Thoughts on creativity and composing

I posted this on the TAXI forum on a thread titled "How do you compose?".

Embrace the idea that you are always creating, no matter what you are doing.

The actual bringing the final product to life in the physical world is probably the smallest part of the process (although it might not feel like it sometimes!). I believe we bring the sum total of who we are to bear in every moment, to a greater or lesser degree, and that applies to writing as well. The best writers are able to tap in to that and have practiced and honed their writing chops so they have some modicum of that life experience available to them at all times.

We never stop creating, and just accepting that for yourself will help you be able to be creative at the drop of a hat. Jazz musicians know this process intimately because improvisation is the whole purpose of jazz. The river of music is always flowing and learning to swim in it is a lifetime process, but it's there and available, even when you're sleeping.

Beethoven used to take walks. He would walk and hum and had a pencil and paper with him at all times. When I get "stuck", I'll go out and walk up a hill (not hard to find in my neighborhood in SF!! :) ) and invariably the solution to my musical problem will reveal itself (not comparing myself to Beethoven, just borrowing his walking technique). For me, the process of doing something different allows my mind to open up and find the solution. I"m composing even if it doesn't look like I am!