Develop Habits That Nurture Creativity

Image via WikipediaThe ideas of "routine" and "creativity" may seem contradictory, but they are truly the necessary Yin and Yang of artistic balance.

When I wrote my first book in 2007, I had no structure whatsoever in my writing schedule (if there was ever a schedule at all.) I learned very quickly that the only way I could make something from nothing, to weave together an array of ideas and form something as large as a book, was to set up a framework on which to build. That framework was constructed of time - the time I spent working versus the time I spent looking for time to work.

First, to escape the distractions of home, I made "appointments" with myself to go to a local coffee shop and write three nights a week. When I needed to pick up the pace, and working away from home five to seven nights each week just wouldn't work for the family, I began getting up an hour earlier in the mornings and made writing my first task of the day. Believe me, early rising was painful at first, but I managed to see my goal of a finished book as a higher priority than an extra hour of sleep.

In less than a month of working with that schedule, a funny thing happened - the writing just came to me. Because of a routine, creativity wasn't a struggle. I didn't have to squeeze it out, like blood from a stone, the way I did when I would try and write "when I had the time." I had developed a habit. I sat in my chair, flipped to a blank page, and I wrote. Three years and three books later, the same framework delivers every time.

Doing something every day is the simplest way to develop a positive habit that can propel you towards your creative goal. If you're an artist, draw or paint something small each day. If you're a knitter, stitch up a wee something every night after work. A writer? I bet you can guess - write something, even if it's just a paragraph, each day whether you feel like it or not.

I guarantee that in a few short weeks, whatever action you choose will become a painless part of your routine and you will feel great because of it!

Catch the Creative Spark!

I've enjoyed taking part in catchy little creative challenges for a long time. Whenever I feel I need a push or just can't come up with any new idea, I look to things like story starters or themed projects like Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesdays to get me going. I don't always follow the rules (you should have guessed that already) but the results are still the same - I get something done.

Because I have such a fondness for these gimmicky prompts, I've decided to start my own series as part of this Trinket a Day journey and share them here with anyone hoping to add a spark to their "Make Something 365" endeavor (or ANY creative activity!)

What's a gimmicky prompt without a gimmicky name? BLAH, that's what. So, I hereby launch Motif Mondays! Every Monday morning, bright and honkin early, I will pull a random theme out of my bag of tricks and post it here for all to see. To participate, all you have to do is use the theme as your inspiration for your creative project that day. Interpret it any way you wish, as long as you use it as your starting point. When you're done for the day and have shared your creation with the world, drop a link in a comment for that Monday's motif post. Ta-da!

This Monday, jump on board and get ready to make something with me. Heck, tell your friends and we'll have a little party every week! Just drop by and look for this header: