Creativity readiness and Neil Young
July 21, 2008 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Leave a Comment
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.
A simple, inexpensive creativity support system
May 29, 2008 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
For quite some time I’ve been diligent about always having index cards and 4 x 6 yellow pads on hand to take notes on new business ideas, my self-awareness and personal development, my insights, ideas, observances, and experiences, etc. Its all in long-hand writing; digital doesn’t cut it for me when I’m writing from the heart. I’ve found writing these pages an extremely valuable practice supporting my creativity and growth.
However, I never labeled, titled or dated these pages, and when I filled a notebook I just stuck it in a basket where they accumulated. I sometimes reviewed what I wrote but usually found it to be too much trouble to find what I was looking for. I hate paper, files and clutter and love simplicity and minimalism. So I felt pretty good about the fact that I was actually saving the notebooks instead of getting rid of them.
But then I read a wonderful book, “The Creative Habit, Learn It and Use It For Life”, by Twyla Tharp. She wrote about the importance not only of taking notes, but of organizing, categorizing and saving them. Her system is to start “a box” for each choreographic project that provides a comprehensive archive of ideas, video, photos, music, inspiration, learning, design - and all the myriad elements that comprise her dance creations. Its a system she finds indispensable to her craft and she highly recommends it to anyone committed to creativity.
I consistently do creativity exercises, for myself, and with my clients. But when it comes to process and practical habits development, I tend to gloss over it. It always felt too much like office work and not enough like being creative.
But Ms Tharpe writes so compellingly and persuasively about the critical importance of “the box” to creative development that I decided to follow my strong impulse to try it out. Before I began, I made a few decisions about how I should approach “my box” so that it would be enjoyable, applicable to my specific needs and not a dreary task. To that end:
- It would be more generalized rather than project specific.
- It had to be simple, made from stuff that I had on hand, with no trip to office supply store required.
- It had to be done on the porch, in the sun, away from computers, phones and any other electronics distractions.
So the photo below is the result of three surprisingly enjoyable hours spent putting together my “box”. And I expect that my investment in practicing the creative habit will pay off in many unexpected ways over time.
The materials:
- old plastic file storage box
- old metal 5-section file holder that fit in box
- large clips
My box categories:
- Content and community
- Self-awareness and personal growth
- Dreams and imagination
- New skills and abilities
- Creativity
Tasks:
- Tear pages from notebooks and clip them together in categories
- Label categories in “my box” and file pages
- Enjoy the sense of satisfaction and completion
I highly recommend that anyone interested in creativity and personal and professional enrichment make their own version of “the box”. So many ideas are wasted because they’re not converted to content that can be shared, reviewed, embodied or somehow brought to life because they’ve not been made tangible. This has been my experience and I see it happen repeatedly with both individual and business clients.
So my request of you is to value all of it and use this system. Its simple, its enjoyable and its a great beginning to your lifelong creative habit.
Heck, maybe there’s a “creativity box” photo contest opportunity here? Gotta run..need to get the idea written down and into my box!