201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity
Arouse your creativity Electric flesh-arrows … traversing the body. A rainbow of color strikes the eyelids. A foam of music falls over the ears. It is the gong of the orgasm. ~ Anais Nin Creativity is like sex. You sex. You fumble your way through, you get lost in it, you fall in love. Both are passionate, rhythmic, pleasurable, and flowing. Both can bear fruit. And both can rack your soul with vulnerability, bliss, fear and awkwardness. I know, I know. ast time I appeared on ! rite to "one, I was naked naked so so you#re probably thinking, $Is this woman se%&cra'ed() !ell, I do like to bare my soul
once in a while, but what I love even more is e%posing other people#s secrets. *he people I speak of are writers. *hey lust writing. !hen you#re in lust, you can be desperate to keep that feeling alive. +o when creativity goes limp, writers are the ones who know the secrets to keeping it interested. *hey know how to flirt with it, tease it and arouse it. In fact, they know hundreds of ways to get their creative freak on. Below, I#ve e%posed some of their secret tips, methods, and techniues. After all, they -ust left them strewn across the web. I lovingly picked them up, adapted and played with them. +ome are contradictory and some are in harmony. "ig in. se the ones that entice your creativity the most. If you want more, link to the source for the original -uice. Now, lie back, relax and take pleasure in these 201 provocative ways to arouse your creativity cr eativity..
Great hacks from erlin ann of !" #olders 1. Talk to a monkey. monkey. Explain what you’re really trying to say to a stue! animal. 2. "o something something important important that’s that’s very easy easy.. #. Try $ree $ree writing writing.. %. Take a shower& 'hange 'lothes. 'lothes. (ive yoursel$ yoursel$ a truly 'lean start. ). Wr Write ite $rom $rom a persona. persona. *en! *en! your voi'e voi'e to a writing personality who isn’t you. +. (et away $rom the 'omputer 'omputer.. Take Take pen an! note,ookan! go somewhere new. . /uit ,eating yoursel$ up. You You 'an’t 'reate 'reate when you $eel asswhippe!. . top visuali3ing visuali3ing 'atastro 'atastrophesphes- an! $o'us on positive positive out'omes. 4. tr tret'h et'h.. 5ay,e try try va'uuming va'uuming your your lungs.
10. A!! one ritual ,ehavior. ,ehavior. (et a glass o$ water exa'tly every 20 minutes. "o pushups. Eat a Tootsie 6oll every paragraph. A!! physi'al stru'tur stru'ture. e. 11. *isten to new musi'. Try Try something instrumental an! rhythmi' that you’ve never hear! ,e$ore. 12. Wr Write ite 'rap. 1#. 7inish something. something. 1%. Wri Write te the mi!!le. top whining over a per$e't lea!- an! write the next part or the part a$ter that. 1). "o one 'hore. weep the 8oor or take take out the re'y'ling. Try T ry something lightly lightly physi'al to remin! you that you know how to !o things. 1+. 5ake a pointless rule. You You 'an’t en! senten'es with wor!s that ,egin with a vowel. *imits 'reate $o'us an! 'hange your perspe'tive. 1. Work on the title. /ui'kly make make up 9ve !istin'tly !ierent titles. 5e!itate on them. What ,ugs you a,out the one you like least: 1. Write 9ve wor!s. wor!s. *iterally. *iterally. ;ut 9ve 'ompletely ran!om wor!s on a pie'e o$ paper. Write 9ve more. Try a senten'e. Coul! ,e a,out anything. A ,lo'k en!s when you start making wor!s on a page.
$e%uvenatin& 'ips from (oel at )ifehack 14. urr urroun! oun! yoursel$ with 'reative 'reative people. 20. "evelop a morning ritual. 21. "o an in$o!ump so your hea! is 'lear 'lear enough to 'reate 'reate instea! o$ worry. 22. <$ you’re a 'rime writer- rea! $antasy. $antasy. <$ you’re a pro!u'tivity pro!u' tivity writer- rea! something a,out sla'king o. 2#.
