I’ve been so obsessed with writing recently that I’m completely neglecting my other creative interests. While I’m waiting for my Dragon NaturallySpeaking software to arrive so I can continue working on my novel for National Novel Writing Month, I’m going to try to reconnect with some of my other creative interests. To get inspired, I read a few articles about creativity. See if any of these get your creative juices flowing.

• 7 Habits of Highly Innovative People
  “Have you ever looked at super creative or innovative people, and felt they are special beings blessed with gifts? Have you felt that you are not as fortunate? I used to feel this way. I have since learned that creativity is more about psychology than intellect, and there are no secrets to being creative.”
  
• Do You Recognize These 10 Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking?
  “So, rather than looking for ways to inspire creativity, you should just realize the truth. You’re already capable of creative thinking at all times, but you have to strip away the imaginary mental blocks (or boxes) that you’ve picked up along the way to wherever you are today.”
• How to be Creative
  “Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you, ‘I’d like my crayons back, please.’”
• 110+ Resources For Creative Minds.
  “Tips, tutorials, exercises and inspiration from the fields of visual art, writing, photography, blogging, design and invention. Next time you’re stuck for ideas or inspiration I hope you’ll find something here to get your right brain firing.”
• Creative Thinking Hacks
  “The word creativity is frequently inflated by association, frequently appearing with overused, hype-laden words such as genius, brilliance, revolution and innovation. Hype mongers and creative intimidators throw those labels around like candy, scaring most people out of their own natural creative instincts.”
• Are you interested in reading about creativity?
  “I find people’s descriptions of their own creative processes more useful than books that suggest creativity exercises, so that’s the kind of book that dominates on my list.”
• 20 Sure-Fire Ways to Come Up With Great Ideas
  “Always be on the lookout for great new ideas, and they will come to you.”
• How to Become a Creative Genius
  “When we measure the creativity of young children, virtually all of them will record as being ‘highly creative’. However, only a small percentage of adults register as being ‘highly creative’. What happened?”
• And finally, 9 Tips to be More Creative from Here to Create
  “Many people think creativity is about having artistic skills. They say, “I can’t write, I can’t paint, and every time I take a photo I put my finger over the lens. I’m just not creative.” I say, “You can be a creative person. You are a creative person already, you just don’t know it.” Creativity is about using your imagination in every endeavor. It’s not just for artists.”

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” Scott Adams

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Posted: November 15th, 2007 under Creativity, Inspiration.
Comments: none

To distract myself from the impending frenzy of National Novel Writing Month, I’m participating in a how-to writing contest for Geeks Are Sexy.

When I was a kid, it was a bad thing to be a geek. It meant you weren’t cool, the rich kids wouldn’t talk to you, and you sat at the lunch table with the weirdos. I’ve always been a geek. But sometime in the years since then, being a geek has become chic. Being a geek means being creative, tech savvy, even cool in certain company. Posers now label themselves geeks.

Geeks come in all types, with all kinds of interests. Look around and you’ll see theater, gaming, food, computer, music, roleplaying, board game, scifi, Photoshop, martial arts, comic book, SCA, bike, programming, writing, web design, and photography geeks. Do you recognize yourself in any of these types? A geek is really just someone who is passionate about her creative interests. Geeks are intelligent, curious, and always learning. Who wouldn’t want to be a geek? So how do you become a geek?

Specialize
Pick your geek focus, the more complex the better. What do you already love to do that you feel you could never learn everything about? Look for inspiration in the things you’ve wanted to do but thought were too difficult and the things that others told you couldn’t be done. What have you always wanted to do? What would you do if you had all the time in the world?

Immerse yourself
Now, learn everything there is to know about your geek specialty. Read books and websites, subscribe to blogs and magazines, talk to others on forums and IM, find like-minded geeks in your community. The more diverse your sources of information, the more comprehensive your knowledge will be. Find a geek hero, someone who has already gone far in your specialty. Your hero can be someone you know personally or someone you’ve only read about. Find out how your hero started and emulate his path.

Learn continuously
Geeks strive to be experts in their field. No fact is too trivial, no process too complex, no endeavor too time-consuming. Identify gaps in your learning and always be open to opportunities to fill those gaps. If you really want to master your specialty, you’ll have to sink a lot of time into it. In order to learn continuously, you can’t just see your specialty as another “job.” It has to be something that you do for fun whenever you have a chance to relax.

