Photo courtesy of Hamed Saber 5 Inspiration Hacks for Creative People
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Ben Cook of BloggingExperiment.com.
“I think writer’s block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if you sit down at the keys long enough, sooner or later something will come out.” - Roy Blount Jr.
The most common problem faced by anyone trying to create something (including bloggers), no matter what their subject or level of experience, is lack of inspiration. Sure, some of us will suffer from it more often than others but there is no avoiding it. Sooner or later you’ll find yourself in a creative desert struggling to write something … anything that doesn’t come across dry and lifeless. For this reason, I’ve compiled this list of 5 Inspiration “Hacks” for bloggers and other creative types to help get you through the dry spell.
Magazines
Blogging has been progressing more and more towards the magazine style of writing. This progression is really quite natural considering the skill sets needed to be successful in each venue. Both blogs and magazines need attention grabbing headlines, topics people care about, and content that will keep readers reading. A lot of bloggers think of magazines as “old school” media with nothing to offer, but magazine writers and editors have been honing their skills for years and are experts when it comes to grabbing and holding readers’ attention.
Copyblogger’s Brian Clark has written about pulling inspiration for posts from magazines and I couldn’t agree more. If you find yourself searching for ideas, stop banging your creative head into the proverbial wall, go to the store, and purchase a couple of magazines. While just about any magazine will do, I’d suggest buying at least one that you wouldn’t normally read. Creativity is about bringing a fresh or new perspective to a topic and if you’re struggling, you need get outside your usual set of influences. If you’re a sports guy, pick up a photography mag. If you’re an animal person, grab a copy of Car and Driver. If you’re a baby boomer, consider buying the magazine 17. Sure the content might not be something you’d enjoy but the point is to get your creative juices flowing and learn from the magazine’s style of writing. I mean, just look at all the post ideas Copyblogger pulled from a single issue of Cosmo!
Movies
Just like magazines and blog posts, movies need to be compelling and the best ones almost always center around a gripping story. Everyone’s tastes are different, but I’ve found films such as Rudy, The Pursuit of Happyness, or my personal favorite, Finding Forrester, to be incredibly helpful in helping me break through that creativity barrier. You may not like any of the movies I just listed but I’m willing to bet there’s a movie out there that somehow inspires you. Maybe it’s the story of a person overcoming all the odds, or perhaps its a movie that reminds you why you love the topic you blog about. Whatever the case, the point is it’s a movie that inspires you that is exactly what we’re after.
Here are a couple of practical notes for you if you decide to use movies as your source of inspiration. In the DVD age most movies include the trailers or previews that the studio put out to promote the movie you’re watching. These are basically the attention grabbing scenes and are the movie equivalent of a headline or title and I’ve found they can be very helpful. Also, once the inspiration for a post hits you, pause the movie and go write. Don’t wait until the movie is over, get writing right away. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a great idea for a post half way through the movie, only to forget it by the time I sat down to write it after the movie ended.
Books
Books are another great but affordable source of blogging inspiration. For example, I’ve recently picked up a copy of The Big Moo edited by Seth Godin with contributions from 33 people including Guy Kawasaki, Mark Cuban, and several other great business minds. The entries are very short and probably would all make great posts but the bigger point is that they inspire me. They stir up my vision of having a remarkable blog and immediately get me thinking about different ways to achieve that goal. The book Good to Great is another example. While reading it you can’t help but think about how you can transform whatever it is you’re doing right now into something great. The same goes to Steve Kaplan’s Be the Elephant. Granted my blog doesn’t exactly match the types of businesses he talks about, but the principles drive me to want to do something right now to improve my blog.
When it comes to blogging, that’s precisely the mindset you need to be in to generate creative and high quality posts. Countless people, including myself, have talked about the importance of having remarkable content but it’s a point that really can’t be emphasized enough. High quality content not only makes sure your readers will keep coming back, but it acts as natural link bait as well. Again, people’s tastes in literature are often quite different but as long as the book makes you want to get out of your chair and go DO something, it will serve it’s purpose. Remember, inspiration is the goal here, a good book is just a tool to help you get there.
