Creative Triggers are EVERYWHERE: Links to Get Started
It’s been close to a year now since I first became interested in creativity research, and honestly, my brain is overwhelmed with all the information I’ve tried to take in. Do you ever do that? Find a passion for some topic that is so strong you just have this itch to learn EVERYTHING about - and you want to learn AND know it as quickly as humanly possible? Only your human brain can’t quite catch up to that itch and that passion?
Well, anyway, that’s the way I’ve felt about creativity. My backlog of articles saved in the “Creativity Research” folder on my computer is a fine example of my desire to know it all, and know it all NOW. I’ll never catch up to the passion. Every time I make it through a few files, I find more to take their place on the “unread” list.
Even though I’m nowhere close to having all the answers when it comes to creativity, I’ve learned so much. So much, that I might even label myself “a connoisseur of creativity.”
Cutting Creativity Down to Size
While exploring the world of creativity research, I think the single most intriguing piece of information I’ve encountered is the idea that creativity is something that exists in everyone. It’s not a rarity or gift that only a special few are blessed to receive. Creativity is everywhere.
Back in April, I wrote a two-part post about squashing the idea that someone “just isn’t a creative person.” We can all be creative souls. Creativity requires nothing more than open-mindedness, letting go of our fear of being wrong and the willingness to act.
Somehow we’ve all gotten the impression that in order for something to be considered “creative,” it has to be this huge, life changing concept. Really, creativity takes nothing more than a simple idea. James Webb Young refers to an idea as “nothing more or less than new combination of old elements.” Well stated, Jimmy.
Everyday, I keep myself open to creative possibilities. I read, I browse, I explore, all in search of inspiration for all the creative outlets that are part of my life. I wander in and out of the endless creative passageways I encounter, keeping my eyes peeled for a chance to create my own unique combination of the elements that greet me.
I challenge you to greet tomorrow with your eyes wide open. Be vulnerable to the creative triggers all around you. They are always there. It may take us some time to easily acknowledge their presence, but if you are truly open to the experience, it will happen. Don’t get frustrated if you find yourself struggling to recognize creative opportunity at first. I’m happily sharing some of my favorite triggers to get you started.
Blog Post Perfection
- Write Just One Thing and Write It Well - If you don’t read any Leo blogs, it’s high time you start.
- 8 Ways to Reclaim Your Childhood Creativity - I could read this LifeDev post 1000 times over.
- How to Avoid Prematurely Killing the Next Big Idea - Perfect for any of you “creativity beginners.”
- Whining, Blue Smoke and the Mechanics of Getting Unstuck - I go back often to re-read the paragraph about whining.
- Keep The Creative Juices Flowing - Tips For The Freelance Artist - Great advice even if you aren’t a freelancer.
- 5 Things That Become Easier When You Wake Up Early - I love this one because I’m a morning person anyway. It’s when I do my best writing.
- The Rise of the Creative Class - Richard Florida, you are my hero! His “creative class” concept is something I continuously referred back to for the huge collection of articles I wrote for BOOM Jackson.
Crafty Cues
- Amanda’s Scrapbook Room - I envision the other side of the pearly gates looking something like Amanda’s room.
- Lots and LOTS of Scrapbooking Links - Lists like these are why I believe the “I’m bored” excuse is a lame one.
- Page Maps Galore - These are inspiring for much more than just scrapbook layouts.
- Tutorial: Freezer Paper T-Shirts - I haven’t tried this yet but I am DYING to play around with it.
- Shabby Princess - A pioneer site in the world of digital scrapbooking.
- Donna Downey and Ali Edwards - my absolute FAVORITE creativity gurus. I could gush and gush about how inspiring both of these ladies are for me.
Just A Few More in Case You Need Them
Sparks of Creativity: 3 Inspiring Sources for Writing, Crafting and Scrapbooking
There are so many different ways to spark your creativity. Today I want to share three different means that inspire me.
For Writing:
Book Mooch
I discovered BookMooch last year and have been addicted ever since. The concept is simple at its core: offer books you want to give away, get points when others mooch those books from you, use your points to mooch others’ books you want.
I truly believe there is no better inspiration for your own writing than the exceptional writing of those who have come before you. BookMooch is my favorite place to find an unexpected treasure. Example:
My most recent gem is Kenneth Atchity’s “A Writer’s Time: A Guide to the Creative Process, from Vision to Revision.” Atchity wrote the book about 22 years ago - before computers and cell phones and all this crazy technology. Some of the bare-bones advice is such a refreshing reminder of the importance of the writing process itself. One of my favorite lines has to do with writing your first draft. He talks about how the first draft is the time to get it all out, and then later worry about what to do with you. Atchity says, “This is the process of giving birth, not the process of surgical intervention.” Love it.
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For Crafting:
Paper Samples
If you are crafter, I’m willing to bet you have an appreciation, if not a downright obsession, for beautiful paper. The sheer number of texture, weight and color combinations make the possibilities endless. Paper can be luxurious, classy, stylish, elegant, artistic — oh and EXPENSIVE.
I’m letting one of my favorite paper crafting secrets out of the bag…..paper samples.
While a lot of companies don’t charge for their paper sample books, they are really made for designer and agency use. Your best source for a nice stock of sample books: your local advertising agencies. I promise you, most of these businesses will have more paper samples than they know what to do with - so help them with the answer: you!
A quick Google or Yellow Pages search will give you a good list of the agencies in your area. Call or email the art director in the agency and ask if they have any old paper sample books they might need to clear out. If so, try and get an idea of how many (so you know if you need more than one box for transport) and offer to come pick them up. Most likely, the agency will be grateful for the extra space you’ve helped clear.
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For Scrapbooking:
One thing I love about scrapbooking is that anyone can do it, with anything they want to use. You don;t have to have all the expensive tools and papers and embellishments to put together a beautiful memory on the page of your scrapbook. In fact, some of my favorite pages have been the ones where I was super thrifty and resourceful with the different elements I used.
In the 2-page layout about my college graduation, I took the ceremony program, an Alumni Association Annual Report and a football program, and cut out elements from each. Not only, did it add character to my page, but I was able to pull the things I wanted to keep from each bulky publication and then get rid of each, which freed up some of the clutter my scrapping tends to accumulate.
