The Importance of Creative Time

by Chris McGinty of AccordingToWhim.com

Creativity is funny. It’s great when it seems to be flowing. It’s frustrating when you can’t think of anything that seems worthwhile. It wouldn’t be as fun if it didn’t vary. I’m a creative person. We can debate about whether I’m smart. We can debate about whether I’m talented. There is no question that I’m creative. It can be a blessing and a curse.

I was wondering if I’ve learned anything about creativity over the years. There are people who seem to have the psychology of creativity worked out. Some people have even provided us with examinations of the mechanical side of being creative. What have I learned?

Time spent is probably the most important part of creativity. We focus on finding great ideas, but I think it’s the work. We certainly don’t want to waste hours on creating crap, but I think it’s important to do so. We need time to think, of course. Some of the best ideas come to us when we’re relaxing or doing something mundane, though I think that those flashes of insight are the result of the creative work that preceded it.

Iteration – Iteration plays two parts. The first works like the inventor trying to figure out the light bulb. Each failure draws you closer to success if there is a successful option available. The second involves purging your brain of all ideas related to a project so that your brain can work on the next step. I have story ideas where I haven’t had a new idea for years, because I’ve made no forward motion. Doing the work would likely free up my brain to find the next idea.

Mood – I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to get into the creative mood is to sit down and start working on something, anything really. Once I’m in the headspace for creative work, I usually find good ideas.

Holism – The problem with the holistic approach is that it’s hard to properly track what worked and what didn’t. Did you suddenly have that insight because you read the right article? Did you suddenly have that insight because you took that walk in the park? Did you have that insight from indigestion of last night’s dinner? Here’s what I do believe though. I think that our brains have an interesting way of drawing conclusions. I think that when we keep coming back to ideas that our brains take another pass. It’s why I’m not afraid to write 3,000 words of useless crap to get to the 500 words that I needed.

Variance – David Bowie would paint when he was stuck on a song. I think that this fits holism in the way that some of what I wrote in the holism section fits iteration. Variance doesn’t have to be what type of art you’re creating. It can be work, brainstorming, daydreaming, etc. I rarely spend the entirety of my creative work time typing. Even if I do, I tend to jump between files to take notes about something that’s not what I’m currently working on.

I think that spending time creating is the most important aspect of creativity. Ideas are easy. Put me in a room for eight hours with a few questions and enough access to information, and I’ll come up with more ideas than anyone could reasonably need. It would be hard to look at my list and decide what’s a good idea and what’s not. It’s the act of leaning in a bit, doing a little bit of the work, and seeing what leads to what. Besides, what good is an idea if it isn’t given a chance to become something?

Chris McGinty is a blogger who is inside his warm bedroom writing, because it’s too damn cold to be anywhere near the outside right now. Ok, it’s not that bad, but he’ll be out in it soon enough. No need to hurry.