1. Aim at being unique, not ordinary. Go right past the dull.
2. Cataloging your ideas is productive because it allows you to go back and take a second gander while viewing your ideas on much larger scale.
3. Use visual structuring. Getting your paper and pencil out not only lets you see your ideas on a physical level, but it will make you feel like a kid again.
4. If all else fails, keep working. Some individuals work better as they reach their breaking point, they excel and take flight in the hardest of times.

1. Practice thinking. Think about things and formulate some opinions. They may be right, they may be wrong, but I bet they’ll be interesting.
2. Use life markers for ideas. Old photos, family stories, a journal entry, a souvenir from a trip, a collection you love or a piece of clothing–if you’ve saved it for a reason there is most likely a story there.
3. Look at your life as if you’re a stranger. Good writing is made up of details so learn to see the details of your own life.
4. Look at what inspires other people’s creativity and then put your own personal spin on it. But whatever you do make it your own and bring your own life and talents to the task.
5. Make lists. What are your favorites? Foods, colors, flowers, cars, games, habits? What are your pet peeves, your thrills or your favorite vacation spots? Use lists to spark an idea and run with it.

Speak your writing and record it.

Stuck? Often just talking about what it is that you have in mind, can bring a lot more ideas and developments to mind. So record what you want to communicate, then transcribe it and edit it later.

When you speak, you are spending very little conscious attention to what it is you are saying - it just comes out! This is an easy and brilliant way to defeat your “squelcher” and get you started expressing. You can get on a roll immediately!

Use transcription software (Express Scribe, Transcriber) to make it easier to control the playback for your typing. Or use an internet service like idictate.com, or Fantastic Transcripts, etc.

Read More

1. Stop being (other people’s) perfect. The expectation of making something perfect uses up emotional energy that you could put to much better use being creative and artistic.
2. Ask yourself if you’re doing it for the right reasons. Even if you are not the best in the world at something, if you are really passionate about it, your passion can be an inspiration and motivation for others.

1. Have clearly defined goals. This will help direct your attention to a purposeful outcome.
2. Have balance between your skills and challenges. Too easy, you’ll be bored. Too hard, you may feel frustrated.
3. Avoid multi-tasking. It is impossible to get immersed in an activity if you are not totally focused on it.
4. Set aside a time to do non-productive tasks. Activities such as reading your e-mail, tweeting and making phone calls should be done at a defined time.
5. Before you start, clean your desk, make sure you have the equipment you need, adjust the temperature and make sure the noise level is optimal.
6. Adjust your goals as your skills increase.
7. Avoid engaging in mindless tasks such as TV. Mindless activities are usually passive and decrease flow experiences.

1. Clean up your working space. Even if you are not a cleaning addict, a tidy desk helps to create a fresh start.
2. Go jogging. Running is a great way to refresh your brain. The effort will also bring satisfaction. Self-esteem is good for creativity.
3. Drink a beer with your buddies. Being happy will make you more productive. It will also give you greater enthusiasm.

1. Embrace your inner grouch. Discontent may just be a vast, untapped source of creativity.
2. Let your mind wander. A wandering mind may allow your brain to search more widely for connections that could trigger a “eureka” moment.
3. Play an instrument. It may help you to think with both sides of your brain at once.
4. Colour your world blue. It may be nothing more than an association with big skies and the open seas, but beholding the colour blue makes you more creative.
5. Seek out creative company. The best ideas are forged not in moments of solitary genius, but during exchanges with trusted colleagues.
6. Be more playful. Horsing around may be better in the long run than hunkering down.
7. Raise a glass. Many of the most creative pursuits – jazz, for instance, and poetry – are associated with heavy boozing, but can a dram or two really help?

1. Define a clear purpose. Vague intentions don’t trigger the flow state.
2. Identify a compelling motive. You need a reason to be creative.
3. Architect a worthy challenge. If a task is too easy, you don’t need to be particularly creative, so your creative self will simply say, “You can manage this one without me.”
4. Provide a conducive environment. The optimal environment varies from person to person, so you’ll need to experiment to find what works best for you.
5. Allocate a committed block of time.
6. Prevent interruptions and distractions.
7. Master your tools. Creating a tangible piece of creative work requires tools such as a computer, guitar, or pencil. You must achieve basic competency.

1. Surround yourself with creative people.
2. Develop a morning ritual.
3. Do an info-dump so your head is clear enough to create instead of worry.
4. If you’re a crime writer, read fantasy. If you’re a productivity writer, read something about slacking off.
5. Imitate the real world.
6. Drink too much coffee.
7. Play chess. Go outside. Sing in the shower.
8. Don’t be too precious about your work. If the doctor and the garbage man can do their jobs every day, then those in a creative line of work can too.
9. Consume information by the bucket load. The more you know, the more you can create from that knowledge.
10. Meet new people from different walks of life. Strike up a conversation on the bus.
11. Shut out the world. Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly.
12. Creativity is a muscle. Exercise it daily.
13. Carry a notebook everywhere.
14. Write down a list of ideas and draw random arrows between them.
15. If you’re not on a tight deadline, walk away and do something completely unrelated.
16. Create a framework. Instead of trying to rely on pure inspiration, think within the box you create for yourself.
17. Remove obstacles to creativity. That friend who calls to complain about their life can wait until you can afford to get stressed about their problems.
18. Don’t judge your ideas until you have plenty to judge.
19. Keep a journal. It can get your mind working.
20. Stop telling yourself you’re not creative.
21. Don’t be a workaholic. Take breaks.
22. Experiment randomly.
23. If one thing isn’t working, try a new strategy.
24. Choose a topic and write about it as wonderfully or badly as you possibly can.
25. Trash what you’re working on. Start again.
26. Exercise every day, before you sit down to be creative.
27. Spend time with your children. Or someone else’s.

1. Don’t sit and write lists of ideas. All you’re doing is intellectual foreplay and pussyfooting around the problem. You’re not dealing with it head on.
2. Don’t give up and sit sulking in the corner. Sooner or later you’re going to have to come out. You’re just prolonging the pain.
3. Don’t compare your work to other peoples’. Everyone is unique. You have to find your own creative voice.
4. Don’t choose the company of doubters and negative people. They will just pull you down.
5. Do pick up your camera (or you pen) and start taking pictures (or writing) of anything and everything. One idea will lead to another.
6. Do set yourself an achievable target.
7. Do challenge conventions and the norm. Challenge everything you’ve learnt.
8. Do think in terms of opposites, conflicts and interesting juxtapositions.
9. Do realize and remember that all creatives feel the same as you do from time to time and some of the most successful are driven forward by tremendous self doubt. Turn the negative feelings into positive self motivation.
10. Do surround yourself with people that believe in you and want you to succeed. This kind of support makes a world of difference.