Create
Geeks don’t just learn, they create. Geeks write software, design websites, roleplay, take photos, and write fiction. Put all your knowledge into practice, delve into the roots of your geek specialty, and create something new, exciting, and creative. Most importantly, jump in right away. Don’t wait until you’ve learned “everything” before beginning. Another way to expand your skills is by teaching. Offer your expertise when you see someone struggling with a problem you can help solve. It’s true that you can learn more by teaching than by keeping all your knowledge to yourself.

So why should you become a geek? Because geeks master their interests. Immerse yourself long enough, and you will be the expert that others come to for advice and assistance. Not always the best thing, you say? If you’re building a true specialty, you have the right to charge for it. Sell your computer, mechanical, writing, or design skills and watch all your hard work pay off. If you don’t want to start your own geek-related business, you still have the benefits of an enjoyable hobby that challenges, stimulates, and entertains.

Still not sure you’re a geek? Take the test and find out. (In case you’re wondering, I’m just a Geek at 19%.)

So what kind of geek are you? Let me know in the comments.

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Posted: October 30th, 2007 under Creativity.
Comments: 8

A post last week on the Writer’s Perspective, a Writer’s Digest blog by editor Maria Schneider, got me thinking about creative rituals. Schneider’s ritual involves generating as much stress as possible before beginning to write. “Procrastination, anxiety and outward chaos seem to be part of what it takes for me to get into the flow,” she says.

I commented that her methods are the exact opposite of what it takes to get me to write. When I get that tense, my brain just freezes and writing is the last thing I’m able to do. At those times, I know I need to reboot my brain before even trying to write. The exception is when my stress is caused by work or school, then any creative pursuit is a great way to distract myself.

The other commenters on Schneider’s blog also have interesting rituals. Some clean to procrastinate, some need to listen to music in isolation, some have to impose strict deadlines, some look over the previous day’s work before beginning, others have to get out of the house. It’s fascinating to me that other people have such different methods of creating. Thinking about the ways others write reminds me to not be so sure that I’ve discovered the “best” way for me to work.

When I first read Schneider’s post, I didn’t think I had any creative rituals. But then I remembered that I prefer to do rough drafts with pen and paper. I’m also a little picky about my pen: it has to write smoothly. But other than that, I’m pretty flexible with my writing and creating habits. I do like to have a clean workspace, but it’s not necessary. Sometimes I like music, sometimes I want quiet.

One idea I might adopt is trying to come up with a “soundtrack” to fit the character I’m writing. I can see how mood music could really get the energy flowing. On the other hand, I can see how the process of choosing music could lead to nothing but procrastination.

If you’re in a creative rut, try designing a new ritual. Get out of the house, turn on some energizing music, make a cup of tea. You may discover a whole new way of working, or you may discover that you’re flexible and can create anywhere, anytime. Either way, knowing what gets you moving will make it that much easier to sink into your work.

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Posted: October 17th, 2007 under Creativity.
Comments: none

During my morning reading, I followed a link which led me to a link, which led me to 7 Habits of Highly Defective Bloggers on Life Training Online. It’s an eye-catching headline for many reasons, such as the obvious parallels with the famous book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and the fact that everyone wants to know what’s wrong with them. It’s hard not to take a title like that personally if you’re new and unsure of yourself.

As I read the article, I realized the points were all valid and often applicable to my blog and writing in general. And yet, although I agreed, I found myself becoming defensive. Perhaps I was primarily reacting to the strong word choice, defective. The word defective has the connotation of a condition that can’t be repaired, like a defective appliance you return to the store and never see again. I would have preferred if the author had used ineffective, the opposite of the word effective in the book title he was adapting. Inefficiency can be corrected, but defectiveness leaves no room for learning and improvement.

As someone who suffers from many of the faults the author describes, I have made an effort to determine how I can learn from these examples and improve my writing.

1. Acknowledge that you need to learn.
Anyone who has begun something new has felt the nervousness that comes from being unsure of the right course of action. It’s natural to become defensive at this stage, make excuses for lack of knowledge, perhaps even blame others for setbacks. A more productive approach would be to acknowledge gaps in knowledge and experience and research the problem or approach others for help.

2. Look to those you admire.
An idea for a new project is often inspired by the success of someone we admire. But many people fall into the trap of thinking they have to reinvent the process from scratch. Rather than beginning with a blank slate, study the successes and failures of other bloggers, authors, and creators you admire. This doesn’t mean you should copy anyone else’s work. Rather, analyze what you like and dislike about their work. Try to determine their methods and piece together how you can use that inspiration to generate similar success.

