Creativity can seem fickle. Just when you’ve settled down to write some narrative for a modlette, you just can’t seem to find an idea of how to present it.
Sound familiar?
Here’s how to keep that inner fire burning and stay inspired all year round …
Know what input you require
As Austin Kleon suggests, a problem of output is often a problem of input.
So, if you’re out of inspiration, first think about what content you’ve read or researched about your subject.
When we read the same as everybody else, we’ll produce similar content, and we’re at risk of going stale.
So, follow your curiosity and reset your attention. Read something off the beaten track. Those of you who have been reading my previous articles will remember me quoting from a book about insects or a tale about mountaineering.
Secondly, review what else is required to keep your creative muse happy. I need sleep, free-wheeling time, coffee and quietude.
Exercise: Write down what feeds your creative muse.
Get out of your comfort zone
There are 3 creative zones:
- The inner zone is your comfort zone, where you create on auto-pilot and risk going stale.
- The outer zone is the procrastination jungle, where you spend your energy fighting your fears and where you risk procrastination.
- The in-between zone is your most productive zone, where you’re outside your comfort zone but not too far.
It’s just outside your comfort zone where you find your creative challenges and do your best work.
So if you feel like you’re going stale, give yourself a new challenge. Write about something different. Write an article for this newsletter. Take on a bigger client, or try a new creative writing technique.
Keep challenging yourself.