Creative Energy Leaks Faster Than You Think
When describing the genesis of A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles said that a great idea is like a mansion or an elaborate hotel: when you enter it, you can tell that there are many rooms — that’s to say, many directions the idea can unfold. When you’re struck by an idea (eureka!), your instinct is to write it down (if not, here’s why you should). But some ideas also come with an energy to keep going, a feeling of expansiveness, as if what you already know is a fraction of what you could discover. That is a hint you have a great idea, the kind that has the potential to change your life. If you find an idea compelling enough to distract you from the task at hand or to keep you tethered to your desk late into night, follow that enthusiasm.
When inspiration strikes, when the door to a mansion swings open, step through. Don’t just peer in from the outside; take a glimpse of what could be. While you have the energy and excitement, follow your idea to see where it leads. Explore each corridor, and peer into every closet. Take advantage of the rush of excitement that comes with that eureka moment. Step through the looking glass, follow your white rabbit of inspiration toward the wonderland that awaits.
In this process, something remarkable happens: the idea begins to expand and evolve beyond its initial conception. As you pull at its threads and watch the idea unravel and expand, you give it the best chance to flourish. Prepare for your own idea to surprise you. If you give it your energy and attention, it will grow into something that you’d never thought you could create.
A story turns into a saga; a simple invention becomes a revolution; a rant evolves into a manifesto. This transformation is the reward for those who dare to explore their ideas thoroughly and passionately.
So next time you have an epiphany, use that creative energy before it leaks away. Unravel your idea, unfold it, open every door. Give to your ideas the same vigor and vitality they bring into your mind. Don’t just capture an idea; explore your idea while you still have the energy for it.
