You might be wondering how some writers can easily capture ideas and create their books, novellas or memoirs while you seem to struggle just creating a plot. In this post, I'm going to show you how to open up your mind to your natural creativity.
Nothing is Original
“What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.” — Austin Kleon, New York Times Bestseller, Steal Like An Artist.
In today’s blog, I’d like to discuss HOW to unleash your creativity, build on ideas, and create something new, fresh and authentic.
Creativity is about CURIOSITY, CONNECTING IDEAS and EXPERIMENTATION.
We’re all influenced by what we see, hear, and feel; our past conditioning, education, travels, relationships, what we read, dream, eat, and the conversations we have. This is not about being a copycat or plagiarism but by being inspired and inspiring others.
We are not an island, standing alone in this cosmos. We are impacting each other in big and little ways daily.
The history of humankind with all its inventions and innovations in art and in science have happened as a result of contagious ideas spreading and manifesting; constantly being reshaped, and repurposed in perfect timing to match our awareness on an individual and global level.
So while “nothing is original” we can take existing ideas and use them in new and creative ways to be authentic, leaving our mark on the world, and creating the opportunity for our work to be a source of inspiration for others.
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.” [MovieMaker Magazine #53 – Winter, January 22, 2004 ]”
Most creatives do this subconsciously. We naturally take what “speaks directly to our soul”, what we’re interested in, what stands out for us and use it as a source of inspiration, a starting point to create something that is “authentic” for us.
We put our stamp of originality on it.
Capture Ideas and Create
But it’s a process to get from the source of inspiration to the creation of something new.
My 13-year-old daughter loves art and I am learning so much about creativity as I watch her develop hers. She scours the internet for pictures that capture her attention and recreates them. Sometimes they look exactly like the first artwork and other times she has changed something, a medium, colour or added a new element.
Once she copied a Picasso painting and I couldn’t tell the difference between hers or the original. I put it up on Facebook and not many could pick the original. Hilarious. (That I have a Picasso in the making).
For Authors
What do You Think?
What does this Mean For You as an Author?
Archetypes and Prompts
Archetypes, and prompts are useful if you have writer’s block and can’t come up with ideas.
As authors, we use the fact that our book is similar to another book as an advantage. When we pitch to publishers or write a book description, we use comparative texts to explain the nature of our book. Because people use what they know as a starting point of understanding.
Many self-help authors write about the same thing but their message is conveyed in a different way. We can connect with our audience, readers, tribe etc in a way that resonates with them. Sometimes it's about asking the right questions too.
It is freeing when you understand that you can take something already “out there”, transform it and make it your own because that’s what creativity is – being inspired by an idea and creating something that didn’t exist before.
Some people may think this is a grey area, especially when discussing Intellectual Property and copyright. It’s never OK to steal other people’s work. It’s easier to find plagiarism in words but music has proven to be more difficult to differentiate at times. And Fashion, well, trends are nothing but copies and are often welcomed.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PUT YOUR SPIN ON WHAT’S INSPIRED YOU.
Don’t force it though, be yourself, express yourself in your way with your voice and style otherwise it will appear inauthentic and you won’t feel passionate to continue in that vein of writing or art or whatever your passion is.
How To Find Ideas
How can we get inspired and unleash our creativity? How can we capture those ideas floating around the ether?
"Reach for the Stars"
Firstly, get comfortable that nothing is original and that it’s ok to use what’s out there as a starting point. Be open. Curious. Open your mind and your heart and magic will happen.
As Wayne Dyer said in his book, Living the Wisdom of the Tao, we are not doing, we are being done to. Trust in the universe and that ideas will come to you and that you will have the knowledge and wisdom to let these ideas flow to you and through you.
This is true inspiration.
Disconnect to Reconnect with Yourself
Know Thyself
In the chaos of life and comparing ourselves to others we sometimes forget who we are, what we want to leave as a gift or legacy to the world, our message. Get back to your centre.
- Who am I?
- What do I want?
- What do I love?
- What do I want to create?
Have fun and enjoy the process!
Make Time For Yourself - Honour Your Creativity
Plan an Artist’s date, put it in your diary, let family members know,
Visit places of beauty and inspiration. What may be interesting for some may not be for others. Some people like visiting cemeteries, others climbing mountains. What is beautiful and inspiring to you?
- Art Gallery
- State Libraries
- Museum
- Take a walk in nature or along the beach
Find Joy in the Moment
Without joy, there is nothing.
Make Time to Write
This is probably one of the hardest thing to stick to.
Find a comfortable space, study, bedroom, veranda, park, library, coffee shop. Where do you feel comfortable and inspired?
Write in different places and before you write on your big project, do a small writing exercise and write about where you are at. Describe the setting, noises, smells, people, minute details.
Thinking time to percolate ideas is important but thinking won’t write a book (not yet anyway). Don’t wait for inspiration, practise the thinking/writing muscle daily.
Live Twice
Natalie Goldberg in, Writing Down the Bones says that “Writers live twice.” They go about life like everyone else, they cross the street but then they sit down and go over how they crossed the street, how they jumped the puddle, reliving it and going over it a second time, looking at the details.” I love this because it’s so true.
The more you practise writing, the better you will get, the more memories you will unlock and the more confident you will feel – and the more clarity you will get around what you want to write.
Capture Your Ideas, Be Creative
WRITING IS LIKE SIFTING FOR GOLD. YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF A LOT OF RUBBISH BEFORE YOU FIND THE GEMS.
IT’S A PROCESS.
ENJOY THE PROCESS.
RESOURCES
The Final Word:
Need some guidance for writing your book?
Download my free ebook, Guide to Write and Self Publish Your Memoir with a Printable Checklist: HERE
