The #CreateMore Manifesto

I, {your full name}, of reasonable mind and questionable body do joyously swear on this {DD} day of {month}, in the year of {YYYY}, for a period of no less than 90 days, to #CREATEMORE

and

I herewith agree to the following life-changing stipulations insofar as having no frickin clue where this path will lead forthwith, but trusting it will be a fascinating journey of creation, learning, and metamorphosis:

1. Create. Every day. Without exception.

I may attempt to master one craft, or dabble with many—music, painting, dance, sketch comedy, writing, filmmaking…the form matters not. It is the daily act of creation to which I attest.

I commit myself to a minimum of 20 minutes per day to create—time which I am obligated to find and protect (without excuse) by giving up a sitcom, skipping a shower, or not hitting the snooze button. At my discretion, this span may be protracted but never rescinded.

In other words, I am free to take longer but never shorter. If I should happen to faulter, lapse or ‘fall off the horse’, I will get right back up into that saddle notwithstanding injury and continue from where I left off, never looking back in shame.

also

I will mark my progress in the manner of my choosing until I have reached at least 90 consecutive days for a minimum total of 30 hours. By this point my pledge will have become a daily creative habit.

2. Share. Raw work. With everyone.

I pledge to publish my progress daily in some form—be it images, video, or sound—for public scrutiny. I am accountable to the greater community as they are witness to my commitment.

What I create is not precious. I will learn humility and gratitude while overcoming fear. Sharing unfinished and unrefined work-in-progress will be trying at times, but I choose to feel uncomfortable because it means I am alive and doing something important. I do not create to be adored, I create because it is what connects me to my humanity.

moreover

Distribution platforms include but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, Instagram, Vine, Medium, Wordpress, Soundcloud, Dribbble, or Bēhance. I will not judge my own work, nor evaluate it based on comments, likes, or shares.

I will think of the world as a documentary film crew: omnipresent and always in my way. But hopefully I will get used to them and relax enough to be myself. I want to watch closely, but not too close — I don’t want to affect the observed.

3. Evolve. And adapt. To myself.

I promise to let my work change naturally into what it wants to be. It will mean letting go AND it will mean buttoning down. I want to surprise myself once in a while.

I will try to work under any condition, not solely in my sacred space with the cool desk, but in the real, messy, unpredictable world—the one that would happily gobble-up all of my ‘free’ time. I will learn how to create on a bus, or while changing a diaper, or even when I’m stressed out about my real job.

furthermore

I will attempt to be calm and present and myself while creating (unless of course that isn’t my style). If I should ever worry that my style is adrift, I need only look to Picasso’s Blue Period, Rose Period, African-Influenced Period, Cubist Period, and Classic & Surrealist period for reassurance. It is okay to shift and explore different phases.

Who am I? What will I become? What will I make? Let’s find out as I pledge to #CreateMore!

Follow me at {insert #createmore project URL}.

Now make your own pledge at https://medium.com/p/3f64b6337c32.