Doing Life Together

Creativity is a process, not a destination.

Nevertheless, it is the hope of every artist that inspiration and creativity result in works that can be shared with others, whether it’s a new interpretation of a musical piece, or a sculpture, or a novel, or a quilt.

Still, it’s important that we aren’t so focused on the finished project that we don’t allow our creative “muscles” to exercise and develop.

So, how do we enhance our creativity?

• Daydream. When I was in elementary school, my teachers consistently had two complaints about me: I socialized too much in the classroom, and I daydreamed. I spent worktime exploring imaginary rabbit holes instead of finishing assignments. While my instructors knew I was capable of the work, that far-off look in my eyes betrayed me—I was in a different world. Though it’s not a good strategy for, say, standardized tests, daydreaming can help you answer the question “What would happen if . . . ?” in strange and startling ways.
• Find inspiration. You can draw on your own experiences, passions, and emotions, but diverse sources can also spark your imagination, so don’t think you have to sit at your desk. Go outside. Go to the mall. Haunt bookstores, museums, hiking trails, the beach. Play with your nieces and nephews. Live life. Inspiration is all around you. Seek it out.
• Make creating a daily habit. Daydreaming and refilling your well with inspiring activities (see the above bullet points) counts. But if you’re not actively making your art, at least take notes. Brainstorm ideas. Break down your big projects into achievable steps and begin work on one. Make a preliminary sketch. Write a synopsis. Jot down a few phrases that you’ll include in the lyrics of your new song.
• Utilize prompts and exercises. If you get stuck, use other’s ideas to get yourself going again. For example, the internet is full of prompts, such as these poetry prompts. Or get an instructional book for your art, and work through the exercises. You might even take a class at the local community college or adult education center. Which leads to the next suggestion. . .
• Surround yourself with creative people. Classes, workshops, conferences, clubs, and professional organizations are great ways to keep growing in your art, with the added bonus of networking with people who support each other in their creative endeavors. When you meet people whose work you admire or who give you excellent feedback on your work, build relationships. Stay in touch. Share your work, and give honest appraisals of and suggestions for their work. We all benefit from artistic communities.
• Experiment and take risks. Creativity often involves doing something nobody’s ever done before. Put a bit of yourself into the project. Do something outrageous. Break some rules. Caveat: your experiment may fail. Don’t take it personally. You may just be before your time. And that’s perfectly okay. Which leads to the next suggestion. . .
• Edit and revise. Your first version of your project will not be a masterpiece. And that’s as it should be. Don’t be in a hurry to get your baby out there. Take the time to make it better. Let it sit awhile, and look at it with fresh eyes. While you should turn off your inner critic while you are in the throes of creation, now look at your piece and identify its flaws. Do what you can to improve it, and then ask some of your most trusted peeps (from your community of creatives, see above) for feedback. Consider their opinions, and apply what resonates with you. This is a necessary part of the creative process. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Now it’s your turn. Share your thoughts in the comments below. Do you have a technique for coming up with ideas or interesting twists for your art? What do you do when you’re experiencing a scarcity of inspiration?