May 30, 2012

If trying to be creative feels like slogging through mud lately, you may be trying too hard.

If so, I’ve got good news for you!

Several articles I’ve read lately disputed the idea that “thinking outside the box” is the way to be more creative. It’s given me hope, as I don’t tend to be an “outside the box” thinker.

I actually like my box. It’s cozy. It’s nicely decorated–but unoriginal, I fear.

Inside or Outside the Box?

Who’s most creative? Read the following articles and decide for yourself.

• “Spark Your Creativity by Thinking INSIDE the Box” and “Don’t Try to Be Original” by Mark McGuinness (two articles)
• “Do You Recognize These 10 Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking?” by Brian Clark.
• “Do More Great Work: an Interview with Michael Bungay Stanier”  The subtitle of his book Do More Great Work is a good summary of the article: Stop the busywork and start the work that matters.
• Are you looking for that idea that fits you like a glove? The one you can be passionate about for many months as you write your book? Mick Silva says to “Write About What Disturbs You.”

One Last Thought

Are you thinking that the articles sound good–but you just don’t know if you’re up to it? Then I have one last post for you to read: “3 Things You Can Start Doing Today to Build Your Self-Confidence“ by Henrik Edberg. They’re simple–but effective. And they work no matter what side of the box you prefer.

Now, have at it! And if you’re brave, leave a comment and tell us which side of the box you prefer!

 

6 Comments »

1. 

   Like you, I also like my cozy, comfy box, and I write a great deal out of that comfort zone, but I find that my best writing really comes from when I am trying to understand something, usually things that disturb me. And it takes effort to get out of the safe box and do the messy, hard writing that eventually does clarify my own thinking.

   Comment by Vijaya — May 30, 2012 @ 8:49 am

2. 

   Vijaya, you make a good case for both INSIDE the box and OUTSIDE the box writers. Perhaps it’s a matter of knowing when you need to be which kind.

   I think sometimes I need to stay inside my box, but then go deeper, with layers and themes, instead of staying on the surface.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 30, 2012 @ 12:52 pm

3. 

   I’m still in that last thought, so much so that I couldn’t even TELL you which side of the box I prefer. I’ve lost so much confidence in myself as a writer that I’m not even sure what kind of writer I would BE if I was brave enough to write seriously again. But I really like these links, particularly the 10 Blocks to Creativity one.

   Comment by rockinlibrarian — May 30, 2012 @ 3:00 pm

4. 

   Rockinlibrarian, I think your dilemma (being brave enough to write seriously again) is a topic worthy of a whole book. I know so MANY writers at that point right now–newly published and old published writers no longer “wanted” anywhere. Many feel afraid, and others fear wasting so much time on something that won’t pay off when they need the income from somewhere, if not the writing. I would guess that fear has been my #1 block to creativity over the years too. “Do it afraid!” became my mantra.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 30, 2012 @ 7:39 pm

5. 

   Thanks for the great links, Kristi. When I try to think outside the box, often nothing comes. If I don’t even think about being super creative, sometimes the insights arrive. As a writer through the years, I have found that the standard answer to “Where do you get your ideas?” that is often asked of successful writers to be so discouraging. They usually say, “Oh, I have more ideas than I can use.” or perhaps, “Ideas are all around me every day.” I have never found that to be true for me. I may think the same thoughts as they do or have a similar environment, but it seldom leads me to any ideas that seem to have merit. I seem to need more structure to pull an idea out of thin air. If an editor tells me to write a biography of Franklin Roosevelt and start the first chapter with a big event in his life, I can jump in and write an interesting book. If an editor says to write a novel taking place within a certain historical time, and use such and such conflict for these characters, I’m off and running. While the writing within these boundaries may still be hard, my brain will eventually cooperate by sending me some fine ideas. It’s nice to know that some people believe that creating “outside the box” isn’t always the way to create. We can start “inside the box” and see what happens.

   Bonnie
   http://blownawaybybooks.wordpress.com

   Comment by Bonnie Hinman — May 31, 2012 @ 11:03 am

6. 

   Oh Bonnie, you are singing my song! Back when I used to do a lot of school visits and had two books coming out each year, that was such a popular question: “Where do you get your ideas, and how do you decide which of many ideas to develop?” I honestly told them that I developed every good idea I got because I didn’t get many! Finally I began to trust my brain to cough something up when I needed it, but I would finish one book and have no idea what to write next, and about three weeks later something very “inside the box” would come to me. And I’d be off again. Writers who have dozens of ideas to choose from intimidate me!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 31, 2012 @ 2:08 pm

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