#creative drive

[balluprojects]

Boxed Survivors, 2025

@ Casa da Cerca, Cacilhas, Setubal, Portugal

a lively thursday*

[mymindsmadness]

Psst. Hey, kid! You wanna buy some...

creative drive!?

[undeademoprincess]

Mythical Creatures

Quick intro: a few of my friends, myself included, wanted to do something creative once a week or so to help us get better in what we wanted to grow in, be it art, literature, you name it. The “word” we did is the title above, “ Mythical Creatures”. I decided to do a short story.

“Dragons always ruled over parts of civilization. Those lands prospered beyond their what they should have, and never saw war, for their neighbors feared what the locals thought was a god. Outside of the of ring of countries ruled and guided by these dragons was one country that keep their government and daily life simple. Their ruling dragon, Arieth, sought out the country for its potential in fishing, mining, farming, and its isolation from her kin put her mind at ease. The dragons of the circle wanted power, so the competition between them was something she wanted to avoid, and the few humans that caught onto that power struggle amongst their “gods” fled, wanting nothing to do with what may be in store.

Arieth’s country taught the basic wilderness skills necessary to make it to the circle. Many people came to and from other places, making them a travel hub, especially since they were partially on the sea. Arieth never minded the outside help of sirens and mermaids that helped the fishermen, so long as the men came back in one piece. She worked out peace treaties with the local fae, giving the locals an easier time doing that they needed to do to keep the country afloat. As Arieth was more of an oracle for the country, and as she rarely personally intervened unless necessary, she was highly respected. She held everyone to the same standards, heard people out, and helped them based off of how she knew them. Because of this respect and mutual trust between Arieth and her people, the circle didn’t much like it and grew aggressive towards them. The dragons saw Arieth wasting herself on them, saying she let the humans lead her and now shes nothing more than a tool to be used. The other countries people were sheltered from how Arieth treated the outside world as well as her own land, knowing they would run to her for protection and peace.

The build up of aggression from the other dragons eventually lead to their devastation, for the banded together in an attempt to wipe Arieth and her country off the map. Arieth saw this coming, long before the dragons even had influence over humans. She knew her people greed. Arieth, with the help of the fae who she trusted and respected, protected the lands from the circle and the dragons who sought her demise.

No history books to date know what it is Arieth and the fae had done, but it had killed the dragons attacking, and any humans they had brainwashed under their command had went with them, as either a sign of devotion to their gods or they died from unknown wounds. After this battle, Arieth had spent 5 years teaching what little left she had to give to her people, and left. The fae soon disappeared after her, as if her presence itself was the source of their magic.

But few stories say that she gifted the royal line a bit of her knowledge she shared with them and them only, as well as her rumored magic. And for this reason, many come to her country in hopes of unraveling the mysteries, or for a taste of her gift.”

The book closed softly, gently being set down on the table side.

“But Papa, is it really true? Did the dragons all die out besides Arieth, and did she really pass something onto the royalty?” Softly smiling, the father leaned down and kissed his daughters head.

“Who really knows? Perhaps she did, perhaps it died with her.”

The father got up from the bed, bid goodnight to his daughter, and left the room. The story was her favorite, and often asked him to read it to her. The story help a special place in the family, as it was a treasured heirloom, a tradition was formed long ago with it to read their children to sleep with said book. The book was the only known record of then, passed down from the royal line that gained Arieth’s trust, respect, and love. The tradition, was done in hopes of inspiring future generations of their abilities, to keep faith in magic, in the world. The magic held in their blood was tied to that books story, though written without the brutal tragedies of the other lands, it holds the key for every generations beginning of hoping to see the fae again. For the book granted no magic nor taught any, but it helped the individual to hope and train their eyes to see what others cant. And that was Arieth’s gift, the gift of sight.

