Comments on: Are You a Content Consumer, Creator or Collaborator?

By: Betty Slade

Betty Slade — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:47:24 +0000

Paul, your blog was a new thought, but when you presented the question, I realized I was doing what you said. I am with Kristen, I wrote a novel, handed it to someone else to read it. She brought it back, said it was anointed, and I needed to finish it, and now. That propelled me to finish it, a editor came along and said she could make it better, I've met with her for the past 6 months, (couldn't hurry the project, even though I wanted to.) Then a market coach came along and is putting it out in the market. I read about a self-publishered author who said how he made his work a best seller, then my Bible Study group gathered around the book to tell me what they liked about it, and asked questions, now I'm calling on the editor of the newspaper I write a column for, he is endorsing it along two other big names in Christian and literary circles, I had a friend tweak my book cover, next I'm telling all my readers in my weekly column in the newspaper about the book.

I'm saying all this, because in the past, I've flown solo, and I didn't have the support when I finished the product. This project is different, I haven't had to beg, steal or borrow. People see the worth of this work and have come along side to help. I truly believe the Holy Spirit is on this work, and the body of Christ is functioning as it should.

I couldn't have done it without all the people who have come along side, So I guess I could say I am a collaborator.
Just a tip. If you are collaborating, you have to have a teachable spirit, you have to trust those who know more than you do. I've had some big alpha dogs working on this book, I've learned when to let them rip it to shreds and when to stand. It is working like the Body of Christ is supposed to work.

I'm hitting the button on Lulu.com today, and it is going to press. It will be printed within the next ten days and will be out there as a work I am most proud of, and I can't take the credit. Look for it, Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene, by Betty Slade.
Keep up the good work Paul. I'm one of your followers

By: PaulSteinbrueck

PaulSteinbrueck — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:19:35 +0000

In reply to Kristen Stieffel. Kristen, that's an excellent perspective. It's important to understand in a creative project when we need input from others and in what kind and then also when need to work on our own.

By: Kristen Stieffel

Kristen Stieffel — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:30:05 +0000

I think all three are important. You have to study — consume information — to get the raw materials for the creative process. And to a certain extent, big parts of the creative process need to be done alone. But we do need to get around others and bounce ideas off them to get the most out of them. I'm a novelist, and I would hate to write my novel by committee. But I'm also an editor, so I know at some point you have to hand the work off to someone else for feedback. For example, I recently heard back from a beta reader who had some good ideas about how I can make one of the more implausible elements of the story more believable. But I created the first draft sitting alone in my little room, and much of what's in it is based on information I've consumed over the years.

By: PaulSteinbrueck

PaulSteinbrueck — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:47:35 +0000

In reply to Meredith Gould. Meredith, I'd call the #ChSocM chats real-time collaboration. We don't chat with a specific project or outcome in mind, but it's a great place for hunches and "half ideas" (as Steve Johnson calls them) to collide and sometimes some great ideas come out the other side. Plus relationships are formed that sometimes do lead to more specific, intentional project collaboration down the road.

By: PaulSteinbrueck

PaulSteinbrueck — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:40:17 +0000

In reply to Don Ford. Thanks for clarifying, Don. Glad to hear you are collaborating. :)

By: Meredith Gould

Meredith Gould — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:31:20 +0000

Agree! IMO, what makes social media so powerful is the opportunity for real or near-real time collaboration. Posting useful content can be, uh, useful but it doesn't build community or, by extension, the Kingdom of God.

By: Don Ford

Don Ford — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:58:42 +0000

Sorry Paul, I jumped the Gun saying I was solely a creator. Better to have said I'm a Storyteller, but I also join blog areas and I link with other Creatives to share ideas and to try and solve the minor problems in life. The big issues sit squarely in the laps of the Big Guys out there who are also getting the big bucks – not that they are all doing such a smash job of coming up with answers that work for everyone. Cheers, Don