Tabloids
Half of you probably scoffed just reading the word tabloid, but the truth is, that just like magazines, they can be a great source of inspiration. No, I’m not suggesting you write about how you were abducted by aliens or claim to have a three headed child. However, if every post on your blog had titles as captivating as the tabloids, you’d be well on your way to a very successful blog.
Think about it, how many times have you found yourself reading the cover page of the National Enquirer or something like that? Sure you know it’s a bunch of crap but you read it anyway don’t you? In blogging, half the battle is getting people to read your post, and a great headline will help you win that battle every time. Study the headlines in whatever version of the tabloids you happen to pick up and figure out what makes them appealing. Why do people read, or more importantly buy, these kinds of publications?
However, unless you’re hoping people equate your blog with tabloid journalism, make sure you also study aspects of the stories you should avoid. For example, what effect would it have on your blog if all your stories turned out to be lies? What would the repercussions be if your headlines were obviously unbelievable? And besides, now you’ll have an excuse to buy one the next time your at the super market… it’s research!
Art
The last source of inspiration is one that you might not immediately think of in relation to blogging. However, anyone that’s ever stood in front of a beautiful painting or a breath-taking photograph or an amazing sculpture will tell you, it can truly be an inspirational experience. Once again, art is something that is incredibly subjective but for me personally, art inspires me in two very distinct manners. First and foremost, it illustrates just what is possible, given enough time and dedication to your craft. The images that people are able to create out with just a few tools is almost incomprehensible to me. The fact that people can create things like the the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or Monet’s Water Lilies from within themselves is incredible to me.
The other important aspect of art is that it gets the creative part of the mind working. Scientists have found that the right side of your brain is the area that controls creative functions like imagination, etc. They’ve also found that many activities involving art and music cause us to use that more creative side of our brain. If you’re struggling with blogger’s block and can’t seem to come up with any suitable ideas for a post, art might very well kick the right side of your brain into gear and allow you to be more creative in your thoughts and writings.
To be honest, you could probably gain these benefits by simple pulling up images online but it’s never a bad idea to step away from your desk every now and then. Most major cities have an art museum and even if you’re not in a major city, I guarantee there’s an art driven organization in your community. Research also suggests that certain types of music can have the same benefit to creativity so if nothing else, go buy a cup of coffee and listen to a live band. Better yet, buy a sketch book and give drawing a shot. Whatever method you choose, it won’t take long for that artistic inspiration to spill over into your blogging.
What Else?
What other sources of inspiration do you use? Are there certain activities you’ve found that help you be more creative with your posts? Have you tried any of the ones I listed here? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences. Whether it’s to agree, disagree, or even share other movies or books you find particularly inspiring, please feel free to chime in with a comment below.
Ben Cook writes the BloggingExperiment.com blog. Follow Ben’s quest to generate a full time income from his blog in just one year’s time by subscribing to his RSS feed.
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- Posted on 11 February 2008 in Motivation |
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Comments (62)
jewelfaerie.com Says:
February 11th, 2008, 21:29 pm
Hi Leo:
Chats with my friends sometimes inspire my writing. It can be goofy (recently met a man named Christian in a Christian store, so my friends and I dubbed him “Christian Christian” and then proceeded to make up names for everyone we knew-all in good fun). It can be questions about the meaning of life…it can be a list of our favorite things, anything at all. Friends are an excellent source of inspiration.
Reruns of Sex and the City, too…since they were presented with Carrie asking a question that she’d present in her column, it inspires me to think in answer/question writing mode.
Ta ta!
~Crystal
http://www.jewelfaerie.com
Jeff P Says:
February 11th, 2008, 21:36 pm
Inspiration for me can come from the simple things - like watching your children at play and how quickly they adapt to things they hear or see; then you watch their own interpretation.