24. hut out the worl!. uietly. #0. Creativit Creativity y is a mus'le. Exer'ise it !aily. !aily. #1. Carry a note,ook note,ook everywhere. everywhere. #2. Wri Write te !own a list o$ i!eas an! !raw ran!om arrows arrows ,etween them. ##. <$ you’re not on a tight tight !ea!line- walk away away an! !o something 'ompletely unrelate!. #%. Create a $ramework. $ramework.
'ips from *my N& of +ikaland %+. Experien'e sights- soun!s soun!s an! smells. itting still still won’t ,ring new i!eas in& experimenting an! trying new things will. %. 5aintain a 'ertain pattern to the !ay. !ay. A morning ,ath 'an start your work with a $resh min! an! spirit. %. ot !own notes every night ,e$ore ,e! an! a'tively a'tively pla'e worries onto paper. %4. ?eep a ,ox ,ox la,ele! $or ea'h pro=e't. Toss Toss everything everyt hing in the ,ox- an! !on’t worry a,out mispla'ing things or i!eas. )0. ?ee ?eep p a !ierent sket'h,ook $or !ierent !ierent topi's an! i!eas. )1. Try an! 9n! the pattern ,etween things- an! 'onne't the !ots ,etween ran!om things =ust $or $un.
)2. ;ra'ti'e- pra'ti'e- pra'ti'e. pra'ti'e.
an Goodwin-s akeful ays at * /i& Creative es e s )#. *et your min! min! wan!er an! 'ome up with whatever whatever it wants to. )%. Wake up ten minutes early- then go ,a'k to sleep an! !ream. )). 7o'usi 7o'using ng entirely on one sense. Creative stimulation stimulation 'omes through our senses. )+. ually won!er$ul- i$ not more so- again.
* few rules from teve +avlina +0. "e9ne a 'lear purpose. ague ague intentions !on’t trigger the 8ow state. +1. uires tools su'h as a 'omputer- guitar- or pen'il. You Y ou must a'hieve a'hieve ,asi' 'ompeten'y 'ompeten'y.
ld #ashioned *dvice *dvice from irko of esi&ner aily +. Clean up your working working spa'e. Even i$ you are are not a 'leaning a!!i't- a ti!y !esk helps to 'reate a $resh start. +. (o =ogging. 6unning 6unning is a great way to re$resh re$resh your ,rain. The eort will will also ,ring satis$a'tion. satis$a'tion. el$esteem el$esteem is goo! $or 'reativity. +4. "rink a ,eer with your ,u!!ies. Feing happy will make make you more pro!u'tive. pro!u'tive.
Creative encoura&ement from (acob Cass at (ust Creative esi&n 0. 5in!map. Whether you use key key wor!s- images- 'olours'oloursa hierar'hy system- num,ers- outlines- 'ir'les or ran!om wor!s- min!mapping gets your 'reative =ui'es 8owing. 1. 7in!ing inspiration in what other people have !one an! what has su''ee!e! Gor $aile!H is a great way to get your $eet o the groun! again. 2. Take a moment to !o something that makes you happy& that ,rings you =oy& that you love& that 'enters you. #. (ive gratitu!e. Thinking Thinking a,out all the things you are grate$ul $or pro!u'es a positive energy 8ow an! vi,ration. %. Fe in the moment. Athletes Athletes 'all this I,eing in in the 3oneI. (ive $ull attention to whatever you are !oingJ eatingwashing !ishes- making your ,e!. ). 7lip through a ,ook 'ontaining 'ontaining thought provoking provoking images. +. (o to an art gallery. gallery. . ;ra'ti'e asking yoursel$ how to !o something !ierently. !ierently. . Fe @pen. Kever shut !own or =u!ge any i!ea that 'omes your way way.. 4. Think on ;aper. ;aper. With a ,un'h o$ loose paper- start =otting i!eas !own.
