5 Ways to Smash Through Creative Blocks By Lionel Zivan S. Valdellon [email_address] http://acid42.bluechronicles.net/blog

Ideas dry up? You need creativity on a daily basis. But one day, it dries up. No good ideas. No inspiration. You’re blocked. How do you jumpstart the creative process when this happens? “ Street Artist” photo by Lorkan. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorkano/3278741895/

You need creativity on a daily basis.

But one day, it dries up.

No good ideas. No inspiration. You’re blocked.

How do you jumpstart the creative process when this happens?

1. Try the unusual Listen to some different music. Read a book on an unfamiliar topic. Use Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. Sample a new food, fragrance, fashion. Try a new restaurant.

Listen to some different music.

Read a book on an unfamiliar topic.

Use Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button.

Sample a new food, fragrance, fashion.

Try a new restaurant.

WHY: Expose your senses to the new, unfamiliar. Regain that sense of wonder integral to the creative process. “ Untitled.” Photo by Josef Stuefer on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/josefstuefer/45358104/

WHY:

Expose your senses to the new, unfamiliar.

Regain that sense of wonder integral to the creative process.

2. Stretch the muscles Take a long walk. Find a path and wander. Or go to the gym, bike, jog, exercise. Learn a new sport.

Take a long walk. Find a path and wander.

Or go to the gym, bike, jog, exercise.

Learn a new sport.

WHY: Endorphins released by exercise: a natural high. A change in mood can inspire you to be creative again. "Male jogger in silhouette on Morro Strand State Beach." Photo by by Mike Baird on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2940580430/

WHY:

Endorphins released by exercise: a natural high.

A change in mood can inspire you to be creative again.

3. Doodle the Art Put pencil to paper and doodle. (Or fingers to keyboard, paintbrush to canvas.) No stress to finish the work. Build a small idea/sketch. “ Play” till something happens.

Put pencil to paper and doodle. (Or fingers to keyboard, paintbrush to canvas.)

No stress to finish the work.

Build a small idea/sketch.

“ Play” till something happens.

WHY: Remember crayons as kids? Art should still be fun as adults. Doodling / sketching allows you to create w/o pressure. “ doodle." Photo by by lourdieee on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blahboo/3295778829/

WHY:

Remember crayons as kids? Art should still be fun as adults.

Doodling / sketching allows you to create w/o pressure.

4. Copy the Template Try copying an existing work to see how it was put together. Try making something new using an existing work as inspiration or template. EXAMPLES: Musicians: re-arrange a song you know. Writers: re-write a chapter of your favorite book using your voice. Web designers: “view source” and build from that.

Try copying an existing work to see how it was put together.

Try making something new using an existing work as inspiration or template.

EXAMPLES:

Musicians: re-arrange a song you know.

Writers: re-write a chapter of your favorite book using your voice.

Web designers: “view source” and build from that.

A note about copying: Analyze but don’t plagiarize. Use extant art as inspiration, but don’t forge them. Build upon previous work, add value, reinterpret -- don’t just copy.

Analyze but don’t plagiarize.

Use extant art as inspiration, but don’t forge them.

Build upon previous work, add value, reinterpret -- don’t just copy.

“ copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy.” Photo by bettyx1138 on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettyx1138/1340848303/ WHY: By analyzing how others do their art, you may find something useful you can use in your own work. Building from another’s work as a template may jumpstart your own creative process.

WHY:

By analyzing how others do their art, you may find something useful you can use in your own work.

Building from another’s work as a template may jumpstart your own creative process.

5. Dump the Brain Do a daily “brain dump” via journaling. (Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way”) Fill 3 pages of your journal, long-hand, first thing in morning.

Do a daily “brain dump” via journaling. (Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way”)

Fill 3 pages of your journal, long-hand, first thing in morning.

WHY: Clears the mind of daily distractions and concerns. “ Journal." Photo by by basykes on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/basykes/15649426/ Mind is freed to work on creative solutions.

WHY:

Clears the mind of daily distractions and concerns.

Mind is freed to work on creative solutions.

CREDITS Background photo: “Japanese Notebooks” by L. Marie on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenore-m/2812599221/ About the Author: Lionel Zivan S. Valdellon EMAIL [email_address] BLOG http://acid42.bluechronicles.net/blog TWITTER http://www.twitter.com/acid42

Background photo: “Japanese Notebooks” by L. Marie on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenore-m/2812599221/