I’ve recently started thinking more about the creative process. What is it that makes us creative?

As a writer you’re constantly looking for new ideas and inspiration to help you produce interesting, original and informative written content.

Some days I can’t wait to get home, turn the laptop on and start writing as I have so many ideas to get down. Other days it feels like the well has run dry and there’s nothing there. I get annoyed with myself over the fact I can’t come up with any ideas’

It got me thinking. Is creativity something people naturally have? Or is it something that can be taught and developed?

 

I think there’s a general belief that creativity is something people either have or they don’t. It’s bit like having a talent for a playing a particular sport or musical instrument.

There’s some truth to that. I have a lot of natural talent for playing badminton, I’ve been playing since I was a child; but natural talent can only take you so far. You still need to practice and develop that talent over a period of time which is something I’ve always done. I think the same principle applies to creativity.

You can learn to be more creative and I think it’s a skill that can be developed. I’ve thought about various things you can do to help generate more creative ideas. Have a look at some of my thoughts and see what you think.

 

1. Start Reading

I’m an insatiable reader. Books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, I’m always reading.

When I think about it, reading provides me with most of my creative inspiration. Reading helps you generate thoughts, ideas, and opinions on the subjects you’re reading about.

It’s about trying to build up your knowledge base which can then act as a creative resource for you.

 

2. Learn to be curious

I’m the sort of person who likes to know stuff. I like to know what’s going on in the world around me. It could be anything from the latest office gossip at work, the crisis in the Euro Zone with the Euro, or the goings on in the latest episode of reality tv shows like the Kardashians.

Having a sense of curiosity shows you want to learn and develop your knowledge and thoughts. This can only add to your ability to think more creatively.

 

3. Look for outside influences

We all have our own areas of interest and expertise – but it’s good to have other interests and general knowledge about topics and areas you have no direct or obvious interest in.

If you work in a particular business why not look at what’s happening in other industries and sectors. I read a lot of journalism and digital marketing blogs, because I’m involved in these sectors, but I’ve got interests in completely different areas.

I like reading fashion blogs – the fashion industry has really embraced the idea of blogging and shown others how setting up a blog can lead to a successful online business.

I read political blogs, science blogs not just because I’m interested, but I want to learn about different things and see how writers in other areas express themselves and write about their topics of expertise.

One great example of people looking for outside influences is music. Think of one of your favourite singers or bands. Do you know who their influences are?

So many artists look for musical inspiration and ideas from different genres of music to their own, which leads to artists and musical styles evolving and developing with new ideas.

 

4. Get out and meet people

Otherwise known as networking. Talk to people, listen to what’s being said about your industry, your sector of interest. I experienced this myself last month, during my visit to the International journalism festival in Perugia, Italy.

Attending panel discussions and talks about the future of journalism, I came away feeling inspired. I suddenly had lots of new thoughts on the industry and ideas on how I could develop my own writing career.

Don’t forget, networking isn’t just about meeting people face to face – there’s also social media. Look at using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to meet and connect with people. LinkedIn is very good as there are so many different groups you can join relating to different industries. Get involved in discussion groups to find out what people are talking about in your industry.

 

5. Change your scenery

Returning back to Perugia, it wasn’t just attending the journalism festival that got me thinking more creatively. Spending time in a beautiful Medieval hill top town was also inspiring. It was so Italian and so different to how England looks.

Visiting somewhere different, seeing unfamiliar sights is a great way to help you think more creatively. I thought about why this might be. I suppose exposing your mind to different sights and sounds that you find pleasurable is good for stimulating the mind.

We can’t always jet off to different places around the world to spark our creativity – so try and find places on your doorstep that you like, and which can hopefully inspire you.

 

6. Write stuff down.

I’m one of those people that when I write things down it helps me remember and make sense of things better. At work I might suddenly have a great idea for a blog post, but I know that if I don’t write it down, or make out an outline of what I want to say, I’ll quickly forget about it.

I’m in the habit of writing down random thoughts on yellow post-it notes, but I think I really need to carry a notepad round with me, although there are some very good apps you can download to record your random thoughts.

 

7. Learn to recycle

Being truly original can be incredibly difficult. In terms of creativity sometimes it’s not about having an original idea, the creativity comes from taking something that already exists and repackaging it; presenting something in a different way or format.

Fashion does this all the time, by looking at styles from different periods, and recycling them for a new generation.

In music, think of a singer that does a cover version of a particular song. It might not be the original, but their own arrangements and interpretation is different and they end up creating their own unique version of the song.

 

8. Ask questions and try to solve problems

This is something I’ve only recently started to think about when it comes to creativity.

I never used to associate problem solving with creativity, but then I started thinking about technology and how creativity is a driving force in how things get invented or how different technologies are developed and improved upon.

It’s because people ask questions such as ‘Is there a better, more efficient, more cost effective way of doing something? If there is, how can a form of technology be improved or developed?

As for problem solving – you have to identify what exactly the problem is. What are the effects? What are the benefits of solving this problem? What information or technology already exists which could help in solving this problem?

There are so many questions that could be asked, and it’s by asking those questions that help develop the creative ideas to drive improvement and innovation.

 

9. Challenge the consensus view

Is there a common viewpoint within your field of interest or business sector? Is it a view that’s open to challenge?

Sometimes what’s considered to be the consensus opinion, can quickly become outdated or even shown to be wrong. But it takes someone or a group of people to challenge that consensus, either by asking questions, thinking differently, or experimenting.

Challenging consensus thought, doesn’t always mean that your alternative will prove to be correct, but by asking questions it will get you thinking more which as we’ve seen can only help build your creativity.

 

I enjoyed writing this post. It really got me thinking about different ways in which creativity can develop and be maintained.

You might have your own ideas on how you gain inspiration for your writing and other creative outlets. It would be great to hear what they are, so feel free to tell me where you get your creative ideas from.

 

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