*rtistic techni3ues from 4aren aniels at aniels at rite to one 0. (et some 'rayons an! warmup your 'reativity 'reativity.. (et a pie'e o$ paper an! !raw a totally useless pi'ture o$ nothing at all. 1. When you $eel !one- use a 'rayon 'rayon to prou!ly sign sign the pi'ture. pi'tur e. Kow- put your pi'ture in a spe'ial $rame an! hang it on the wall. 2. Kame the 'olors in a ,ox ,ox o$ 'rayons. Kame them with a,an!on- using wor!s like s>uashe!peagreens>uashe!peagreen- severe! arm,loo!re!- or !an'ing$airysilver. #. Kext time your writing writing gets stu'k- pull out your 'rayons an! look at the 'olors. 6emem,er the names. Write a $ew silly senten'es. Then keep going.
5nspiration from (ennifer oline on oline on #uel o our ur Creativity %. Take it out!oors. The ,est inspiration is o$ten $ree. (o $or a hike. Take your laptop to a park. *ook all aroun! you. oak up your surroun!ings. ). Lea! to a 'a$M. There’s There’s a reason homeoN'e $olks $olks !on’t always work $rom home& they 'rave other humans. A 'hange in surroun!ings 'an re'harge your ,rain. +. (et some training. Kot only 'oul! you learn learn something new- ,ut it’s also an ex'ellent opportunity to network. . olunteer olunteer.. (etting your han!s !irty $or a goo! 'ause 'an ,e the sour'e o$ more inspiration than you’! ever imagine.
Guidance from *lison otluk on New cientist . Em,ra'e your inner grou'h. "is'ontent "is'ontent may =ust ,e a vast- untappe! sour'e o$ 'reativity. 4. *et your min! wan!er. wan!er. A wan!ering min! may allow your ,rain to sear'h more wi!ely $or 'onne'tions that 'oul! trigger a Deurek Deureka a moment. 40. ;lay an instrument. instrument.
41. Colour your worl! worl! ,lue.
'he dirt from (oel $eyes on $eyes on esi&n $evive 4). Aim at ,eing uni>ue- not or!inary. or!inary. (o right past the !ull. 4+. Cataloging your i!eas is pro!u'tive pro!u'tive ,e'ause it allows you to go ,a'k an! take a se'on! gan!er while viewing your i!eas on mu'h larger s'ale. 4. Pse visual stru'turing. stru'turing. (etting your paper an! an! pen'il out not only lets you see your i!eas on a physi'al level- ,ut it will make you $eel like a ki! again. 4. <$ all else $ails- keep working. working. ome in!ivi!uals work ,etter as they rea'h their ,reaking point- they ex'el an! take 8ight in the har!est o$ times.
+erfect insi&hts from i&&y on Goodlife 6en 44. top ,eing Gother people’sH per$e't. per$e't. The expe'tation o$ making something per$e't uses up emotional energy that you 'oul! put to mu'h ,etter use ,eing 'reative an! artisti'. 100. 10 0. Ask As k you yours rsel el$$ i$ i$ you you’r ’re e !oi !oing ng it $o $orr the the ri righ ghtt rea reaso sons ns.. Even i$ you are not the ,est in the worl! at something- i$ you are really passionate a,out it- your passion 'an ,e an inspiration an! motivation $or others.
7ow8to-s from ark cGuinness of )ateral *ction
101. 10 1. "on’ "o n’tt pla plan. n. ;l ;lan ans s ar are goo goo! ! $or $or ,u ,uil il!i !ing ngss- sa savi ving ngssexer'ise. Fut there 'omes a point when it’s time to $a'e the stage- the page- the 'anvas or the ,lank s'reen. 102. *et go. You hear! me. *et goQ 10#. 10 #. tar t artt $oo $ooli ling ng ar arou oun! n!.. pl plas ash h the the pa pain intt on. on. ' 'ri ri,, ,,le le the wor!s !own. ing. 10%. 10 %. Koti Ko ti'e 'e wh when en yo you u su surp rpri rise se yo your urse sel$ l$.. ?ee eep p pl play ayin ing g aroun! aroun ! with that one goo! ri until you 9n! the next one growing out o$ it. 10). 10 ). (et goo oo! ! am ama3 a3in ing g $ee $ee!, !,a a'k 'k.. "on "on’’t se sett ttlle $or $or every!ay 'ompliments. 10+. 10 +. En=o En =oy y no nott kn know owin ing. g.
