How to Trigger Creativity

Creativity is a way the mind develops new ideas or concepts, or how it puts a new spin on existing ideas or concepts. No one really knows why some people are more creative than others, but some speculate that they are born with it. One thing people can agree on is the importance of creativity to society. Without it, there would never have been technological advances, no one would ever have known neither John Lennon nor Mark Twain.

This article is going to provide several ideas to help ensure the creative juices never dry up. These are ideas that I, personally, incorporate into my daily routines. Some people believe that you should have a time set aside to practice, however I have found that this is not necessarily true. The thing to remember is that you should find time that is comfortable for you. If you feel uncomfortable, walk away and come back later. Make sure you do not have anything around to distract you, when you come back. There is nothing worse than starting to write then something interrupts you. The problem is when you have an idea flowing onto the paper, it is simple to get side tracked losing that train of thought.

What happens when you have a blank page in front of you and you can not find anything to fill it? Personally, I find it bothersome and frustrating. Not to fret, I have several ways to ensure that does not happen. The first thing you should know is that I keep a notebook nearby at all times. You never know when you are going to be blindsided with your next great idea. This notebook is the first thing I grab in the morning, because many of my ideas come from my dreams. If you do not have a notebook near the bedside, the chances of forgetting your dreams are greater. I jot down several key elements of the dream, before getting up.

Another great idea a friend of mine recommended was to keep a dictionary or encyclopedia handy. If you find yourself having troubles with ideas, open the book and write down the first noun you see. After that, flip to a whole different page and jot down the first verb, then finally turn to another section and list the first adjective on that page. Now you have three words to work with. Use those three words and start writing, you would be amazed at what comes out of this practice. You can also use your television in a similar way, writing down the first line you hear.

I love having a notebook with me in the restroom. Some of my best ideas come to me when I am in the bathroom. Even if you do not have a notebook, always make sure you have something to read. Reading other articles and stories will often provide valuable inspiration. I cannot emphasize this enough, you have to constantly nourish your creative mind.

I have to give credit to Sammy Hagar for this next bit of advice. He said this about his creative process, "Eddie and I would be driving down the freeway, when an idea would hit us. We pulled over to the side of the road and within a matter of minutes we had a riff ready." I have to admit it, several ideas come to me when I am driving. I pull over, yank out my notebook, and make sure I have my idea on paper. Speaking of musicians, I personally love writing with classical music in the background. I find that music without words tends to allow my mind to visualize a story within the music. Visualization is a great trait to have, because when you hit a dry patch you can rely on your senses to help you out. For example, look in a mirror and write down what you see, describing yourself in great detail. Personal descriptions can provide you with ample inspiration. In matters of extreme writer's block, write down a letter, then come up with as many words as you can with that letter.

For example, I will use the letter "B". Bachelor, barbarians, balance, black, berries...that is enough. A bachelor's life within a barbarian tribe requires that he balances buckets of blackberries for the woman he wishes to court. Of course, this is not a true statement, but it is something that definitely could provide a necessary topic to write about.

Another routine that I have developed is keeping everything I have written. I never throw away anything, because you never know when you are going to hit a dry spot. Sometimes going over past works helps put a little life in the creative well. All you need is a little push in the right direction, but you have to be the one pushing. No one else can do it for you.