I had Transylvania in mind when I wrote this because, while I’ve never looked them up or researched them, I’ve always heard stories leading to magic and mythology that most of the world would scoff at (unless its like fairy circles, you dont mess with those no matter where you’re from). Though I DO know theyre know for the Dracula stories, I wanted to leave the ending bit open for interpretation as to both who the “royal line” is and the time frame. However I wanted to try to achieve the same affect that “Dracula” had on Transylvania, full of wonder, mystery, a story either lost to the ages where very little remains of it so it is hard to follow or can be told however you like or one that no one really understood as it was passed down, possibly being warped a bit to make it more interesting or just because the teller hated certain parts. I’ve personally never had anyone tell me the same story for Dracula, so for this I wrote it open, with holes that could be filled, and ended it where it was able to tell a decent story but left room for wanting more if the reader wanted it.

[kinoaugust-blog]

January 7, The Red Shoes (Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, 1948) Beautifully shot in magical Technicolor, The Red Shoes is arguably the finest result of the partnership between the great English director Michael Powell and his Hungarian collaborator Emeric Pressburger. An aspiring ballerina Vicky Page played by Moira Shearer gets the chance to dance in the company of a legendary but heartless impresario, Boris Lermontov. When they travel to Monte Carlo to perform a new version of The Red Shoes she meets the new composer of the orchestra and they fall in love. After the successful premiere both of their careers seem to rise at the company, but than Lermontov fires the composer, Vicky leaves the theater with him - she returns later - and they get married. The story ends in a tragic, sort of fated way. The most famous two lines of the film sums up perfectly the radical portrayal of the artistic obsession, the fact that Vicky has no decision over her life: “Why do you want to dance?” asks Lermontov, and Vicky answers: “Why do you want to live?”. Aside of the complexity of the narrative and the psychological aspects of the film, it is the effortless elegance, what makes it so outstanding. The camera floats ethereally, just like Vicky when she glides on the stairs of Lermontov’s luxurious villa in Monte Carlo. 

[cosmicgardencreative]

Hi everyone! Hope you're having fun tackling the latest monthly prompts, or just in general getting your groove on with your creativity ♥ We're certainly feeling even more invigorated with our own projects this fall ^_^

I haven't the words to articulate how or why, but there's just something inspiring about autumn, at least for me and Izzy since we've been together. I've thought back to the number of times when we'd get a jolt to our creativity, to be driven to create as we buckled in for this season. Saying that, though, I'm left astounded by how long we juggled our creative drive while shouldering a personal burden over the last several years.

Suffice to say, we were only able to relieve ourselves of said burden recently. I couldn't believe how significant of a difference it was for me to even talk about creativity to my spouse in just a few days versus the past several years…

This might sound a bit vague, esoteric, to those reading this. I don't want to vent, or even try to elicit any sort of pity from anyone reading this. But as a creative, I draw and write from experience. Sometimes the experience isn't always pretty, and there are still life lessons to be had.

Last weekend allowed us an interesting recovery period in our life. The kind where we had no idea how much our life was just… overshadowed by a constant presence. It often caused me especially to question myself and my feelings a lot, because sometimes, it's easier to assume you're the person in the wrong than to actually confront the issue that you've gotten too weary to address.

But I just had enough one day, and then because I finally decided to be my actual self, it was like the weighted veil was finally off my face. The resulting implosion wasn't without some mental collateral damage, but after some serious processing between Izzy and me, we're back to where we need to be with our art, and damn, does it feel good! Even though we haven't hit all the goals we made over the years, neither of us are mad at the amount of work we got to produce, despite the difficulties that kept challenging our focus and effort.

Whatever challenges you may face yourself, whether artistically or emotionally, just know that no one can take that (e.g. your dreams, ambitions, aspirations) away from you unless you let them. I wish there was an official manual on life skills to be honest, especially on how to ward off energy vampires. But truthfully, that's why this world has and will keeping having creatives (visual and literary). We wouldn't know how to better ourselves if we didn't have examples of people either overcoming or succumbing to their anxieties, fears, and even prejudice.

If you're a creative, and you feel like your life has had a lot of twists and turns, I genuinely hope that you don't despair over them. These are defining moments in your life, and how you choose to handle them could be the example that someone needed to face their challenges.

[tmarshconnors]

One Step Short of Crazy: What Do You Get?

There’s a fine line between passion and obsession. Both drive people to extraordinary lengths, but one is celebrated, while the other is often misunderstood. When you’re one step short of crazy, what do you get? Obsession. Passion. They’re two sides of the same coin, and in this space between them, greatness is often born.