* little advice from (ulia . )indsay of ur )ittle /ooks 10. 10 . Lave La ve 'l 'lea earl rly y !e !e9n 9ne! e! go goal als. s. Th This is wi will ll he help lp !i !irre' e'tt your attention to a purpose$ul out'ome. 10. 10 . Lave La ve ,a ,ala lan' n'e e ,et ,etwe ween en yo your ur sk skil ills ls an an! ! 'h 'hal alle leng nges es.. Too T oo easy- you’ll you’ll ,e ,ore!. Too har!- you may $eel $rustrate!. 104. 10 4. Avoi oi! ! mu mult lti ittas ask kin ing. g. uipment you nee!- a!=ust the temperatur temperature e an! make sure the noise level is optimal. 112. 11 2. A!= !=u ust yo you ur go goal als s as you yourr sk skil ills ls in' n'rrea ease se.. 11#. 11 #. Avoi oi! ! eng enga agi ging ng in min min!l !les ess s ta task sks s su su'h as T. 5in!less a'tivities are usually passive an! !e'rease 8ow experien'es.
ne trick from (ames Chartrand of en with +ens
11%. 11 %. ust u st say s' s'rrew it it.. Wh What < !o !o kno know w is is th that eve verryo yon ne gets =amme! sometimes- even the pro writers you look up to. An! when that =am happens- it’s important to remem,er that no one $orgets how to write well.
9nblockers from /rian Clark of Copyblo&&er 11). 11 ). Avo voi! i! lo logi gi'a 'all thi think nkin ing. g.
otherly advice from ichelle itton of cribbit
12). 12 ). ;ra ra't 'ti' i'e e thi think nkin ing. g. Th Thin ink k a,o a,out ut th thin ings gs an an! ! $or $ormu mula late te some opinions. They may ,e right- they may ,e wrong,ut < ,et they’ll ,e interesting. 12+. 12 +. Pse Ps e li li$e ma mark rker ers s $or $or i!e !eas as.. @l @l! ph phot oto os- $a $am mil ily y stories- a =ournal entry- a souvenir $rom a trip- a 'olle'tion you love or a pie'e o$ 'lothingOi$ you’ve save! it $or a reason there is most likely a story there. 12. 12 . *oo ook k at yo your ur li li$e $e as i$ yo you’ u’rre a st stra rang nger er.. (o (oo! o! writing is ma!e up o$ !etails so learn to see the !etails o$ your own li$e. 12. 12 . *oo ook k at at wha whatt ins inspi pirres ot othe herr peo peopl ple’ e’s s 'r 'rea eati tivi vity ty an an! ! then put your own personal spin on it. Fut whatever you !o make it your own an! ,ring your own li$e an! talents to the task. 124. 12 4. 5ak 5a ke lis lists ts.. Wh What ar are e you yourr $av $avor orit ites es: : 7oo 7oo!s !s-- 'ol 'olor orss8owers- 'ars- games- ha,its: What are your pet peevesyour thrills or your $avorite va'ation spots: Pse lists to spark an i!ea an! run with it.
