The Lichtenbergian Precepts: a review

It’s been a while since I did a post pulling together all nine Precepts, so here we go:

TASK AVOIDANCE

Job #1: Procrastination is key to creativity.

Avoid work on Project A by working on Project B, and vice versa.

Take breaks and let the project develop.

Always have a way to write everything down.

Come back to it later.

Don’t wait until you can do something perfectly before you begin.

Write “Abortive Attempts” at the top of your page to let the universe know that it cannot stop you from producing crap.

Produce crap. Fix it later.

GESTALT means “shape” in German.

Once you’ve started your ABORTIVE ATTEMPT, step back and see what shape it’s in. What’s missing?

Once you’ve assessed your project’s Gestalt, tweak the project. Move it closer to being finished.

Have a way to get your brain/soul/ear/eye/hand into working mode.

Create your time and space to create, then protect it.

Use the past.

Reverse engineer the artists you admire.

You have two AUDIENCES:

1. Those people out there.

2. Those people right here.

(And 3. Yourself.)

Three kinds:

1. You can come back to it later.

2. It’s ready for an AUDIENCE.

3. Failure is always an option.

Any questions? Buy the book. Or just email me. (No, really, buy the book.)