Creating in the Margins of Life

Sometimes life just takes over. The ins and outs, ups and downs, of living with a chronic condition or taking care of someone who has one simply crowds out any room for creativity. All we are left with are small spaces here and there, and most of the time, we are too tired to fill them with anything else.

After being diagnosis with epilepsy in my late 20s, I experienced several periods of time—some lasting years—where it took all the strength I had just to make it through each day. My seizures were uncontrolled until I began to recognize and deal with my triggers. During those times, any extra space I had was devoted to rest. Creativity was the furthest thing from my mind.

Even after I began to control my environment, and found medication that worked for me, I would still experience episodes from time to time that left me drained. During those years, creativity was fleeting, but at least, it was there. It came in small spurts—sometimes only a few minutes at a time—not nearly long enough to create anything tangible or worthy to be sold.

What could I write during those mere moments that was worth anything?

At first, I ignored them. What could I write or create during those mere moments that was worth anything? How long would it be before I had another moment of inspiration? But then, I began to write in what I called “the margins of life.” A little note here or there. A line of poetry. An image or even a scene.

Writing in the “margins of life” soon became a daily practice. Even when I was healthier, work and family consumed my time. I would write a few lines here and there, when I had a moment. The lines became short poems. And the short poems became longer poems until I began to see a thread flowing among the poetry. Could it be possible that a novel in verse was emerging out of my rambling poetry? Possibly, but even today, that is still yet to be seen. But some of my poems did become picture books—picture books that sold.

Lines became short poems. And short poems became longer poems until I began to see a thread emerge.

Life hits all of us, sometimes unexpectedly, in different ways. Those creative moments we have may get crowded out for a time—possibly for a season. Taking time away from creativity to rest is critical when we need it. But when a little extra space begins to appear, we can take advantage to write in those margins, even if they are very slim.

For the writer, lines will eventually form poems or scenes. For the artist, a simple sketch may turn into a painting. For the musician, measures of music transform a masterpiece. Each must start somewhere. A small piece of time may be all that is possible today and even tomorrow. But when stitched together, those rare moments can give us what we need to create the pieces to something much greater.

But when stitched together, those rare moments can give us what we need to create the pieces for something much greater.

I love having large block of time to focus on writing. But often that’s not our reality. Writing in short spurts doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m trying to discipline myself to use those short moments when they are available.

I encourage you to see what you can create in whatever time you have available—even if it’s just five minutes.

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Photo credits: Ryan Stone and Johannes Plenio on Unsplash