To think that really boring people see highly creative people as children?

[Heroine]

I AM JUST SAYING..

I had a weird thing happen, I am quite creative and like decorative stuff and cool quirky things and someone who I thought was on the same wavelength gave me a real dressing down when I showed her some cool japanese quirky notebooks I bought - with that sort of stylised fluffy, hearty, pop=art style, she sais the thought it was childish and unprofessional. (!). i thought it was just fun..

It made me think that all the people who make the rules about what is 'professional' are really just all the really dull tedious unimaginative types and that is why they think creativity is likely to diminish performance - because they can't handle it and it freaks their boring little heads out.

(I know this might seem to conflict with my 'women who run fluffy novelty businesses' thread, but I'm just saying (and not explaining well) that the dull people seem to never be interested in anything, and seem to make the rules, and the people who went wild and got into interestingb things in their teens and 20s but had to droip them because the dull run the world, are seen by the dull people as 'only having childish ideas'.
It seems a bit sad - does anyone see what I mean?? It seems to be getting worse as women have more serious jobs - I get it but as I'm a bit 'consultant-ish' I can ride above it, but it seems that somewhere there is a book that says you can't be clever or get things done or reliable unless you think and dress in a dull boring way.. and that makes no sense to me..

sorry for going on, but I think there somethin in my uncomfortableness at being thought of as childish when I think of myself as an adult who has some sense of humour and creativity.

Am I being unreasonable??

"problem I have is that the writing type of creative seems in conflict too much with the work type of creative and it takes me a long time to get into writer character"

Heroine, I wrote my first published novel with a fulltime job, I wrote my second with a fulltime job and a baby. If you want to write a novel (or paint, or etc etc etc) you simply do it. The "voice" will come in time, but to get it you have to do it!

To be honest, people who make big, loud 'look how creative I am' statements with their bags and hats and so on are often 'dying to be creative'as opposed to innately creative. Genuinely creative people often just get on with it.

I have never thought of a notebook as a measure of a persons creativity. My dd has lots of fabulous fluffy notebooks but she us very creative for an eight year old.

I love really creative people but they rarely have to provide creative accessories to advertise that they are creative .. I can't think of one who produced a highly creative notebook. On the other hand I have met people with creative notebooks who seemed to use shop bought film flam as an Elastoplast for a pretty dull and egocentric line in conversation.
It is always an awkward juxtaposition, like middle aged women wearing Disney pyjamas to try and find their lost cute.

As a creative person, I agree with the people who say that your taste or choice of products has no bearing on your creativity.
All you need is a blank page, a couple of pens that work, a lap-top or whatever you need to be creative. Frilly things are a distraction

I dunno.
Most writers do have a nice notebook. Not necessarily wacky, but somehting special.

And when I go to meetings with telly folk, they do all pull out funky pens etc.

Lol agee with swanduck. Or as I like to put it 'high maintenance'.

I don't have one cos I always lose them.

I admit I love using my Moleskin notebook to outline and make notes but I also use my Bic biro in it (Bic is cool, though, isn't it?). The PC I use to actually write on is a rather ugly looking Mesh. But I get the job done (when I'm not wasting time on Mumsnet!!!).

But I think that's the point - as someone said upthread, the signifier for a creative person is that they create, not what they create in/with.. There is no rule.

yes, there is no rule. They're not defined by their special notebooks, or their scraps of rough paper, or whatever they use to create

I think all things "cool" and "quirky" are pretty mainstream these days. Have you people been to Paperchase on Tottenham Court Road? 3 floors of quirky Japanese notebooks etc.

And EVERYONE considers themselves highly creative, whether it's making beaded jewellery, cupcakes, doing up your house in a "cool" and "quirky" way or just talking about it.

I reckon people who actually create anything are pretty dull in the average hipster's opinion...

Yes, most people identify themselves as creative. Especially middle class women.

If I 'get' japanese notebooks then that makes me creative. Well then I'm THE must uncreative boring person on the planet.

It's the idea that creative people are somehow better people, that is objectionable, and the glee with which you dismiss them as 'drones.'

Some non creative people may be very passionate about causes, may be very political or world aware, may be very compassionate, may be hilarious, or sporty or warm people who make you feel good.

Some creative people may be very insular, absorbed in theie own creativity and therefore difficult to be around.

And some people, may be a mixture of these varied characteristics. Can you get your head around that Heroine?

And of course some poeple, may not be creative at all but just desparately want to be, and will ensure they undertake every action and make every purchase that will convince themselves and others they are creative.

I know great creative and non creative people. But most creative adults have learnt not to bang on about how wacky inventive and creative they are compared to other people, as they are self aware enough to have realized that will make them look like twats.

In fact OP it's that that make you appear childish rather than your notebook choice.

well that's because human beings are generally born to create.
I've just described myself as creative two posts up so I'll just elaborate. I realised was creative after winning a literary award last year, for example. It crossed my mind then that I was a creative person, so I use the label now.
Are there any non-creative people?

I agree with Mordechai. The opening post was very childish and 'oh, you're all just boring if you're not like me'.

Cycling around on a wacky bike, wearing a floppy velver hat and pink boots does not turn you into Sylvia Plath.

I think being a creative makes you neither interesting nor dull per se.

However, a creative will find other creatives interesting, because it's something they have in common.

I love being around other writers because they get it in a way that no one else does.

In much the same way that scientists enjoy being round one another and find us non-sciency types a bit dull.

I've always thought of myself as a creative person, well before I was actually published, because I've been painting, taking photographs and writing since my teens. But to look at me, even to know me, you wouldn't think I was very creative. I think, perhaps, because I channel all my creativity into my creative work.

Then again I've worked with designers in advertising, for example, who live alot more creatively than me in that, in addition to creating fantastic design pieces, they dress interestingly and have interesting things in their houses.

It takes all sorts to be creative. People who appear to be drones can be more creative than you, Heroine, for example.

i write, but am very dull and reluctant to describe myself as 'creative' (shudder). i have lots of notebooks, some quite stylish: i never use any of them.

perhaps you should spend less time thinking about your notebooks and try doing some work.

Can I label myself "creative" too?

My qualifications:

I have created three new human beings

I am wearing a very bright pink jumper

I like watching Show Me Show Me

Bollocks!

I don't know anyone who is entirely uncreative. We all are, in one way or another. Might just be about cooking or gardening, or painting the house or even the way they do their job, or dress. I think you sound very narrow-minded, dividing the world into creative and non-creative types.

I AM JUST SAYING..

Has the OP actually come back and told us why she thinks she is 'highly' creative??

sakura my DS is not creative.

He is highly analytical. He sees the world through a prism of proof and evidence.

I don't see that as better or worse than being creative, just different. But because I am a creative, I find it more difficult to understand.

I think the difference is, there is little cultural cachet in identifyning as analytical, whereas there is perceived cachet in being creative.