Inspiration also comes when you least expect it, so simply surround yourself with positive energy and people. Then just allow yourself to be inspired.
Jadielady Says:
February 11th, 2008, 21:53 pm
I initially started my blog with the intent of tracking my discovery of new and interesting podcasts… but its morphed quite a bit. So about 1/5th of my posts are somewhat podcast related. Usually talking about either a new podcast I’ve heard, or relaying something they said on the podcast.
Now I mostly talk about what I’m doing with my knitting, or just what’s going on in my life.
I’ve started to keep a small notebook at work so that when I get a random lightbulb, I can write it down and not forget before I get home
Aaron Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:06 pm
Leo,
I have two ways of bringing up the creative ideas, and they have always served me well.
The first one is to simply endure the tension of not having a creative idea. I literally sit at the keyboard with a blank mind, and I wait. This is a little like staring down my subconscious. You know, the first one to blink loses. Sometimes it only takes a minute and other times I have had to wait 15 minutes. But the idea always comes. I never give in to the fear of not knowing.
I am also a student of brainwave research and Audio Entrainment for managing states of mind. A combination of Alpha brainwaves and high-frequency Delta brainwaves are very effective at producing creative ideas. You cant listen to the Creative Flow Audio Entrainment program I use by going to http://www.QuietMindCafe.com.
Aaron
Leo Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:10 pm
Thanks for the great comments, guys! Just wanted to point out, in case it wasn’t clear, that this is a guest post. And thanks to Ben Cook for writing it and giving us all a bit of inspiration!
Nathaniel Scott Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:11 pm
i would say reading is where i get most of my inspiration. that is when my mind is already in thinking mode. whether it’s a book, a blog, or news. i try to keep a pen and notepad available for just those occasions when an idea will pop into my head. if i don’t write it down, i usually forget it once i get up…but i remember that i just had a great idea, whatever it was…
Brian Clark Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:13 pm
This is really good. Except that part about me.
But I’ll live with it. :-)
Ben Cook Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:21 pm
Leo, thanks again for the chance to post it here.
Lol Brian, glad you like the post and next time I’ll try to avoid throwing you a link ;)
zoom Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:40 pm
I’m going to try Aaron’s idea of just forcing myself to sit there and wait for creative inspiration.
But what I usually do is just carry a camera with me all the time. Having the camera somehow makes me look at and interact with the world a little bit differently. It makes me more observant.
And this is good, because my style of blogging is often about finding the interesting bits in the everyday mundane world.
Marlyse Comte Says:
February 11th, 2008, 22:51 pm
Leave the house without your computer, go sit some place where it has people, don’t take your cell phone out (shut it off!) and WATCH people and things around you. Have a chat with the woman in line of you. Do something you usually would not do. Take the bus instead of your car to work… breaking the routine.
Amir Ahmad | PassionBasedLearning.com Says:
February 11th, 2008, 23:00 pm
Crystal, same here. Most of the time it’s the conversations I have with friends that give me my “aha” moments for writing a blog post. :)
Tech Says:
February 11th, 2008, 23:09 pm
This has to be one of the best articles I’ve written on point. Thanks for taking the time to share this. I’d echo some of the earlier stated themes in comments that it’s important to recognize the difference between stifled creativity via writer’s block and other types obstacles like stress.
If you’re typically creative and find yourself ‘blocked’, you should step away from your project and take a break. Most of the time that I have this issue, I find that it is often linked to poor stress management or attempting to force the issue when I should be giving my mind a break. So I’d advise anyone that encounters inspirational problems to take time off, relax and free your mind. More often than not, that will do the trick.
Ryan Says:
February 11th, 2008, 23:22 pm
I tend to agree with Marlyse in that the best inspiration comes from the world around you. I can’t imagine a more difficult way to conjure inspiration than sitting in a dimly lit room staring at a computer monitor.
For me, a simple walk through my neighborhood, or better yet, a walk through a wild space where there aren’t any people or artifacts to distract can really clear my mind and allow inspiration in.
