5 Ways to Smash ThroughCreative Blocks

By Lionel Zivan S. Valdellon

acid42@gmail.comhttp://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/

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.

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/

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.

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/

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.

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/

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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 acid42@gmail.comBLOG http://acid42.bluechronicles.net/blog

TWITTERhttp://www.twitter.com/acid42