As creators, one of the things we have to learn to do is enjoy the creative process. It’s one thing to “like drawing” or “like knitting” or “like playing guitar”, but it’s another thing to actual enjoy the creation of something much bigger than a doodle on a piece of paper or a knitted pair of gloves or a three-chord tune you strummed to impress your girlfriend. Working on an actual “creative project” can feel like a daunting task, so it’s important to maintain your inspiration and increase your creative endurance.
Here are a few practices that help me keep the creative fires burning:
Listen to music that fits the “vibe” of your creative project. When I was drawing You’ll Have That and Max vs. Max, I had playlists in my iTunes full of songs that I felt fit the spirit of those comic strips. When I ran into writer’s block or some other creative obstacle, I would listen to those playlists to help put my brain back into the “vibe” of those cartoons.
I’m practicing a similar trick with my current graphic novel project. The story I have is a fantasy adventure, so I’ve been listening to a ton of movie soundtracks. I’ve got the “How To Train Your Dragon” CD in my car at all times, and my iTunes is loaded with the soundtracks from “Lord of the Rings”, “Pirates of the Carribean”, and “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”. Instead of listening to this music when I hit a wall, I listen to it all the time. I listen to it on the drive to and from work, I listen to it periodically throughout the day, and I usually throw my headphones on at night and listen to the soundtracks until my mind is too tired to think creatively anymore.
So make a playlist or two, grab some CDs, and keep them playing. Every time you get in the car, work at your desk, and lay in bed you’ll find yourself in the world of your creation.
Make friends with other creative people and talk to them about stuff. One of the biggest creative assets I have are a handful of really creative friends. We all do different stuff, but we all respect what the others are creating. My graphic designer friends have piqued my interest in typography. My musician friends have piqued my interest in instrumentation. My writer friends have piqued my interest in the art of the written word. All of this stuff can have an impact on what I do even if I’m not designing logos or playing music or writing books. What I’ve found is that different creators have different angles of attack when it comes to tackling their creative projects, and this has greatly benefited my own creative process.
Take a break, but keep creating. Donald Miller talked about this practice a bit on his blog not long ago, and I find it to be very effective. The basic idea is this: if you’ve hit a creative roadblock and you’re staring at a blank screen or piece of paper, get up from the desk and do something else not related to your creative work. But let your mind continue thinking about your project. So go walk the dog or do some dishes or fold some laundry, but let your mind continue to play with ideas. It’s remarkable how this practice can poke a hole in the dam of creative thought.
What are some ways you try to keep yourself in the creative zone?
