Creativity readiness and Neil Young

July 21, 2008 by Mary Wynne-Wynter 

I get some of my best ideas right after waking up, and sometimes lapse in my commitment to write them down immediately. I grab a coffee, browse my feeds, check my email, make some calls. Then I go back to the ideas..and they’re gone baby gone.

Developing the creative habit means that you don’t that. Here’s an example of someone who never does that: Neil Young. I’m a lifelong fan of his music and his continual re-invention.

In his conversation with Charlie Rose, Neil describes and gives examples of his creative process, although he seems to hate the whole notion of “process”.

If you want to increase your creativity, watch it. If you don’t have the time, at least browse my summary points.

My summary points:

  • You gotta be ready whenever it happens, when an idea strikes. If you don’t get it its gone. You can’t ignore it. If you don’t pick up the gift its gone; wherever you are or whatever it is you’re doing you can’t ignore it.
  • There are no dry periods; you know and trust its going to happen so you stay open to it.
  • If you think too much about it its not going to work; no trying to figure anything out.
  • Ideas are a gift; there’s no way you own them. Its a gift that keeps on giving if you accept it.
  • Just be there.
  • Respect the source.
  • I transcend into the mind of who I’m song writing about.
  • I’m in the habit of doing things I feel like doing.
  • I can be just as creative in other ways, like mechanical and technology. I set a goal, for example: eliminate roadside re-fueling.
  • Corporations: they’re not as free as I am; they’re constrained in structure. Me: I’m not scared to fail.

Filed under: Creativity, creative habit, intention
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