An Interesting Conversation on "Attention Deficit Trait" at collision detection

Recently there was a great conversation in the comments section over at Clive Thompson's collision detection blog. Clive frequently posts on attention deficit related issues, and I think he and I both kind of share the notion that far from being a "problem" that impedes functionality, ADD is actually a vital part of the creative process. I've long been convinced that ADD & ADHD are really just an evolutionary adaptation to an increasing fast and complex culture.

It's all a matter of learning how to use a broader focus as a tool, without allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed. Though the condition may in fact be biological, the ability to make it work for us rather than against is very definitely a learned (and learnable) skill.

There was one common thread throughout the comments regarding "productivity vs. twitchiness" that finally inspired me to summarize my thinking on the matter in a fairly cogent fashion, which Clive even said some nice things about—*in italics* no less! Heh. Whether you're involved in creative work as an artist, entrepreneur, or hobbyist, I recommend reading the original post and the comments. I've quoted my little contribution below because it's something I've been meaning to write about here for a while, but the entire conversation over at Clive's site is really worthwhile.

The operative difference is between creativity and work. I think the reason so many people get confused about this is because most creative types regard creativity as the work they do. But actually, I'm starting to realize that's just not quite right. Creativity can be your job, but it isn't the work, exactly. Thinking of a novel is not the same as writing one. Designing a sculpture isn't the same as building one. Writing music isn't the same as playing endless sets on tour...

The twitchy brain is, I think, really where the ideas come from. But manifesting them comes from the stable brain. Let's use sculpture as an example: I might spend all day dreaming, reading, looking at pictures, bouncing ideas off people or whatever, frequently moving back and forth between tasks etc. while I'm designing something. But when it comes down to welding that puppy together, I need to be pretty focused on doing it right or some day it'll fall on someone and flatten them. Or I'll get cut or burned more than usual. or... And although I enjoy building stuff, it's certainly more labor intensive than thinking it up... And a lot of it is boring, too. No one wants to spend hours grinding down a surface or doing any of the other repetitive tasks that go into constructing a heavy piece of art. There's a satisfaction in good craftsmanship and seeing the piece come together, but most of that happens when you step back to look after a long, focused bit of work...

The thing that makes it hard to tell the two states apart is that both are completely consuming, and both generate a certain amount of pleasure. Both are necessary to get a work of art done (whether you're sweating in the orchestra pit, straining through a dance performance, tuning out your family to finish a book, or whatever).

There are people who only dream the day away and people who only work. Seems to me that people who do creative work always have to move between both camps, though, and can never really get their work done unless they spend time in both. And yeah, not just artists, but anyone doing something new or different.

2¢