Re-Energize Those Creative Ideas!

 

“I’m not sure which manuscript to focus on,” the author told me the other day. After publishing two books with us, she was ready to jump into her third.

 

“A few months ago, I started working on the second book of my science fiction novel series. But then I stopped. Then I started working on a nonfiction book idea.

 

“Now I feel like I’ve run out of ideas for both books.”

 

“Which book stirs your creative juices most?” I asked. I figured that if she stirred whatever juices were flowing right now, she could finish that book and then ride the wave and continue the other book.

 

“Here’s my dilemma,” she continued. “I probably have more energy for my nonfiction book, but if I focus on it, at least two years will pass between part 1 and part 2 of my science fiction series. I don’t want to lose the momentum and start over.”

 

A dilemma indeed.

 

In those precious few moments when our creativity is sparking, the ideas we generate are energizing. Actually, they’re quite fun.

 

But how do you spark that creativity once again?

 

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Two weeks ago I gave you the first 10 Ideas to Stir Your Creative Juices.

 

Today, I’ll give you ten more.

 

And just so you know, these aren’t untested ideas. The vast majority of these come from my experience. Like most of you, my creative moments are literally that—moments.

 

Let’s stir the creative pot once again.

 

10 More Ideas to Stir Your Creative Juices

This is actually the advice I gave the author. If you write fiction, read another book in the same genre as yours. To spark my creativity for this post, I actually did a little research on stirring those creative juices. Suddenly I was off and running.

 

For those of you who are kissed with a touch of OCD like me—you eat everything on your plate at dinner, you listen to every song in its entirety (even if it bores you to death), and you MUST finish reading every book you start…STOP IT!

 

Once you’ve stoked those creative fires, put down your book and start working on your manuscript. You’re walking on holy ground, so don’t waste it reading a good book. You can return to it later.

 

This is my FAVORITE book on creativity. I don’t agree with everything Elizabeth Gilbert says (she’s a little too woo-woo for me), nevertheless, her insights into creativity are rock solid.

 

Here’s an excerpt:

 

Trust in the miraculous truth that new and marvelous ideas are looking for human collaborators every single day. Ideas of every kind are constantly galloping toward us, constantly passing through us, constantly trying to get our attention. Let them know you’re available. And for heaven’s sake, try not to miss the next one.

 

She goes on to explain that if you don’t run with that creative idea, it will eventually land with someone who will do something with it.

 

This happened to me. About  ten years ago, I was eight hours away from finishing a proposal for a book that I was going to co-author with another person. Our agents were already talking to publishers who were extremely interested.

 

Then my co-author suddenly backed out. I didn’t have his credibility and knew the project was over.

 

Two years later, someone wrote a book with the same premise—and it won numerous book of the year awards.

 

Read Big Magic.

I believe everyone has been endowed with a creative pool. Some pools are bigger and some are smaller. Regardless, we can draw from that pool in a variety of ways. For example, I believe my music abilities and love for public speaking come from the same pool as my writing.

 

With this in mind, tap into another creative area in your life to re-stimulate the flow.

 

If you’re an artist, create some artwork.

 

If you’re an art connoisseur, visit the art museum.

 

If you’re an instrumentalist or vocalist, play or sing some beautiful music.

 

If you enjoy working with your hands, get out your power tools and create something special.

 

Exercise the right side of your brain and watch how it brings your creativity to life.

Sometimes I just need to change out the scenery a bit.

 

Go to Starbucks.

 

Get away to the mountains.

 

Ride a train.

 

Spend a day at the beach.

 

Whatever you do, make sure you turn off all artificial stimulation. Social media is a creativity suck.

 

I can’t tell you how many times the idea of writing seemed as fun as beating my fingers with a sledge hammer. Let’s be honest—as much as writing can be fun, some days it’s downright painful.

 

NEVERTHELESS, in those painful moments, I discovered that after ten or fifteen minutes of writing, suddenly the ideas began to flow and my fingers started dancing a jig on the keyboard.

 

The bottom line is this: if you wait to write until you feel like it, you will never finish that manuscript.

