and have no idea what to do about it.