Random Realizations

[ladysprite]

I never thought of it in these terms, but when I was writing about game-editing a few days ago I had a realization - when it comes to hobbies and crafts, I far prefer projects that involve creating to projects that involve changing.

I like spinning and crocheting - making yarn, making the fabric of an item, worlds more than I like sewing - cutting a fabric that already exists and turning it into something else. I like cooking, but I like baking much, much more - it feels more like creating when I'm transforming random things like flour and sugar into a cake than it does when I'm just turning raw meat into cooked meat. I've tried my hand at things like altered books, but I've never felt entirely comfortable with the process as a craft.

It's an interesting way to categorize projects, and I'm kind of curious about the why. I think it mostly comes down to the fact that when I'm changing something, I always have the niggling worry that I might just wind up making things worse. That the finished product won't be as good as someone else could have made from the original material, or that it just won't be as good as the original material itself. When I'm creating something completely new, whether it's good or not, there's no original item to compare it to.

I have no idea where I'm going with, or what the point of it is, but it just occurred to me as a curious observation and something to keep in mind as I inevitably hunt down future hobbies....

Comments

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

It is interesting. I'm on the other side -- I like changing things more than I like creating them. Filks and parodies instead of songwriting; karaoke instead of singalongs, editing (and proofreading) instead of creative fiction writing. Even the tabletop games I enjoy best are ones with big pre-existing worlds that I can play around in.

[mneme]

The same, mostly. I mean, I -like- creating new things, but I'm much more likely to do so out of building blocks, and things go a lot easier once I have a template to work with--since making new things is a lot harder for me than manipulating existing things.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

You're understanding yourself, which is always useful to do.

[darxus.livejournal.com]

I think that's pretty common. At least in programming.

[metaphysick.livejournal.com]

The two things satisfy very distinct creative urges. I deal with about equal measures of both, and I can definitely see how different folks would enjoy one over the other. Hell, I like both about equally (with maybe a slight preference for creation over adjusting), but I find, at various times, that I'm more in the mood to do one or the other.

[siderea]

In the novel The Diamond Age, Stephenson discusses exactly this dichotomy to compare two characters, both computer programmers. He posits the two types as "forgers" (lamentably) who forge ahead inventing new things from scratch and "honers" who take inventions and improve and transform them.

[gmkieran.livejournal.com]

Interesting note, Siderea - I never managed to get that far in Diamond Age, apparently. I find I am pretty much your opposite on this, Ladysprite. I'm an editor at heart. I nearly always feel better about taking something that exists and improving it (imo, anyway) than trying to create something new. My creations rarely turn out as I've envisioned them, but my alterations generally make me happy. Hadn't really thought about it, so thank you for sharing your insight! :D