Why Creativity is Like Soap

You start out really liking soap. What's not to like? It cleans you off, it smells good, it's enjoyable. There's so many different Kinds, and you try them all. You try lots of stuff, maybe find a few varieties you like. Then you decide, what the heck, I like it so much, I might as well do it myself.

Your first attempt at making your own soap is really when you take the remnants of all the others and smash them together, combining styles, scents, and colors in an interesting, fun, creative, but ultimately unattractive Lump of Soap.

Some people stop at this stage, because they don't think they really understand what goes into soap making and they're not worried about learning.

Some people keep going, and realize that the ugly lump just won't do. You want to make your Own Soap. For Real. So you research how it's Done. You discover the real ingredients. You look at what the master soap makers use, and you copy their recipes until you really understand soap-making through and through.

Some people stop at this stage.

But you continue, until you could make a bar of soap as well as anyone, with one hand tied behind your back.

Then, one day, you realize you're ready, really ready, to make your own original soap. No more smashing together. No more copying recipes. You know all the ingredients. You know the techniques for stirring, heating, adding scent and color and flair and oh, interesting bits of herb and oatmeal.

You, my friend, are a master soap-maker.

....hey, that kind of sounds like writing.


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