I find books, magazines and other written forms nice for improving form and technique of writing, but trying to be inspired by something that was inspired by something real, rather than simply being inspired by something real, second best.
Ben Cook Says:
February 11th, 2008, 23:22 pm
@ Crystal and Amir, conversations are definitely another good source. If at all possible, I try to talk the subject over with someone that doesn’t know anything about it. That will often make me keep things simple and while explaining the topic I usually break through the block. Very good point.
Kelly Rigby Says:
February 12th, 2008, 0:17 am
Movies are a great source of inspiration for me. When I saw JUNO recently, I was so impressed with the unique voice of the main character that I immediately came home and pumped out two hours of writing for my novel.
I also use a digital voice recorder to catch my ideas as I have so many of them and they hit me at all times of the day and night. Actually, my most creative time of the day is after 10.30 at night, and it’s not unusual for me to wake up in the middle of a dream and record an idea for my blog or another piece of writing I am working on.
My problem is never ideas, it is always finishing my blog posts. I think I check and re-check a thousand times to see if it can be improved anymore and sometimes this frustrates me so much I press PUBLISH just for the hell of it and hope for the best! Hardly a the most balanced blogging technique!
Great article, Ben. Thanks.
:) Kelly
Niels Teunis Says:
February 12th, 2008, 0:18 am
These are all great suggestions for inspiration. There are a few more I’d like to suggest. Certain people will inspire you, good friends, certain family members perhaps. Talk to people and exchange ideas. That will get your juices going.
Listen to great speakers. That always works for me. I get chills when I hear a great speaker.
How about nature? Certain winds in my hair make me think of things. I don’t know how that works, but it works for me. In particular when I walk by the ocean (I live in San Francisco).
Music of course. Nobody can change your mind like John Coltrane, in my view.
In the end, what do you do to draw inspiration from yourself. I think you can develop a practice which will allow you to come back to yourself for inspiration time and again. Journal a lot and you will come closer to that point. Meditate every day. That will bring you closer as well.
Miss Gisele from myBeautyMatch.com Says:
February 12th, 2008, 0:19 am
Leo,
Strangely enough I use the telly!
If there is a television show segment that falls in my niche and I find a way of getting inspired from it, then I will twist it into a story. Since I’m supposed to be the expert in my field as a beauty editor, I know that not all my readers have time to watch all the shows on TV. I will only stop and watch a show or a segment if it pertains to my online magazine…if not then I limit my TV watching to about 90 minutes per day.
That said, the times when I’ve used a story on television and turned into a story that I share with my readers, has always brought me loads of new readers.
I also use pretty much all of the other 5 methods you talk about in this post.
Miss Gisele B.
Andre Salvatierra Says:
February 12th, 2008, 1:02 am
Good article! (Bookmarked and sent to a couple of buddies of mine). :)
One thing that I like to do when I can’t seem to write something for the life of me, I get out and take a long walk. It doesn’t matter where, whether its through a park or in a mall, I just walk. It clears my head, and you expose your senses to a lot of different sounds and sights. More often than not, by the time I get home, I’ve already got a great idea that I can’t wait to write down and finish.
I can’t quite remember the exact quote or who said it, but I know it goes something like “All great thinkers walk”…
Anyway, thanks; this was a great read.
Working Girl Says:
February 12th, 2008, 1:27 am
Hmmm, great minds run in the same channels—I just blogged about this same topic last week!
To everyone else’s great ideas, I would add:
1. Go to bed. Sleep as long as you need. When you wake up, lie there for a while and let your mind drift. Ideas may come to you.
2. Talk about your block with a noncreative person. He/she won’t feel sorry for you, the way a fellow creative would. He may say something practical that really helps.
3. Make a list of all your bad ideas. Writing them down gets them out of your head and makes room for good ones to come in.
4. Choose the best possible idea from your bad-idea list and use it. You’ll be going in the wrong direction but while you’re on that road you may see the turn-off to the right road.
