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{Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from the lovely Tania Wojciechowski.}
I’m staring at the white page in front of me – have been for about 20 minutes – willing something to appear. It’s no use, it’s not going to work. I walk away from my desk, berating myself for not being able to come up with a new idea, punishing myself for not being creative enough.
It may be a bit harsh, but when we are in the middle of a panic moment, caught behind that creative roadblock, we can get caught up in those negative judgements of “this is terrible,” or “I’m not good enough.”
Luckily there are many techniques you can use to jump start your creative fires. Here are a couple that have worked for me in the past:
1. Give yourself narrow parameters.
It may seem counter-intuitive to limit your creativity when you are in a creative drought, but when we place limits on our explorations it is actually creatively freeing. We no longer remain in that empty space without ideas, but are quickly making decisions about what is and isn’t within your limits.
Let me give you an example. By saying, “I’m only going to think about circles,” we make ourselves aware of circles, we focus on circles, and we play with circles. We can now say “no” to squares and triangles, and that ability to make quick yes/no decisions gives us the feeling of productivity and progress. We can then take our camera out and look for circles to photograph in signs, in landscapes, and in windows. Or we can start doodling and cutting out paper circles and playing with composition. Did I just say play? Hey, sounds like you just went around that roadblock! By saying no to what is outside your self-limited scope, you are saying yes to all the possibilities that are inside it. {Click to Tweet that little nugget!}
2. Say yes. And yes. And yes.
The trauma of that blank page often comes while trying to think of the Perfect Words that make up that first sentence, or, trying to draw the Perfect First Line on your new design. We are prejudging our output – that line isn’t perfect, those words aren’t right. We are actually saying “no” over and over again before we even hit the keyboard.
Change this by saying “yes” – whatever comes out is perfect, is good, is exactly what you want. Say yes to the silly words that pop into your mind – write them down! Say yes to the goofy drawing – it’s perfect. It may not be exactly what you wanted to say, or draw, or photograph, but it’ll get you started, and it will often take you down a surprising path. The silly doodle you just did has an abstract quality that would make a beautiful embroidery, or that line of paint reminds you of water ripples and you suddenly want to do a series of paintings with ‘water’ as a theme.
3. Build creative energy with others.
Just like studying for a test is easier when you are doing it with a partner, so can creativity be more fun when you explore it in a group. You can meet up with other creatives and spend an evening doing something crafty; you can join a photography, improv, or screenprinting class; or you could dive right in and participate in a creative retreat.
Working with Deanna Mullican from Apples and Orange, I have organized just this kind of retreat – a place to reconnect with your creative energy, passions, and authentic voice. The main reason I wanted to set up a retreat was to create a welcoming and supportive space where I could find ways to reignite my own creative fires. I wanted a place where I could connect with other creative entrepreneurs who were going through the same issues, and where I could build a support system I could call on when I had those “blank page” moments. Spark: the Creative Entrepreneur Retreat, takes place May 3-7, 2012, just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. We’ve rented a gorgeous hacienda, and there will be room for 10 beautiful, creative souls to join us. The amazing creative community-builder and mentor Jessika Hepburn from Oh My! Handmade will be there as well as the creative powerhouse and magical wordsmith Alexandra Franzen. They will both be there the entire weekend, and will lead us through workshops to help reconnect us with our own creative force. There will be other workshops as well, and lots of time for discussion with the other women, so we can start building not only a strong creative support system, but also lifelong friends and mentors. Check out the Spark website, and consider joining us in the mountains of New Mexico this spring if you’d like reignite your own creative fire!
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About the Writer:
Tania Wojciechowski is the owner of manusmade, where she makes modern goods for you and your home from natural materials. She is passionate about helping people connect with their creative super powers. Oh yes, and linen – she really, really loves linen. Check out her websites at manusmade.com and reigniteyourfire.com, and connect with her on twitter @manusmade and @sparkretreat.
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