Breaking Creative Barriers: Learning Through Mistakes

I’m not sure I should admit to this as an SCA laurel. I worry about showing any sign of weakness in my creative life people might think less of me. But you know what? I’m saying it anyway, because if I’m feeling this way, I’m probably not the only one.

The truth is: I have a hard time starting new projects of my own design. I hesitate. I stall. I overthink. It is ironic. When I first joined the SCA back in 1991, I was all about trying everything and taking creative risks. I havested linden flowers to make tea. I cut wild roses and used their flowers to make flavored infusions. I played with material to make a beguine headcovering. I was the one diving into the deep end of the creative pool. More often than not, those unique projects ended up being great work. And if they weren’t, they were fun to attempt.

Somewhere along the line, though, I slipped into the habit. I mostly started taking creative risks in calligraphy and illumination. Now that I’m a laurel of a certain age, I find I worry about wasting time, money, or materials. But maybe it’s my simple fear of messing up.

But here’s the thing if we don’t let ourselves try new things. How do we grow? How do we learn? We must take risks even if we trip along the way or we become stagnat.

Lately, I’ve spent my creative time working with Lady Tanneke, who will soon become my second SCA apprentice. She has given me a good push or two and motivated me more. She made me enjoy the process of creating something new again. It’s refreshing to make something different for the sheer fun of learning. Well, I’m mostly okay. It is a slightly terrifying but exciting process.

Part of the struggle is my perfectionism. It’s probably no surprise that the idea of cutting into fabric for a design that might fail makes me cringe. It’s really tough to return material to its original condition.

That’s why I reread my copy of Wreck This Journal. Apparently, I need help unlearning the idea that everything has to be perfect on the first try. Honestly the introduction to Wreck This Journal lit a spark under me. It says:

“To create is to destroy. Life is about getting up out of your chair and doing something. It is about making a mess… trying something… immersing… breaking the rules… making mistakes… evidence that you exist.”

One of the first instructions is to crack the spine of the book. I mean…what? We’re talking panic-level resistance here. But I get it. The point is to let go a little. To take the risks. To create—and maybe destroy—a thing or two along the way.

And that’s exactly it. I want to create without feeling stuck or held back by my own perfectionism. I want to take risks again, make mistakes, and learn. And who knows? Maybe I’ll fall into a few happy accidents along the way. The kind leading to something wonderful.

So, here’s to cracked spines, messy first drafts, “happy little trees”and taking the leap anyway.

I’d love to hear from you. What creative risks are you itching to take but holding back on? Let’s cheer each other on.