The Art of Flailing

We don’t have to have something to say in order to create. While I’m a big proponent of theatre having meaning of some kind, I personally don’t sit down to write a play and think “I have this really important message to bestow upon the world!” I sit down to write and end up flailing around for a while.

Creating a new work will more often than not involve a lot of flailing: digressions and distractions that can ultimately be trimmed away. Meaning will likely come eventually, but for me, approaching a topic with the intention to infuse a predetermined meaning presents yet another obstacle. I’m always trying to evaluate each decision I make instead of embracing the decisions and seeing where they lead.

It’s OK to not know where the thing is taking you. Give yourself permission to flail.