5. Commit to a deadline. Deadlines concentrate the mind wonderfully.
Otherwise, my ideas were all the same. I confess I often use the “force yourself” technique (like Aaron). I tell myself I just don’t believe in writer’s block!
Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:
February 12th, 2008, 1:49 am
Great post, Ben! A lot of my inspiration comes from reading books (such as The 4-Hour Workweek, Success Built to Last, The World is Flat, Switch on Your Brain) and articles in The Economist.
Lately, I’ve switched to fiction reading (I plan on reading the 100 greatest books of all time over the next 100 months, right up until my 30th birthday). I started reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy over the weekend and I’ve already started outlining new ideas on emotions and relationships. Stay tuned!
Nez Says:
February 12th, 2008, 3:50 am
Great ideas, Ben.
I also get ideas from reading great comments on blogs (like this one), where sometimes the discussions in themselves inspires me to write (meaning, I want to say more than just a comment, okay, I’ll write a blog post instead!).
Listening to different music can also help — fire up iTunes, but don’t play your favorite playlist. Listen to something “new” instead.
CatherineL Says:
February 12th, 2008, 4:10 am
Hi Ben - excellent post. In addition, I would add getting out and about and talking to people, or just sitting in a cafe and people watching.
And carry a notebook all the time. Most ideas don’t come when you’re actually trying to force them out. And no matter how great your idea is, it’s easy to forget it if you don’t write it down.
Toby Graham Says:
February 12th, 2008, 7:13 am
Pursuit of Happyness - err that should be Happiness, Happyness if not a word, thanks again Hollywood
Double Danger Says:
February 12th, 2008, 9:53 am
I get my ideas driving in the car. I will be driving and think - man I need to do a post about pollution or whatever the case.
Also - I will think of ideas when I wake up in the middle of the night - I know… so cliche.
Good post.
CR Says:
February 12th, 2008, 9:56 am
The inspiration is only helpful if you know how to be creative. Most of us grow up with the idea that there are creative people.. and then there are others. Well those in creative disciplines know that there is training involved for creativity. For example, artists are typically given the task to draw Picasso’s Igor Stravinsky upside down. What does this have to do with creativity ?
It quiets the left side of your brain and lets the more creative right side take over. Creativity is telling the left side of your brain to shut up for a minute.
Why is all of this important ?
Sometimes you already have the inspiration and don’t know it. I would suggest trying to create some art or music and see what happens. Be sure to have a notebook handy to capture all of those great ideas!
The Financial Philosopher Says:
February 12th, 2008, 10:05 am
How about putting the “Zen” into Zen Habits? Where’ s the mention of philosophy? I agree most with the idea of books for inspiration, whether it be for writing or anything in your life, but why read an “interpretation” of timeless wisdom when you can go straight to the source and make your own interpretation?
I’ll use the words of philosophers to state my case:
“All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.” ~ von Goethe
“Do not seek the wisdom of the old man — seek what he saught.” ~ Basho
There is no such thing as “original wisdom.” Thanks for the post…
Ryan@Prospecting LIFE Says:
February 12th, 2008, 11:12 am
I just came back from a relaxing trip to Phuket Island and found the vacation an inspiring one too! I’ve always found that going to a different country with a different culture will really bring new sensory experiences that will leave you much more inspired and productive when you return back home! If you can’t afford to travel, there’s always the Discovery or Travel & Living channel on TV!
Eric Says:
February 12th, 2008, 11:27 am
What a coincidental post! I happen to be in the middle of reading the book “The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life : a Practical Guide” by Twyla Tharp… which is all about how to re-energize your creativity. In it Twyla lists specific creative exercises that have helped her (a world renowned choreographer) throughout her career and which translate well to all creative endeavors. The central point seems to be (haven’t finished it yet) that in order to become and stay creative you have to practice and work hard at it just as you would if you were trying to become good at anything else…. I highly recommend the book!