3. Dedicate yourself.
With the first brilliant flash of an idea, the vision is often so clear that it seems as though the work should already completed. When reality intrudes and you see that there is a long path ahead, it’s easy to get discouraged. Remind yourself that no one ever achieved lasting success without a lot of hard work. It may be necessary to make sacrifices, work long hours, and endure setbacks. Acknowledging this from the beginning will prepare you to cope when things get overwhelming.

4. Help others.
As your experience increases, be open to ways you can help others begin. Remember how much you learned from the examples, and perhaps advice, of those who had gone before you. By teaching, you will remind yourself of the basic lessons that are so essential to be fully engaged with your work.

5. Connect with your audience.
Ask for opinions, and receive them graciously, whenever you have the opportunity. By opening yourself to others, you can strengthen the lines of communication between you and the rest of the world. Art is ultimately about connecting, and it’s vital to understand how to communicate in order to keep your voice authentic.

6. Look through another’s eyes.
Frequently take the time to view your work with another perspective. Are you writing the kind of story that you would like to read or would you think the author was being too self-indulgent, too mystical, too vague? Reflecting on this question in terms of this blog, I realized that I would like to see more posts with engaging, inspiring content. I like blogs that give me startling insights, that lead me reflect and react.

7. Let the outside world in.
When focusing intently on a project, it can be easy to ignore the rest of your life and the rest of the world, to the detriment of your creation and yourself. Periodic breaks from your work will renew your creativity and your commitment. Rejuvenate your project by spending time with family and friends and connecting with nature. Your work will be more vivid for the effort.

The most important thing to remember is that there is usually an opportunity to learn in any situation. It’s ok to make mistakes, to not get everything just right on the first try. No one who is beginning anything new is flawless in their execution. Whether you are a beginner or have a lot of experience, take all the opportunities to learn that you can.

I want to thank the author of 7 Habits of Highly Defective Bloggers for the opportunity to reflect on my writing and blogging style.

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Posted: October 4th, 2007 under Creativity.
Comments: none

Ideas come in floods or not at all. Right now the floodwaters are roiling across the surface of my serenity, lapping against the crumbling sand of my island of sanity. Every so often I’m seized by this frenzy of creativity. I want to learn everything, now. I want to do everything, now.

I read a little about blog design this weekend and all the old half-buried interests rose like zombies from their shallow graves. I want to learn to code the blog myself. I want to design the whole thing myself. I want to learn Inkscape, GIMP, take brilliant photos, and write sublime copy. Now.

Such a surge of creative frenzy is exhilarating, but I’ve learned before that I quickly drown if I don’t grab hold of one sturdy idea. One thing at a time, I scold the wild-eyed child inside me. Now, what do you want to do first? That’s the hardest thing. What to choose? I have reasons for all these desires. They’re all marketable skills if I develop them enough. Some of these things come easier than others. And other skills I’ve wanted to learn for a long time. How to choose?

I pretend I am a Zen master. I try to center, calm the demons that gnaw on me. One thing at a time. I decide I will still just write, take photos, and maybe do a little tinkering with a new blog template. I will not let myself check out a book on PHP from the library. I will not spend the whole day working through GIMP tutorials when I should be doing homework. I will breathe in, then out. I will keep my hand moving. I will write.

Think about your creative passions. What moves you so forcefully you can’t focus on anything else? Is it writing, is it starting a new business, is it design? How do you balance your life between love and duty? I have learned, with long experience, that I can’t do everything I want all at once. I need a balance.

When I wrestle with a surge of creative longing, I force myself to think in terms of time constraints. How much time do I really have to spend learning a new skill? Do I want to drop another interest to make time for the new one? I know that if I try to do everything at once, I’ll neglect the things I have to do, burn out, and end up quitting everything just to have a break. It’s a long, slow climb back up the creative mountain after that. I have, in the past, come to resent writing and other things I love because I let them take over my life. I hate how long it takes me to recover my confidence, my skill, and my voice after such a drought.

Now I realize that before leaping into anything new, I need to take the time to step back, examine my life, and choose when and where my new interest fits. Perhaps it doesn’t fit anywhere right now. So I make a note of a book to read on this topic someday. I record my thoughts in my journal. Then I let the idea go. I focus on what I choose, having faith that I’ll come back and renew my interest when the time is right.

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Posted: September 24th, 2007 under Creativity.
Comments: 2