Why It Matters

Creative work is often about being lost.Perhaps that’s what discourages folks who try their hands at making things. Our daily lives revolve around production, be it making coffee pot handles at work or making dinner at home. We check things off of our lists — we get stuff done — but creativity doesn’t always work like that.

A big chunk of time spent making creative things is expended simply wandering around. Sometimes this means truly wandering — through the woods, the city, the bookstore, wherever — and sometimes it means drifting aimlessly through your chosen medium. Musicians call it jamming, artists call it doodling, and writers call it freewriting, but it’s all the same thing: The act of sitting down with no outcome in mind and doing the work.

So if you’re giving writing a shot, don’t sweat the fact that you don’t know what the hell to write about. You aren’t supposed to know. Just show up everyday at your notebook or keyboard and wander around. Be lost, but walk a little deeper into the woods each day. Eventually a story will find you.

Anyway, “lost” songs:

“Lost in the Supermarket,” The Clash.

“Lost in the Harbour,” Tom Waits.

“Lost in Madrid, Part 1,” Miles Davis.

“Lost in Germany,” King’s X.

“Lost in America,” Alice Cooper.

“The Lost Canadian,” Leonard Cohen.

“You’re Lost Little Girl,” Siouxsie and the Banshees.

“Lost Ones,” Lauryn Hill.

So there’s a few “lost” songs from my playlist. What loving feelings might I have missed? I’m listening.