4 Supercharged Ways to Boost Your Creativity

There’s no finer calling than the creative calling. Own it.

Whether you’re a writer, artist, or musician, you rely on a stream of creativity to help keep you going — or, at least, a well of creative skills you can draw upon at will.

But what do you do when that well runs shallow or dry?

How do you fill your creative cups?

Here are four simple-but-powerful ways you can boost your connection to your creative powers. Try some or all and see how far you go.

Dare To Take Risks

“Just Do It” isn’t just for sportswear advertisements.

I had no business becoming a writer. An opportunity crossed my path, and I jumped on it — ready or not. Turned out I really enjoyed it, and that encouraged me to keep writing.

Now I make a living at it.

I loved listening to Irish music sessions at pubs. One day, after sitting and listening for years, one of the musicians I had become friendly with showed me a couple of simple tunes on his tenor banjo and mentioned how mandolins are tuned the same and that an inexpensive mandolin wasn’t hard to get.

If I was interested in trying, that is.

I was, and I did. I was terrible for quite a while, but I was having a blast. A couple of years later, I was not only sitting in on sessions with my own banjo but sometimes leading them.

None of the above would have happened if I avoided taking risks.

Risks can be the catalyst to jumpstart a creative calling you weren’t even sure you had. Not all pan out, but I’ve never regretted trying. I’ve always learned something.

What I’ve learned has helped me become a better creator over the years — not just as a writer, but also as an artist and musician.

Do something you’ve never tried before, but think you might enjoy. Paint a picture. Learn an instrument. Write a poem.

Trying new things keeps your mind fresh and can surprise you with talents you didn’t know you had.

Challenge Yourself With a Big Deadline

You’ve taken a creative risk and have been at it for a while. You’ve been building your skills and seeing some real progress.

You’re enjoying yourself.

But maybe you’ve also been vaguely dissatisfied with something. Maybe you think you’ve hit a wall. Maybe you feel you need a creative push.

What to do?

Set yourself a challenge. A deadline.

As an artist, I’ve done reasonably well. I’ve sold artwork to be used as covers for books and magazines. I’ve sold pieces in gallery shows. I really couldn’t complain, considering it was mostly a vaguely monetized hobby.

Just the same, I felt I had fallen into a creative rut. My work had slowed, and I wasn’t feeling very inspired.

One of my “go-to” places for inspiration — particularly during the nicer months — is outdoor art festivals. I always get energized seeing what other people are up to, and I get lots of ideas for new styles and subjects to try.

While visiting one nearby festival, my wife mentioned how it might be fun to be a vendor at one of these events.

She was absolutely right.

I talked to some of the artists present and learned of some festivals coming later in the summer. By the end of the day, I got the contact information and sent in applications to two festivals set about a month and a half ahead. I was accepted before the week ended (meaning my registration check cleared), so I now had two art festivals on the schedule and about five weeks to have some new work-ready.

I exploded into work. Where there had been a stall, now I had a set deadline to produce some works in time. I had to get watercolors matted. I had to get acrylics finished and framed. Despite taking longer to dry, I also managed to get in a couple of oil paintings. My wife (whose idea this was to begin with) was in charge of making sure we had a tent, tables, chairs, etc.)

Five weeks later, I was setting up at the Pawtucket Arts Festival. My first outdoor arts event.

We did better than expected. That is to say, I broke even. I sold enough work to cover registration, tent, and art supplies. But the real profit was the experience.

The experience.

My example might be a little extreme. Your deadline could be something simpler like the deadline to submit a short story to a contest or someone’s birthday you promised to write a song for.

The idea is to set yourself up for a challenge and a deadline and see if that doesn’t spur your creativity and kick you into high gear.

Set Time Aside For Creativity

Believe it or not, creativity doesn’t have to be spontaneous. You can plan for it.

In fact, you’re more likely to have a fruitful creative session when you plan ahead.

If you work a lot during the week at a somewhat traditional job, I understand why you may not be feeling much inspiration after an exhausting day. In that case, block out half a day on your days off. Have your materials ready if you need them (paintbrushes, journals, clay — whatever) so you can sit down and get started right away when the time comes.

You’ll find yourself filling your head during the time leading up to your scheduled creativity block with all sorts of ideas.

Now is the time to go for it.

Don’t Be an Island

That is to say, don’t cut yourself from others. You’d be amazed how much being around people or simply interacting with them can inspire you. It could be artists at a festival, musicians at a session, writers at a convention — or all of the above at a humble coffee shop.

Heck, even interacting with fellow creatives on Slack or Discord helps.

It’s not just about exchanging ideas and techniques. It’s about the power of human interaction.

Draw from that power.

Get away from your desk or easel or whatever and go mingle. If COVID becomes an issue, I’ve found Zoom meetings work well enough.

It’s better than nothing.

And you’ve got nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

The Creative Commitment

A creative lifestyle is most successful when you’ve made a commitment toward it.

That’s really the key. That, and seeing yourself as an artist.

Go ahead and define yourself as a writer, or as an artist, or as a musician. Identify yourself as all three and more.

You’re not a wannabee creative. You are creative.

Embrace it, be it, commit to it.

And watch how far you go.

Cheers!

About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2