os and on-ts from +aul 5ndi&o of /eyond the bvious 1#0. 1# 0. "on’ "o n’tt sit sit an an! ! wri write te li list sts s o$ o$ i!e i!eas as.. All All yo you’ u’rre !oi !oing ng is intelle'tual $oreplay an! pussy$ooting aroun! the pro,lem. You’re not !ealing with it hea! on. 1#1. 1# 1. "on’ "o n’tt giv give e up up an! an! si sitt sul sulki king ng in th the e 'or 'orne nerr. oo oone nerr or later you’re going to have to 'ome out. You’re =ust prolonging prolongi ng the pain. 1#2. 1# 2. "on on’’t 'om 'ompa parre you yourr wor work k to to oth other er pe peop oplles es’’. Everyone is uni>ue. You have to 9n! your own 'reative voi'e. 1##. 1# #. "on on’’t 'ho hoos ose e th the e 'om ompa pan ny o$ !o !ou u,t ,ter ers s an an! ! negative people. They will =ust pull you !own. 1#%. 1# %. "o pi' pi'k k up up you yourr 'am 'amer era a Go Gor you you pe pen nH an an! sta starrt taking pi'tures Gor writingH o$ anything an! everything. @ne i!ea will lea! to another. 1#). "o se set yo yoursel$ an an a' a'hieva,le ta target. 1#+. 1# +. "o 'h 'hal alle leng nge e 'o 'onv nven enti tion ons s an an! ! th the e no norrm. Ch Chal alle leng nge e everything you’ve learnt. 1#. 1# . "o thi think nk in ter term ms o$ o$ opp oppo osi sittes es-- 'on 'on8 8i' i'tts an an! interesting interesti ng =uxtapositio =uxtapositions. ns.
1#. 1# . "o rea eali li3e 3e an an! ! rem remem em,e ,err tha thatt all all 'r 'rea eati tive ves s $ee $eell the the same as you !o $rom time to time an! some o$ the most su''ess$ul are !riven $orwar! ,y tremen!ous sel$ !ou,t. Turn T urn the negative negative $eelings into into positive sel$ motivation. motivation. 1#4. 1# 4. "o su surrrou oun! n! yo your urse sel$ l$ wi with th pe peop ople le th that at ,e ,eli liev eve e in you an! want you to su''ee!. This kin! o$ support makes a worl! o$ !ieren'e.
*n abundance of ways from arelisa #:bre&a of *bundance *bundance /lo& 1%0. top se'on!guessing yoursel$. 1%1. 1% 1. Expe peri rime ment nt wit ith h !i !ie erren entt me me!i !iaJ aJ mus usii'photography- writing or !rawing. 1%2. 1% 2. 6ea ea! ! on one pag page e o$ o$ the the !i !i't 'tio iona narry eve everry !a !ay an an! write !own any wor!s that 'at'h your attention. 1%#. 1% #. how h ow up ev even en i$ you you’’re not not $e $eel elin ing g 'r 'rea eattiv ive. e. 1%%. 1% %. uotes.
#ood for thou&ht from 4risten #ischer on on #reelance witch 1)2. 1) 2. ett asi e asi!e !e a !a !ay y. Fy ma maki king ng ti time me to !e !evo vote te on one e !a !ay y to your pro=e't o$ 'hoi'e- you may ,e a,le to un,lo'k everything ,y $o'using on =ust one task.
1)#. 1) #. Alte Al terr yo your ur at atmo mosp sphe herre. Try pu putt ttin ing g up so some me ne new w art- rearranging the $urniture or 'learing out some 'lutter. 1)%. 1) %. Fatt Fa ttle le th the e ,la ,la,, ,,er er.. Ex Exam amin inin ing g th the e psy psy'h 'hol olog ogy y o$ $eeling ,lo'ke! ,lo'ke! may help you to un,lo'k- an! yeswriting a,out it 'an help you to untangle some knots insi!e an! ,e a,le to 9nally- 9nally 'reate. 'reate.
ome %uicy tips from 'om alker on $obseb'ips 1)). 1) ). Lypn Ly pnos osis is.. Al Alth thou ough gh so some me pe peop ople le may ,e sk skep epti ti's 's-hypnosis an! other $orms o$ me!itation 'an ,e per$e't $or relaxing the min! an! ,o!y an! getting your 'reative =ui'es to running running $reely. $reely. 1)+. 1) +. Tim imer er 'h 'hal alle leng nge. e.