Jason R Says:
February 12th, 2008, 11:29 am
I just recently started using a sketch book for some inspiration. I don’t work in a very creative field, so I wanted to give my creativity a kick in the rump. I even went as far as using charcoal for my sketches, which is a medium that I’m not comfortable with. I just wanted to try something as new as I could get. It’s really helped with inspiring me and getting my brain to actually work, and not just sit there and take up space in my head.
I like all of the other suggestions that you’ve made, Ben. I’ll definitely keep them in mind when I need inspiration down the road.
Joshua Clanton - Design for the WEB Says:
February 12th, 2008, 11:40 am
All excellent suggestions. Personally, I find most of my inspiration either in books or in great art. I actually just finished a post on 5 Web Design Tips from Michelangelo.
One idea which I’ve found especially helpful is the idea of analogy. If you can find a good and unusual analogy for the point you want to make, blog entries tend to write themselves.
Never the Same River Twice Says:
February 12th, 2008, 11:49 am
Since I blog about personal and organizational change, I find that I get my best ideas by just having a look around!
My biggest obstacle in writing isn’t a lack of ideas, it’s crossing the gap between idea and expression. In other words, sometimes I struggle with keeping my butt in a chair and futzing through all the ways I could express my ideas until something comes out that makes sense.
Kay Sexton Says:
February 12th, 2008, 12:03 pm
I couldn’t agree more with Niels - not only does John Coltrane inspire me, I won a $250 contest with a story based directly on his ‘Blue Train’!
More importantly, for me, it’s keeping active that sparks creativity - if I run or garden or walk the dog an idea will ‘dawn’ (which is why I carry pen and paper everywhere) but if I sit and wait, any impending idea tends to outwait me.
tobto Says:
February 12th, 2008, 12:47 pm
thats right! but what about coffee, nice sex, book reading, walking?
andrew g Says:
February 12th, 2008, 13:16 pm
Believe it or not, I get my best inspiration when I’m working out. This site also gives me a lot of good ideas for posts. Here is one:
moxie Says:
February 12th, 2008, 14:53 pm
I’m an art history major, and just sitting in class listening to the lectures about art really inspires me to want to create my own art. I get my best ideas for art in class. I totally suggest people going to lectures. Listening to ideas other people have had can really get the gears moving in your head, and before you know it you have 10-15 great ideas.
tobto Says:
February 12th, 2008, 15:18 pm
in fact all life full of inspiration. i don’t know why we talk of a simple sings which are all known. i know that all people here on this blog are very effective talanted gifted - why we all got together? i can’t get it. do we need INSPIRATION? just make a breath. thats all. keep it. make it longer. this is the most wonderful thing in this world.
keep your smile
99ppp Says:
February 12th, 2008, 16:14 pm
Good point, tobto. It often doesn’t take much to inspire but to silence the mind, and breathe the world in.
James Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:13 pm
I’ve summed up my personal thoughts on creativity at my blog, but in brief I make sure to get away from the computer. I take the attitude that creativity needs as much space to “breath” as possible, which I why I try to get off the computer as being sat in front of a monitor feels so cramped. This is why I find doodling notes and ideas on a nice, big notepad without worrying about neatness, to be the best approach.
Canadian Girl Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:30 pm
Look at this: http://www.spymac.com/details/?2342319
That is ART
skyz Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:34 pm
i remember that my real ‘goal’ is a quiet mind that creative output is a ’second hand’ result which realization dissolves any pressure ~ so what if i am not brilliantly expressive today if i am blissfully at ease ~ i consume a lot of media books music magazines art images the internet (no tv) and sometimes i read my own blog to remind myself of places my mind has been ~ if nothing is happening creatively i just clean the house and do laundry ~ tomorrow is another day and another way of perceiving !
Mike Johnon Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:43 pm
I find a LCD trip helps me be creative.
This has been the creative driver for most of the biggest inventions in America.
Mike Johnon Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:43 pm
I find a LSD trip helps me be creative.
This has been the creative driver for most of the biggest inventions in America.
John Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:58 pm
Surrounding yourself with talented people is inspiring. Whether they are rich or not may vary but talent is not always worthy of gold.
dsheets Says:
February 12th, 2008, 17:58 pm
Well, as weird as it may sound…
Recently I’ve only been able to write as if I was writing to or for someone. Try and find a person that you love and imagine that you’re writing just for them. A story that no one else will ever here.
skyz Says:
February 12th, 2008, 18:12 pm
@dsheets: that ‘person’ can be your own subconscious :) which is the gateway to the universal unconscious ~ self / SELF
Gene Hackman Says:
February 12th, 2008, 18:49 pm
Quit with the “HACK”s already! Top 10 hacks for your coffee. Best hack to hack your phone. Hackitty hack hack. It’s like Smurf Village around here!! Except that it’s Hack Village. (see what I tried to do there?)
Paul Sayer Says:
February 12th, 2008, 20:19 pm
Great post. Magazines are a major source of inspiration and ideas for me. I write about landscaping and garden design and can easily get half a dozen ideas from a good mag.
My other fun source of inspiration is a kind of mind mapping with google. I search on a subject that is relevant and jump a few pages into the results. I look for interesting topics in the results and search on those, etc. I find that it is a good way to stretch beyond my existing knowledge.
San Says:
February 12th, 2008, 21:14 pm
Gotta make that Guest Post notation a little bigger. I keep missing it.
Chris Laskey Says:
February 13th, 2008, 1:31 am
Nice to see a guest post, another great addition to zenhabits.
As for inspiration, I find a lot of my own inspiration comes not from a where, but rather from a how. My mindset has a lot to do with getting the rust out and finding inspiration.
When the creative juices start shriveling up, I usually go for a long run, lift in the gym, or just stretch on the floor (One of the best perks of being a freelancer working from home). Outside of exercising, I also like meditating, napping, or relaxing with music.
Once I become less stressed, less focused on inspiration, and more on finding a good state of mind, ideas start to filter in.
In anticipation of inspiration, I make sure to keep a pen and paper on me at all times. Writing down ideas when they pop into your mind is crucial. I’ve even written down blog entry topics on friday nights out with friends.
As an aside, I’m in agreement with your comments about books. Reading things that inspire you (self help, self determination, etc) is a great way to subconsciously bring to the forefront things that matter the most to you. And those often lead to the best blog entries.
Cheers,
Ken Says:
February 13th, 2008, 5:02 am
Hey Ben, great topic! Creativity, ambition, inspiration and being a dreamer. These things for me are always there. I really am lucky that way. My problem has always been dealing with, I gotta do this I gotta that, I gotta go here I gotta go there,I gotta pay the bills, man it never ends.
OK!! Getting back to being creative. One thing that I have always done, is that I work on four or five paintings at time. I manage to get through an artistic problem by forgetting about it and working on something else. As well, this keeps me moving forward. So important!
Richard Rinyai Says:
February 13th, 2008, 13:33 pm
It’s actually amazing of how many places you can find ideas from. I used to read office type magazines, since my blog is based on office tips and trends.
Even when I am just doing my everyday work, ideas come to my as the day unfolds.
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
http://www.theprofessionalassistant.net
Jeff Says:
February 13th, 2008, 13:34 pm
these all seem very obvious to me. I look at what people are talking about or what seems to spur the most conversation or debate. for instance, message boards on general sites. you have topics that are tested already there.
Nick Pagan Says:
February 15th, 2008, 6:22 am
For a very ‘mechanical’ way to get article ideas I use a combination of Wordtracker and Title Templates to come up with new ideas.
http://www.nickpagan.com/blog/74/wordtracker-and-title-templates/
I find that I can avoid writer’s block mostly through better methods of organization. A very important aspect of that are the final questions that I ask about whether the article is later going to make me feel embarrassed or awkward. If the answer is yes then I change it. That unblocks a lot of the perfectionist tendencies that I might otherwise feel!
dani Says:
February 15th, 2008, 15:06 pm
I second the comment about getting away from the work for a while. Part of my writing process is to see what it is that I actually feel inspired to write about, or give myself a few minutes to meditate on something I am feeling blocked about and see where the resistance is coming from. Often if I spend time with the resistance/block instead of trying to run from it or through it, I can find out what needs I have that aren’t being met or what fear I need to let go of, get support, and move on from a more fulfilled place.
