Journaling About Creativity, Design, and Collaboration: 15. Collective Immediate Expression

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Continuing this series, where I share one page and transcription of a handwritten journal entry.

Collective Immediate Expression

Page 15

Jamming in music is to take part

in something bigger than any one

person voice.

Anytime we gather,

we can create together.

If we find a shared purpose,

act together in a connected, caring way:

shared purpose becomes shared

action and expression.

When we trust our collaborators

and ourselves we can express ideas

quickly and see our collective work

come together.

Brief reaction to transcribing this page.

Jam sessions in music are open and flexible and can feel chaotic at times. Yet it takes only a little bit of conversation and figuring out what we want to do to get music started.

Group storytelling has similar dynamics. Figuring out what to do, discovering from watching and listening what the other players at the table do, feeling and thinking. What makes sense to add to what someone else just did? How can you play with or against their character with your character so the story you make together is one you co-author and get lost in enjoying at the same time.

I carry these functional and emotional references when I work with others.