Anyone who works in a creative field (and more jobs are based on creativity than you can imagine) suffers from creative block from time to time. For an artist, this means staring at a blank canvas or a half finished project. For a writer it might mean staring and a blank Word document. For a teacher it might mean not being able to come up with a new lesson plan.
Here's some quick and dirty tips that might help you get over creative block::
Here's some quick and dirty tips that might help you get over creative block::
- Walk away from the project. Literally walk away. Take a walk; go for a bike ride. Come back to the project with clear and invigorated eye.
- Lay on your bed or sofa, close your eyes, and visualize solutions to the creative problem. Let you mind wander. A solution might come from nowhere.
- Talk over the sticking point in your project with other creative types. Their eyes might help you see your solution in a new way.
- When all else fails, trash the project and start over. I'll never forget the feeling of relief that washed over me when I dumped a horrible, mind-numbingly bad project I was trying to make work down the trash chute from my 18th floor condominium. Hearing it it bottom in the crusher was wonderful.
Guide created: 08/06/07 (updated 08/15/09)


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