Four things I have learned about creativity
Starter for Ten (S410) is a daily creative exercise that I am doing for 30 days. I set a ten-minute timer and write whatever comes into my head. After that, I do the same to create a visual. The idea is to loosen up, create daily and get over the idea that everything I make needs to be perfect or have a purpose. I’m over halfway there, 18 days in a row completed, these are my latest reflections:
1. An idea always comes
Every day I sit down with a blank page, set the timer, and go! There have been days where I didn’t think I would have an idea but something always happens. I now trust the process. Words appear on the page. A visual is revealed.
Day 9 - Charcoal sketch
2. Creating makes the mind calmer
I’m an overthinker, it’s something I’m working on. The practice of writing and creating a visual every day is giving me focus for my thoughts. Rather than overthinking I’m using that energy to write stories in my head or think about what material I can experiment with next. This feels good and is making me feel much calmer.
3. Create even when you don’t feel like it
There have been a couple of occasions in the past ten days where I haven’t felt like doing the challenge. I have been tired or feeling self-doubt but the process of creating on those days has been the most rewarding and resulted in some interesting outputs.
Day 11 - I almost didn’t create this pen and oil pastel sketch
4. Making rubbish doesn’t make you rubbish
The joy of creating something in ten minutes is that it frees you of the expectation that what you make has to be good or perfect. A lot of the stuff I have created I would classify as rubbish, but it's all been useful. Shan told me he believes it’s all goes into the creative mulch and helps fertilise the good ideas that are coming. I like that.
The Starter for Ten challenge chain, 12 days to go!
