Category — inspiration

“The value of nothing? Out of nothing comes something”

Author Amy Tan talks about creativity at her TED talk. (If you’ve never watched the talks at TED, be sure to check them out … there are tons of great talks; truly “ideas worth spreading”!)

Here’s Amy Tan:

There’s a great, great, great list of tips to rejuvenate your creativity from Lifehack today. My faves: …. well all of ‘em! In a nutshell, if you’re stuck, change things up. See/experience things you don’t normally see/experience. Also, keep capture device(s) on you at ALL times (camera, notebook, etc.).

Go read the tips: 30 Tips to Rejuvenate Your Creativity

Jane Northcote has a good, blunt writeup at Copyblogger telling you to “Do it” if you are trying to get some piece of work written. My favorite is #5: Tell a large number of people you’ll do it. Trap yourself. If you’ve made a commitment to a lot of people then the shame of saying you didn’t try will outweigh the effort of doing it.

Now go read it and then get writing: Getting Writing Done: How to Stop Thinking About It and Write

Experiencing local and independent art is fun. Sometimes it is inspiring.

Once in a while, you run into a FANTASTIC piece of work. Grade “A” stuff. And that is great.

Most of the time, local and independent work is tolerable to okay, you know, like if you had to give it a grade, you’d give it a “C”. You take SOMETHING from it, but overall, it’s not so memorable or inspiring.

And then the rest of the time, you run in to stuff that is SO BAD that you are embarrassed for the artist. I’m talking about stuff that you’d give a grade of “F”, or maybe “D-” if you are feeling generous.

I’ve experienced my fair share of HORRIBLE musicals, independent movies, sketch comedy, rock bands, paintings, photography, etc. But what always happens to me when I experience this stuff is that I say to myself, “I could do 10 times better than that guy without even trying”. Even if it is an art form that I have zero experience in, I feel as if I could crank out something better than the drivel that I have just experienced. It makes me want to go home and write a movie. Or write a book. Or record a song. Or paint a picture.

Don’t get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for EVERYONE who is willing to put themselves out there and show the world their work. It often takes balls. Lots of folks who want to publish a song or write a novel or make a movie never even TRY. Usually fear stops them cold … fear of inadequacy, fear of failure, fear of ridicule, whatever. They never even try. So my hat is off to everyone who even tries.

But sometimes it is SO sad when an ambitious project that someone has sunk hours and hours and hours into is SO BAD. The good thing about experiencing this embarrassingly horrible art: it often inspires me.

So next time you’re stuck, go seek out a horrible play or indie movie or rock band. It may just give you the inspiration to produce something that is at least a “C” and who knows, you may produce an “A”.

Next time you need to be creative, go take a shower! BloggingBits.com tells you why: The Shower Creativity: How to be Uber Creative Whenever You Want

photo credit: hi_dr_rat

Nice new list to get you to pick up the pen and start producing!

…a lot of people can relate to the desire to create beautiful writing, while a lot of people lack the discipline to put the pen to the paper.
Like most goals, accomplishment comes with investments in time, in brain power, and consistent commitment.

Check it out: 9 Ways to Jumpstart Your Writing Goal

photo credit: drwhimsy

I stumbled upon a nice list of tips to trick your brain to take a fresh look at things, and maybe, spark some creative stuff at: Creative Creativity

They are:

1. The George Costanza Method
2. Change Your Commute
3. Calling Things By The Wrong Name
4. Write WIth the Wrong Hand
5. Listen to a Radio Talk Show That Pisses You Off

So go check out 5 Tips On How To Trick Your Brain Into Taking A Fresh Look At The World to get all the details!

Brad’s Reader has a good post on creativity: What Can John Lennon Teach Us About Creativity. He talks about John Lennon’s struggle to write a song and how he come up with Nowhere Man.



My takeaway is this:

• Do exercises to brainstorm and “just write” or whatever. They’re good. Gems can come out of this sort of thing.
• But sometimes you’ve got to stop and let your subconscious do your work for you. Rest or do a mundane task that needs to be done like the dishes or mowing the lawn. That’s when the great ideas often come.
• But then, it’s time to get to real work and make the idea a reality! Work it! Work it! Work it!

So, check out: What Can John Lennon Teach Us About Creativity

Copyblogger has posted three nice free resources today: Three Great Resources That
Won’t Cost You a Dime

Of particular note is the book “The Lonely Writer”, which helps writers get un-stuck, maintain focus and get the words out and down on paper. Download “The Lonely Writer” Directly Here.

Enjoy.

photo credit: badjonni

Michael Michalko

Thoughts/Words/Reviews:

THINKERTOYS will teach you how to generate new ideas for businesses, markets, sales techniques, and products and product extensions. Packed with fun and practical tools and exercises, it outlines 30 practical linear and intuitive techniques that can be used by individuals or groups to tackle and solve business problems in fresh, creative ways.

An updated edition of the best-selling business creativity book, with more than 30 brainstorming techniques and hundreds of creative-thinking tips and tricks. Revision includes new techniques, examples, and sections on group brainstorming and endgames.

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