When we think of passion, we often imagine someone deeply in love with what they do an artist, an entrepreneur, or an athlete pouring their heart and soul into their craft. Passion is that fire that keeps us moving, even when the odds are against us. It’s the engine behind the long hours, the late nights, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

But obsession? That’s where things start to blur. Obsession has a reputation for being unhealthy, destructive even. Yet, how often have we heard of successful individuals described as “obsessed”? It’s their obsession that drives them to practice relentlessly, to chase down every lead, to refuse to give up even when logic tells them they should. Their obsession is what transforms their passion into something more a relentless pursuit of a goal, an unyielding focus on making their vision a reality.

When Passion Becomes Obsession

The shift from passion to obsession happens quietly. You start with enthusiasm a love for what you do. But over time, that enthusiasm grows. It becomes a need, a driving force that compels you to keep going, even when others might stop. You become consumed by the details, by the need to perfect your craft, and by the desire to achieve your goals. This is the point where passion transforms into obsession.

But is that a bad thing?

Not necessarily. Many of the world’s greatest achievements have come from people who were obsessed. Think of inventors like Thomas Edison or visionaries like Steve Jobs. Their obsession with their work led to innovation and breakthroughs that changed the world. They were not just passionate; they were consumed by their vision.

Obsession can be a powerful tool. It pushes you to go beyond what is comfortable, to stretch your limits, and to push through challenges that would make most people quit. It’s the reason athletes train through injuries, writers spend years perfecting a single book, and entrepreneurs keep working long after the rest of the world has gone to sleep.

When managed properly, obsession can fuel greatness. It’s the catalyst that turns dreams into reality. Passion gives you the drive to start, but obsession gives you the stamina to finish.

However, like any powerful force, obsession must be handled with care. It can easily tip into unhealthy territory, leading to burnout, anxiety, and even the breakdown of relationships. The very focus that drives you can also blind you to the rest of your life. This is the challenge: to harness the power of obsession without letting it consume you.

To navigate this fine line, self-awareness is crucial. Recognising when your obsession is fuelling your success versus when it is taking over your life can help you maintain balance. Setting boundaries, taking breaks, and seeking feedback from trusted friends and mentors can help keep your obsession in check while still allowing you to chase your dreams with relentless focus.

At the end of the day, passion and obsession are two parts of the same process. They work together to push you beyond your limits and to help you achieve things you never thought possible. When balanced, they are the driving forces behind greatness.

So, what do you get when you’re one step short of crazy? You get obsessed. You get passionate. And, if you can harness that energy in the right way, you get the chance to create something truly extraordinary.

The key is learning to dance on that line, to embrace the madness that comes with obsession while keeping your feet grounded in passion. Because that’s where magic happens right at the edge of crazy, where passion and obsession collide.

[ooc-miqojak]

Ask Anythinh: what keeps you going and the creative need burning? I’m struggling lately myself and I don’t know what I can do to keep going.

I mean, RP is a big part of keeping the fire burning for me, and I've not really RPd but like twice in... like a year or so, so I'm feeling the drain, myself! But when it comes to trying to kick the embers and write something solo, it's just... a lot of listening to a character's playlist and just making myself write (or even putting one particular song on loop, if it's really got me thinking). If it sucks and I hate it... fuck it, I got in their headspace a bit anyways. I can delete it from existence, and no one need know it ever happened, but me... but you've pre-heated the OC oven! I've deleted a whole thing and started over based on just one sentence from that piece. Or just trashed that one and started again the next day... whatever you have 'spoons' for.

Or, slap on a piece of media that's great inspo. My ADHD is the kind that likes constant background noise, so I have two monitors and always have some sort of show/music/youtube, etc going on in the background... sometimes if it's low effort World Quest time, or some such, I'll put on a show that I know helped inspire them a while back, or something, and listen along for good quotes, or scenes that tickle my OC-brain-place.

These feel like pretty generic responses to me, so I'm sorry if these don't help much! >_< These are just the sorts of things that tend to get to me! A lyric in a song, a line or situation in a show (or even a SONG in a show, mmf)... sometimes the littlest thing is just it for me!