Inspiring minds want to know
What inspires you?
Is it a certain person?
Or music?
Or reading?
Or nature?
Are you often surprised when ideas seem to come out of nowhere?
Photo credit: Creative Commons
I have been learning to embrace my creativity. And while doing so, it means that I have to be ready. Ideas seem to hit me at the oddest times. It usually doesn’t happen when I am sitting down and waiting for it to happen.
It happens in the shower, or while reading a book, or while working out. Or, it may hit me in the middle of my day. Since I typically can’t stop what I am doing and write at that time, I make sure to have a notebook with me, or put the idea into Evernote. I need to capture it, or I will forget it.
When I have time, I will go back to those ideas and start writing about them. Sometimes, I need to think about an idea for a while first. Other times, I need to write it out as soon as I can. This has been a continual learning process for me.
How do you embrace and cultivate your creativity? What tips would you share?
I try to carry a notebook with me wherever I go. I have one at my bedside because so often I have ideas right before I go to sleep or I dream something that I need to write down before I forget. My source of creativity is God. The Bible is an inspiring book. And praying seems to unlock my creativity, too. And hanging out with kids….or anyone who’s open for new solutions. Great questions, Tammy! Blessings on your creative endeavors!
I get ideas in the most “inopportune” moments – like in the middle of a movie in a really dark theater or while driving. I have started planning for a quick escape route in the theater so I can open up evernote and jot down that idea. If I happen to be driving, I open the voice recorder and ramble on. I am finally grasping the importance of capturing the idea right then and there because I inevitably forget!
I use Evernote. I also recently started recording ideas while I drive on my iPod! Yesterday I had the idea for a book title and I didn’t want to forget it, so I voice recorded the title idea.
I have began a practice call Morning Pages. Have you heard of it? This has really kicked my creativity throughout the day into high gear. If you have not heard of it, you can check it out here: http://juliacameronlive.com/basic-tools/morning-pages/
Morning Pages are fantastic! Takes the pressure off and gets me writing!