NDK Creative Artist Says:
February 16th, 2008, 0:04 am
Thanks for a good article with some great points one should always keep handy to refresh (Digg it!) :) memory. I’m always remembering to forget, and that helps idea development too.
Ideas abound, but many seem to have trouble recognizing them, or think they go nowhere when they seem to run out of steam, so it’s important to recognize what happens to them and know why run out of fuel.
There can be many reasons for the apparent death of an idea, so the first thing I do on discovering an idea that ignites some interest and passion (and those are the only ones one should capture), is write them down. If the idea does not then continue to move forward and find final expression, then either you’re not really that interested in it, or you’re lacking information, or need some incubation time.
So knowing your interests is important, and they should be passion driven. No passion = no interest.
If you’ve got passion, but the story or page is still not filling with bit, byte nor ink then you need to do some research and/or step away and let the idea find its triggers.
Key word lists on an idea can help. Subscribing to a word a day can help. Talking to others on the subject also have fantastic potential to trigger the flow of productive words and coherent expression.
At other times it seems that it’s just allowing the idea time to mature. The answer to the maturing ideas is learning to figure out which category they’re falling into.
When ideas require some incubation while you sort out viewpoints or gnarly considerations about them, the best answer is to move on and find more ideas for articles.
I have lists of over 100 articles I’m working on at any one time. Some are major topics which are awaiting some change or advantage in the market which will give them the final touch they need to ignite and become relevant.
Others are smaller items I’m developing, and finishing with regularity.
Still others are a complete series of articles that are written well in advance and this means I have space (and time) to think and research and develop and that takes the pressure off deadlines.
Having a broad range of interests is absolutely vital, and that means having many sources of information coming to me in a constant stream that provide perspective. The quality of that information is varied too, because a great idea can be buried in crap, and just needs liberation, consideration and development.
Something else that really helps is a nap. Take a break and shut the world out because too much information flow can block the flow of creativity too. So shutting the eyes and removing a fantastic amount of sensory input to darkness can be very helpful as intellectual stimulus that helps an idea come to life and find expression.
These are some techniques I use to ensure that I have plenty of material and that finds expression.
www.myoutdoorprofile.com Says:
February 16th, 2008, 22:11 pm
Thanks for the awesome article! After reading it I went out hiking and took a hundred or so photos to use on my site. I read your blog every day, and it has been a great influence on me. Thanks!
Katie Says:
February 17th, 2008, 18:55 pm
Books can be a free source of inspiration if you pick them up from your local public library (which is, in general, a fantastic source of inspiration).
Rory Says:
February 18th, 2008, 19:46 pm
Thanks for the article. I find that writer’s block comes from heading down the same neural pathways - and getting the same results - a block! In order to overcome these creative blocks, you need to divert your thinking down different paths.
I think it is relevant to mention that I invented a tool/game called Rory’s Story Cubes (http://www.thecreativityhub.com). It is by writers and illustrators among others to help them generate ideas and overcome writer’s block.
The site does not look great right now, but you can see my daughter use Rory’s Story Cubes to create a story, along with illustrations inspired by the cubes on my blog (http://www.thecreativityhub.com/blog).
Strong Says:
February 20th, 2008, 1:28 am
i remember that my real ‘goal’ is a quiet mind that creative output is a ’second hand’ result which realization dissolves any pressure
Jonathan Mead Says:
February 26th, 2008, 15:19 pm
Great article Leo. One of the other things I like to do is just to make lists of ideas with insanely long numbers. I’ll write 100 ideas on how to create more time for the important things, and than keep only 5 of the best ideas.
http://jonathanmead.com - Authenticity, Clarity, Balance
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