What should you do when inspiration strikes? Take advantage as soon as it hits.
We all have lives and people who depend on us every day. We create our schedules (to support those people) weeks in advance to give us a sense of structure. Unfortunately, creativity often arrives in the most difficult circumstances. You can be hit with an idea that raises the hair on the back of your neck, and have no time in the forseeable future to respond to it.
Here are a few ideas on how to mold your life into one that is able to act on inspiration when it strikes you.
- Surround yourself with people that understand your sensibilities and needs.
I’m extremely greatful to have a girlfriend that fully supports my creative endeavors. I know that if I was really driven to do something creative, and that act would supplant some of our plans, she would understand. - Give yourself the freedom and strength of character to cancel plans.
You won’t have the energy to finish out that great idea forever. That drive is temporary. It goes to waste if you don’t let yourself explore it as soon as you need to. - Realize that your mind is not perfect, carry a notebook.
Moleskin notebooks have made a revival due to their sturdy nature and the fact that you can literally bring them anywhere and know they won’t fall apart. - Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
I’ve had hundreds of ideas that were horrible in retrospect, but I was enamored with at the time. But you have to work out those kinks. Instead of getting discouraged by a bad idea, work through it and realize that it has brought you closer to a good one. - Always have supplies ready and waiting.
Due to the unpredictability of inspiration, you should always have as much as you need to finish an idea. The idea might be there the next day, but your energy probably won’t.
These are all things I could do much better on a daily basis, but I recognize them as essentials to maximizing my creative potential. These ideas can apply to any creative endeavor. It could be writing, painting, sculpting, cooking, or designing. Most importantly, be aware that while the idea may stick with you for a while, your energy for bringing it to fruition is temporary.
Good advice Mr. Meeks… especially the point about rearranging plans.
For me I’d say that “Ambition can be distract(ing)”. If anything gets in the way of me being creative or following inspiration, i’d be the fact that I find myself over thinking and trying too hard to obtain a preconceived idea or end goal, rather than riding the wave, solving creative problems one at a time.
I think you are right about that Trent.
It is really easy to try and refine the idea until it is perfect in your mind’s eye. But our mind’s eyes aren’t perfect, either.
The transition from our mind to our hands is faulty, also! You can’t predict how the execution will turn out until you start actually getting those hands dirty!
When you have been mostly successful at being creative, it’s easy to trust your instincts. When you have failed a hundred times, not so much.
@amberman99
I know it can be frustrating if you feel like your instincts have failed you. But I can assure you that you are learning something from each of those experiences.
I’ve “failed” hundreds and hundreds of time, probably thousands. For every painting I’m really proud of, there are literally 5 or 6 that I’m not proud of.
As long as your are open to the quantifiable elements of something that make you label it a “failure”, you can adjust your mindset the next time you start being creative, and avoid the problems you were having initially.
And the opposite applies. I’m sure there are times where at least an element of a creative piece has been cool/awesome/tingly/successful. So focus on what it is that you’ve done that is awesome, and seek out to replicate it in different ways.
Chris,
I’ve experienced situations like this where I wasn’t prepared to ride the wave of creativity and angry at myself later.
On the flipside, it’s also important for designers to maintain balance between tunnel vision creative moments and important relational time with the people who are most important to them.
Both are essential.
*Also, thanks for the helpful feedback you provide to designers over at http://uniqueCSS.com