How to Increase Creativity

A close friend who recently suffered a major family loss as I did is doing her best to re-spark her creativity. I confess it’s been very difficult for me as well. She reminded me of an article I’d written on this this topic previously. I thought rewriting it would be worthwhile for myself and others.

 What to do when you need to spark your life force, rev up your engine? I’m not just talking about the creative arts. Every human being needs revitalization at some point. If we become discouraged, suffered a loss of productivity in our field of endeavor, there are ways to deal with it:

Get started by making some life changes. Get out of your normal rut or routine. Consider doing things you’ve never tried before or haven’t done lately. They don’t have to be dangerous or extreme either. 

Here’s one suggestion:

One health-booster is Meditation. Not something new but certainly beneficial. It’s referred to as “mindfulness.” Apparently, it creates “body-building for the brain.” It is both “anxiety-busting” and “attention-boosting”. I would refer to it as awareness and focus. By its very nature, meditation encourages creativity.

 Here are some suggested activities that increase mindfulness:

·        Breathe deeply concentrating on the act itself

·        Hug someone, focusing on the interaction

·        Eat slowly while paying attention to what you are eating

·        Take a walk somewhere—engaging in awareness of your surroundings

The key is to keep focus on the activity and not let your mind wander or worry, concentrating on positive thoughts.

This is just one method of increasing creativity which can lead to increased productivity.  

There are times when my creativity dries up like a plant in a parched desert. Writer’s block is something most authors face at one time or another. We lose that sense of purpose or inspiration. Sometimes it happens while we’re working on a story, article, or book. It’s happened to me when I get discouraged collecting rejection slips—a fate common to many writers. There are ways to get back on track. 

Get away from the computer and go for a walk. If it’s too cold or nasty outside, use a treadmill or drive over to a mall and walk around inside.

Visit a bookstore and browse. Buy a book that you’d like to read.

Visit a library and browse. Borrow a book that looks interesting. 

If you’re a fiction writer, read some nonfiction: books, magazines, and newspapers, in print or online. If you’re a nonfiction writer, pick up a novel to read. Try to read something you wouldn’t ordinarily peruse. Broaden your horizons. 

Talk to friends and family. Communicate with other people. Listen in on conversations you overhear in restaurants and at gatherings.

Visit a museum. Study the displays. Take notes on those things that interest you. 

Go to an art museum or gallery and study the paintings there for inspiration.  Put yourself into a painting. Who are you?  Where are you?  What are you doing?

 Take a trip somewhere you’ve never been before.

 Memory writing is a useful resource. You don't have to be famous to write an autobiography. However, many well-known writers have used memories effectively in their writing. Some examples are:

JAMES JOYCE--A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN

TRUMAN CAPOTE--A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

EUGENE O'NEILL--LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 

Here's a writing exercise guaranteed to produce results:

 WRITE THE FOLLOWING: 

1.  YOUR FIRST MEMORY.

2.  YOUR BEST MEMORY OR A GOOD MEMORY.

3.  YOUR WORST MEMORY OR A BAD MEMORY.

DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.  TRY TO RECREATE EACH MEMORY SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN EXPERIENCE IT. 

Another suggestion: keep a journal or diary. With this kind of writing, there is a sense of immediacy. We can capture feelings and impressions that might otherwise be lost. This can serve as excellent material for future work.

3. From Biblical times, dreams have been thought to be prophetic. Freud certainly found much to analyze. Keep a notebook and pen beside your bed. When waking after a particularly vivid dream, describe it in as much detail as possible.

 Whenever possible, read magazine and newspaper articles and clip those you find of particular interest. You can obtain many ideas and inspiration for your own writing from them.

There's an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A good picture is worth at least that and probably a lot more. Inspiration for writers can come not only from reading newspaper and magazine articles but also from looking at the photos. Interesting photographs are all around us and are worth saving as a resource. 

There are many ways to improve your skill or writing technique. If, for instance, you have trouble creating good descriptive passages, try doing some sense imagery exercises.

Select a piece of fruit like a lemon or orange. Describe in writing what it looks like: color, shape, etc. Hold it in your hand. Describe the feel or texture of the fruit. Cut the fruit in half. Now describe the smell and taste. 

Music and sound can create mood and stimulate writing.    Try writing stream-of-consciousness technique while listening to music. Play three different types of instrumental music for at least ten minutes. Pause between each. Possible musical choices:  classical, jazz, rock. 

Be curious, interested in the world around you, and you can't help but find inspiration and ideas for your writing. Writer’s block is only temporary. Most important, never give up, not if writing is what you really want to do. Publishing success will come if you keep perfecting your craft.

Now it’s time for me to take my own advice! How about you?