When Creativity Strikes

How to make the best of it

When creativity or inspiration strike, be sure to take advantage of them. Don’t let the moment slip by or you could lose the thought forever. Trust me, it happens. More often than you might imagine. 

Always do something to capture your ideas and thoughts as soon as they come to you, no matter how frivolous they may seem at the moment. You can weed out any crappy ones later. Jot them down in a journal or small notebook. I keep one in my handbag and my nightstand always ready. Or create a voice memo on your phone. Do whatever is necessary to ensure that you don’t forget the specifics of your ideas later when it comes time to put pen to paper. Creative ideas can be fleeting. Be sure to capture your ideas the moment they hit so you won’t get upset with yourself when you realize you’ve forgotten it.

Then the real work begins.

First Find a Comfortable Space in Which to Work 

This is essential for anyone who wants to create something truly special including writers. There are many options out there. The most important thing is to find a spot that inspires and invigorates you. Take some time to try out various locations until you land on the right one. For writers, a favorite coffee shop or library might offer the perfect combination of comfort and focus. Or maybe a quiet spot in a park or your home that soothes your mind. Once you have your ideal spot, make visiting it part of your regular writing routine if possible. 

When creating this space for yourself, don’t forget about noise levels. This can be crucial for writers to allow them to get deep into thought without interruptions. Some people like a little background noise such as soft music or white noise. I tend to prefer absolute silence.

Some of the best props to use in your creative space to help you maintain focus are are scented candles and aromatherapy with diffusers. They help to create a peaceful and inviting space that promotes focus. Take the time to experiment with different scents until you find what works best for you. Lavender and Jasmine scents are especially conducive to promoting a sense of peace and calmness. 

Finding a good creative environment is important; take the time to get this right. 

Brainstorm

Generating original ideas and refining them are often the biggest challenges for writers. Yet finding a way to access your creativity and unlock new possibilities is crucial. To help with this, brainstorming can be incredibly effective. It encourages you to get out of your comfort zone and explore concepts that are outside of your typical focus.

Start by writing down any ideas related to a topic you’re interested in, no matter how off-the-wall or far out it may seem. Once you have several ideas, pick one or two or three that are most appealing to you and play around with them. Try combining them or approach them from different angles. Take one and stretch it out by asking yourself, what if this or that happened? Then go from there.

The key is to further refine your ideas so that they become simpler, more manageable and more meaningful and inspiring.

Visualize Your Goal With Deadlines and Stay Positive 

Create realistic but firm deadlines for yourself and don’t forget to reward yourself when you meet them. A short trip, a new handbag, or a box of chocolates make good rewards. Or simply take a day off to catch up on reading or binge watch that TV show you’ve been meaning to catch.

And always remember this: don’t let the negative thought gremlins take over. We all experience them from time to time, unfortunately, telling us we can’t do something or that we are somehow unworthy. The key to overcoming them is to recognize them for what they are–nuisances that don’t really mean a thing and aren’t worth your precious time–when they show up and to persistently banish, them, push them away. Even better, learn to replace them with positive thoughts. Remind yourself of your goals and tell yourself again and again that you absolutely can do anything you put your mind to. This takes practice but the more you do it the better you become at it.

Get Feedback From Others

Sometimes it helps to get outside opinions once you have firmed up an idea or two, maybe from family and friends or colleagues. As long as you believe the source truly has your best interests at heart and can provide an unbiased opinion of both the pros and cons of your ideas. Not everyone will fit this bill–many people will come with their own agendas–so it’s important to choose carefully. It might also help to reach out to more than one person to balance things out. 

Research Can Provide New Perspectives

Once you have a few potential ideas, you might also do some research on each one before settling on which to use. This will also inform you of any existing articles or books on the subject of your writing, as well give you other ideas of how to approach the topic in your own writing.

The Internet is a great place to start your research. You can use search engines to find articles, essays, and blog posts on any topic you can think of. You can find references to books and novels. You may also want to check out your local library for books and databases related to your topic. And finally, don't forget about newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Remember to confirm the accuracy and validity of information you find  by using multiple sources whenever possible. Taking the time to do your research properly will pay off in the end with a well-researched piece of writing!