+ositive thou&hts from 7enrik ;dber& of 'he +ositivity /lo&
1)4. (enerate a ,oatloa! o$ i!eas. 1+0. 1+ 0. Tak ake e a tr triip out outsi si!e !e yo your ur per erso sona nall ,u, ,u,,l ,le. e. 1+1. 1+ 1. Crit Cr iti' i'i3 i3e e la late terr- or so some me pa part rt o$ yo your ur mi min! n! ma may y $e $eel el threatene! an! shut up an! with!raw. 1+2. 1+ 2. Fuil Fu il! ! it. it. *i *ik ke so so man many y thi thing ngs s in in li$ li$e e 'r 'rea eati tivi vity ty is a ,it like li$ting weights. <$ you train- over time you’ll ,uil! your 'reative mus'les. 1+#. 1+ #. lee l eep p le less ss.. Wh When en < $ee $eell a li litt ttle le gr grog oggy gy an an! ! sl slee eepy py-the wor!s start 8owing out o$ my 9ngers when < sit !own
to write.
/lack and white tips from (ody Cle&horn at Cle&horn at rite *nythin& 1+%. 1+ %. Arri Ar rive ve la late te an an! ! lea leave ve ea earl rly y. (et (et st stra raig ight ht to the the heart o$ the narrative. 1+). 1+ ). *ea earrn to sa say y no noBn Bno o wa wayB yBgo go $S $S'k 'k yo your urse sel$ l$ ,e ,e'a 'aus use e no one else will stan! up $or your work. 1++. 1+ +. (o ou outt an an! ! liv live e yo your ur li li$e $e.. "o no nott al allo low w yo your urse sel$ l$ to ,e'ome stu'k in a hole o$ your own 'reativity. 1+. 1+ . 5ak 5a ke up up th the rul rules es $or what you wan antt to to pr pro!u !u' 'e. 1+. 1+ . Wor ork k on on sev sever eral al pr pro= o=e' e'ts ts.. Thi This s kee keeps ps yo you u ene enerrgi gi3e 3e! ! an! working 'reatively even when one pro=e't isn’t 9ring. 1+4. 1+ 4. Try to wri write te ev ever ery y !a !ay- ev even en i$ =us ustt $or $or a $ew $ew minutes. 10. Write si simply an an! vi vivi!ly. 11. 1 1. "on’ "o n’tt hol hol! ! ,a ,a'k 'k an an! ! !o !on’ n’tt pr prot ote' e'tt you yours rsel el$$. ay ay things no one else has sai! ,e$ore. 12. Colla,orate with new people. 1#. 1 #. Cult Cu ltiv ivat ate e a 'o 'omm mmun unit ity y o$ o$ wri write ters rs.. Wri Writi ting ng 'a 'an n ,e ,e a lonely enterprise- ,ut it !oesn’t nee! to ,e O other writers un!erstan! where you are- what you’re thinking an! $eeling.
imple advice from )eo /abauta of 6en 7abits 1%. ;lay. 1). 1 ). "on on’’t 'on 'onsu sum me an an! 'r 'rea eatte at at th the e sa same tim ime e separate the pro'esses. 1+. hut out the outsi!e worl!. 1. 6e8e't on on your li li$e an an! wo work !a !aily. 1. 1 . *oo ook k $or $or in insp spir irat atio ion n all all ar arou oun! n! yo youu- in th the e sma small lles estt pla'es. 14. tart small. 10. 1 0. ust u st get it ou out- no mat matte terr how how 'r 'rap appy py th that at 9rst !ra$t. 11. 1 1. "on’ "o n’tt try try $o $orr pe per$ r$e' e't. t. u ust st ge gett it it ou outt th ther eree- as asap ap-an! get $ee!,a'k. 12. Constantly make it ,etter.
1#.