Ive been jotting some ideas about making stuff and that whole process in a discord message. Mainly just adding new ideas to it whenever they hit me and doing a little bit of refinement. I was thinking id organize them into something structured and not rambly but I dont think id ever do that honestly. Next time instead of writing a bunch of short ideas into one message ill fully flesh out one concept or topic separate from everything else. I do like being able to write when an idea strikes but i need more order. So heres that message going over a bunch of random ideas (also a set of screenshots i forgot about until just now):
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I like making rat mazes and watching people go through them. I like challenging my viewers, and explaining the creation of the maze and the decisions that went into it goes against the exact reason I made the maze in the first place. Paying to be able to see bits being made before theyve come out feels like paying to see an escape room being made. Sure its interesting and there is a lot to be said and talked about, and i do genuinely love talking about that stuff, but it ruins the experience of going into it blind. I spend my time crafting an experience to be gone into blind and posting wips here goes against that. I think thats why I like the post-video-bts-video thingy so much. I get to talk about all the interesting behind the scenes stuff and why I made certain choices, but I also get to enforce blind watches. Only downside is that I cant post that much while im making the video. That has been a point of anxiety for me but I think its worth holding my tongue instead of ruining the video for yall for short term anxiety relief.
Sound design is my strong suit which is really good for me. Audio is more important than visuals in terms of selling an idea. I forgot where I heard this but if someone has a bad webcam but a good mic, no one will complain. But if someone has a good webcam and a bad mic, people will crucify them. I became good at audio mainly out of necessity. Ive never been good with adding texture to what I make, stuff that isnt required but adds interest. Stuff ive made has generally been mat but hyper focused on selling its idea. Sound lets me sell ideas when my visuals couldn't.
Lighting served a similar function. A scenes lighting can tell its story just as well as animation can, so I lean into that a lot. Especially now with how many animations I want to do.
It is better to want to work and not be able to, than to not want to work but have to. This is especially useful in creative work as the former makes you value your creative work hours, while the latter gives you burnout.
Every single time i was fully confident in an idea, thought i knew all the steps; that is when i always fail and regret my time spent. When im slightly unsure and cant quite see the path, that is when im on the correct route. In any creative endeavor of mine there should be doubt (unless im in a flow state which is an entire different beast). If I see no point of issue or concern that either means the idea itself is so unoriginal it has no value or my frame of reference for the project is not where it should be. I should always have doubt because that proves that im thinking.
Whenever i dont give myself enough time to ruminate on an idea and i jump into it before i have any doubt, that is when i end up having to redo everything. Rumination is the most important part of my creative process, it gives me time to let an idea sit with me and stew over it. Find flaws with it, better ways to convey the ideas i want to convey. If i started animations as soon as i came up with them, all my animations would suck. The first idea you come up with generally isn't going to be the best idea. Or at least the best form that idea can take.