Many people believe creativity is a trait you're born with. It's a gift. You either have it or you don't.
This is simply not true.
Each of us is creative. It's our natural state of being. As children, we don't hesitate to use our imagination in every aspect of life. We welcome creativity and embrace it as an integral part of who we are.
Unfortunately, too many of us stifle that sense of wonder and suppress our imaginations as we grow into adulthood. Caught up in the daily grind, we forget what it was like to be creative.
Even writers suffer from this problem on occasion. We get into a slump and begin to suspect we're not as creative as we once thought.
Today, I'm going to give you three simple steps for boosting your creativity. Follow these steps and you'll soon discover how easy it is to embrace your creative nature.
Step 1
Give yourself permission to be creative. Turn off the inner voice that says "I'm not a creative person."
This sounds like a simple thing to do, but it's the most challenging step. With creativity, mindset is everything. How you talk to yourself about being creative is nine tenths of the game. Your inner dialogue matters. From now on, make an effort to only allow thoughts that affirm your status as a creative individual.
Recognize creativity in everyday activities. Realize your creative nature is present at all times, not just when you're writing.
Step 2
Respect your muse. When you get an idea, don't immediately dismiss it or tell yourself "This idea stinks. Nobody is going to want to read this." If you tell yourself over and over again that your ideas stink, your muse will decide you don't appreciate its input. It will go into hibernation and the new ideas will stop coming.
Does this mean you have to pursue every story idea that pops into your head? No. It means you accept each idea as something worth considering.
Jot down every idea in your notebook or journal, or create an idea file on your computer and add a few notes about any new ideas that come to mind. I have a Word document named "Story Ideas" on my computer. Whenever I get a new idea, I open the file and add the details. I don't worry about whether the idea seems crazy or not. I can worry about that later when I'm deciding which ideas would make great stories. I also carry a pocket-sized notebook with me at all times for making notes about new story ideas, characters, scenes, or dialogue.
Step 3
Explore new situations. Eat something you've never eaten before. Visit new places. Listen to music from artists you're never heard of.
Get outside your comfort zone. Do things you wouldn't normally do. Go for a walk in the rain. Try an activity that intimidates you.
Feed your mind. Every new experience will nourish your creative soul.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
In adults I have noticed that the more one thinks outside the box, the more the individual is creative and flowing on all levels.
When you think back to your childhood days, you are encouraged to color in the lines, restricting one’s ability to be dynamic and spectacular. I remember when I taught art to young children and one girl was chastised by other children for painting her foliage red. I encouraged her to stay true to her creative potential.
Thanks for sharing; I loved the article.
Hi Caryl,
That’s so true! It seems like our society tries to force children to conform to a specific set of standards and expectations, and any time a child demonstrates a trait outside those parameters, adults try to squash that trait before it can fully flourish. What’s sad is we then spend our adult lives having to work to recapture what we lost.
Thanks for stopping by the blog!
~ Kris
I love these suggestions. I’m going to start a “Story Ideas” file on my computer now. I currently have various scraps of paper with different story ideas lying around the house. Having them be in a centralized location with room to make additions makes much more sense.
Also, I really like the idea about straying from your comfort zone. Some of my best ideas have come from new experiences (e.g., trying Pilates for the first time, scheduling a fashion photo shoot, etc.)
Hi Allison,
Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article.
I hate to admit it but I still have scraps of paper with story ideas written on them. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to overcome that habit, especially since I write so many things in my little notebook while I’m away from the house. I eventually add those ideas to the file on my computer, but the scribbled notes tend to accumulate anyway. I envy writers who have all their notes organized into folders for plot ideas, character backgrounds, etc. I could probably reach that point if I really worked at it but it would mean sacrificing some of my writing time to spend it organizing instead.
~ Kris