The Stories of Before

 The

Stories

of

Before

We don't always start out with pen and paper. We don't always start out with laptop or typewriter. As creatives those tools sometimes don't find our hands until later in life. It was my mid-twenties when I first started writing down any of my ideas.

Childhood provides many choices for where to bring physical form to our stories. Often those stories are child's interpretation of an existing character on television. I was Batman before Bale or Affleck. I fought crime and even got into an actual fight. This brings me to dressing up. Halloween costumes, old clothes and towels can come in handy when inventing your own world. Back in the 90s toy swords and guns were in abundance. You could be a warrior and cowboy at the same time. My parents made me a spear from a broom handle and piece of rubber cut to resemble a spear head. It was great for battling friends because the spearhead flattened on contact.

Another way stories begin to unfold from a creatives mind is Lego's. They provide limitless room for storytelling and if you forgive the term world building. Cities, space stations, whole galaxies can be assemble brick by brick. It all takes time and a delicate hand because if you press too hard your world will collapse in seconds.

Drawing has its limits but if you practice it enough you'll have an impressive portfolio. One picture alone can speak volumes and give your audience fuel for interpretation. I have one rule as a creative in regards to drawing and that is to not trace another's work. It's cheating.

And finally, there is the more messy items a creative on the rise can use. From playdough to sand the possibilities are really only limited by one thing. The elements. The weather can take its toll on sand while playdough (or clay) can dry out if you leave it sit unpackaged.