95His reference is to Seymour: An Introduction by J.D.
Salinger. Seymour is writing a letter to his brother
Buddy, who has chosen to become a professional writer.
Seymour tells his brother that writing has always been
more than a profession, that it has been more like
Buddy’s religion. He says that Buddy will be asked two
very profound questions when he dies about the writ-
ing he was doing: 1) “Were most of your stars out?”; and
2) “Were you busy writing your heart out?”
Terry Hill’s advice to his audiences on the subject of
creativity is to make sure you “get your stars out.” This
is another way of saying let the stars that are in you
shine freely. Don’t force them out. Just let them shine.
Although Hill’s audiences are usually advertising
people and writers, his recommendations apply to all
of us. Our lives are ours to create. Do we want to create
them in a lackluster way or do we want to be inspiring?
When we write our plans and dreams, we need to write
our hearts out. In shooting for the stars, it’s time to get
a bit wild. Wild hearts can’t be broken.
44. Just make everything up
Sometimes in my seminars I will ask the people in
the audience to raise their hands if they think of them-
selves as “creative.” I’ve never had more than a fourth
of the audience raise their hands.
I then ask the people how many of them were able
to make things up when they were younger—make up
names for their dolls, make up a game to play, make up
a story for their parents when the truth looked less
promising.
All hands go up.
So, what’s the difference? You made stuff up as a
child, but you’re not a creative adult? The difference is
Just make everything up