 

Read that again.

 

This is important.

 

Over the years, I’ve learned that certain tasks lend themselves to creative ideas.

 

I enjoy mowing the lawn because for some reason, it sparks my creativity. On more occasions than I can count, I’ve shut off the engine, run inside, jotted down a few ideas, and then returned to mowing.

 

The same thing goes with taking my shower every morning. That’s why I (usually) play reflective music when getting ready for the day. Talk radio is usually another creativity suck, so I’m careful when I play it.

 

I’ve also found that in the place between sleep and being awake (I call it the "Gray Zone"), creative thoughts pass my way.

 

Learning how to capture those creative ideas before they move on to other people (see #2) is a discipline. Don’t let those fleeting thoughts flitter away without pausing to reflect on them.

 

Power tip: never, never, never commit those fleeting ideas to memory. Write them down or you will lose them forever.

 

More on this in a little bit.

 

This builds on #6.

 

I know, I know, this sounds a little like you're entering the wormhole from Interstellar, but hang with me...

 

Sometimes, a writing hurdle stymies me (don’t you love the word “stymies”?). Instead of trying to run through the hurdle, I lay down on the couch or futon. As I slowly drift into the Gray Zone, I consciously problem-solve the issue at hand.

 

Suddenly, a new idea hits me like a jolt of lightening and I jump into my chair and start tapping away.

 

Seriously--this has worked for me more times than I can count.

 

There's actually some brain science behind this. When we sleep, our brains go to work, sorting thoughts and experiences into different piles. 

 

By entering the Gray Zone with a specific issue, we're telling our brains what to sort first.

 

Kind of cool!

This also builds on #6.

 

Decide on a singular place to record the errant ideas that pass your way. I do this with the note-taking app on my cellphone.

 

Why do I say a singular place?

 

My wife Kelley is always looking for her car keys. And her cellphone. And her purse. She probably spends 30 minutes a day looking for lost stuff.

 

“If you put everything in the same place when you come home, you wouldn’t waste all that time looking for your stuff.”

 

She’s still looking.

 

In the same way, if you keep all your creative ideas in one singular place, you won’t run the chance wasting time looking for the disparate pieces in different places.

 

Pro tip: I like recording my ideas on my iPhone Notes app because if I lose my iPhone (which never happens KELLEY!) it’s still backed up on the cloud. Then I can access it on my iPad or laptop.

 

Sometimes we need an outside voice to show a perspective we can’t or aren’t willing to see.

 

Glengarry Glen Ross got it all wrong. It’s not “A—Always…B—Be…C—Closing” it’s “A—Always…B—Be…L—Listening.”

 

Creative ideas whiz by us all the time. The problem is, we’re not listening. Pay attention.

 

 

In early 2009, I resigned from the church where I served as an associate pastor. With a publishing contract to author a book, I figured I'd spend the next three to five years freelance writing before jumping back into the pastorate. 

 

Then one of those creative ideas flew by me. 

 

I was able to catch it before it flittered away. Suddenly, I could see a painting. I won't go into the details, but it was an idea for planting a church called The Neighborhood Church.

 

I spent the next few weeks praying about it.

 

One day, I was driving through the San Fransisco area on my way to a meeting in Fresno.

 

"God," I prayed. "Please give me a sign that I should plant The Neighborhood Church."

 

At that very moment, I looked to my left and saw a huge church building. In front stood a sign: The Neighborhood Church.

 

I'm not joking.

 

A year later, the church was planted and is still in existence to this day.

 

My point? You might find these blog posts helpful. Perhaps even inspiring. That's my hope.

 

But you're looking for a sign to know what to do next. Should you get a coach? Need some advice on book ideas? Who should publish your book?

 

Ever considered that the Power Writers Report is your sign? If you find these blog posts credible, perhaps you should take the next step and schedule an appointment to explore your book's possibilities.

 

Bounce ideas off someone who will be honest with you. Discover where your book fits into the market. Get answers to your questions.

 

Isn't it time you stopped going it alone?

 

You can schedule a strategy session with me by clicking here.

 

Let’s bring your book to life!