Writers are asked, “Where do you get your ideas?””
The thing is every one of us get ideas all the time. The difference between the creative artists and the rest? We listen. When we have an idea we think is interesting, we don’t judge whether it is a good idea or a bad one. We take it out and play with it for a while.
And don’t forget it’s all about the play. We say musicians play, not musicians work. Actors role play, not role work. When we writers forget we are playing, not working, that is when we have a case of the writer’s block.
Once we are finished playing, we are not the best judge of whether the results are good or bad. Whether it worked or not.
I once heard the screenwriter William Goldman assert the same thing. He said that making movies was always risky. No one knew whether a movie would be well-received or not. Then he told the story about a movie he wrote the screenplay for: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. After the movie was released, he and the director were walking down the street in New York City one evening. They saw this line around the block. When they found out that the line was to “Butch Cassidy”, they were surprised. Pleasantly so. But still surprised.
And when you play, accidents happen. During a session in a recording studio, Bob Dylan was working on “Like a Rolling Stone”. The musicians took a break. Al Kooper was just hanging out. During the break, he sat down at the organ and started playing around. Dylan walked back into the room and said, “That’s it.” That organ music Kooper played became the beginning of the song.
All creativity is risky. So take a chance and be brave. Nothing is more fun, and rewarding, than playing with an idea. If you don’t believe me, look at how many creatives have long lives. That kind of playing keeps us young.
And the more you listen the more the ideas come. It’s a big sandbox out here. So do yourself a favor. The next idea you have, try playing with it. Who knows? You might be just as surprised as I was when I got “Root-a-toot tavi, I’m so savvy,” I just had to play with it. Here are the results:
Root-a-toot Tavi
Root-a-toot tavi
I’m so savvy
So savvy as all
Swinging on a star
Being who I are
Having me a ball
Root-a-toot chili
Burgers on the grilly
Cook’s standing tall
Running up the hilly
Jack and Jilly
Going to the mall
Root-a-toot billy
I’m so silly
Dancing down the hall
So just look up
Drink from the cup
Spring, summer and fall
Root-a-toot wavy
Stir up the gravy
Step out for the call
Lighter feet, baby
Don’t step heavy
Do give it your all
Root-a-toot tootsy
Don’t give a hoot-sy
Go break down that wall
Kick up your boot-sy
And doodley scoot-sy
Never ever stall
Root-a-toot dabby
Be kind of fabby
John, George, Ringo, Paul
Go catch a cabby
Take a trip happy
Have yourself a ball.
How about you? Any ideas lately?
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