Calling Your Muse
I’ve been giving my dear husband a hard time for years because when his muse comes to call it’s usually not just a gentle nudge. It’s a full-on body slam (we call his muse “Reggie” after the late, great Packers defensive end Reggie White). He ends up composing prolifically for a couple of weeks or a month and then afterwards has some dribs and drabs come to him until the next time Reggie comes to call.
Most artists, performers, and other creative people will find themselves in a situation where they need an idea or an inspiration and come up blank. There are ways to engage your creativity without the full-on muse bomb with that fully formed idea or concept that you seemingly just channel from the ethers. Not to say that it won’t happen any longer, or that you will somehow mess up that particular “force”, you will simply be able to generate ideas and inspiration under your own steam.
The technique of calling your muse is more about discipline and practice than it is anything else. They are tools and their only value is that they can be used to fix a problem, but I can’t promise that they will work 100% of the time, just that they will work.
- Brainstorm Let your mind wander and kick out as many possibilities as it possibly can. Not every idea in a brainstorming session is going to be a winner, but you may find a thread of an idea that you can use to begin building more solid ideas on.
- Define your problem Grab a sheet of paper, electronic notebook, computer or whatever you use to make notes, and define your problem in detail. You’ll probably find ideas positively spewing out once you’ve done this. (Baumgartner, 2003)
- If you can’t think, go for a walk A change of atmosphere is good for you and gentle exercise helps shake up the brain cells. (Baumgartner, 2003)
- Create a discipline Take 15 minutes of every day to do whatever it is that you do. Writers – write, Painters – paint, Musicians – music! That 15 minutes will give you the ability to go through and force your brain into a creative mode on a daily basis. Even if all you do is go over something you’re in the process of already doing, it’s 15 minutes that you brain knows that it’s “time to be creative” which can help when you need it to do so at a moment’s notice.
- Read as much as you can about everything possible Books exercise your brain, provide inspiration and fill you with information that allows you to make creative connections easily. (Baumgartner, 2003)
Exercise your brain. Brains, like bodies, need exercise to keep fit. If you don’t exercise your brain, it will get flabby and useless. Exercise your brain by reading a lot (see above), talking to clever people and disagreeing with people - arguing can be a terrific way to give your brain cells a workout. But note, arguing about politics or film directors is good for you; bickering over who should clean the dishes is not. (Baumgartner, 2003)
Subscribe to mailing lists, periodicals, etc. that relate to your creative field. Seeing what other people are doing, and having people with similar interests gives you a pool of individuals that can help you move forward when you’re stuck through either direct suggestion, or providing inspiration from what they are doing.
Creativity is an ongoing process, rather than an accidental happening and learning the skills and disciplines necessary to create an environment where you can be creative when you need to be will only benefit you and your art or science.
Suggested Links to Visit:
Gretchen Rubin writing about the work of Dorothea Brande.
The 2009 Creative Every Day Challenge.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.
Creativity Techniques - an A to Z.
References
Baumgartner, J. (2003) 10 steps for boosting creativity. Retrieved from http://www.jpb.com/creative/creative.php on February 7, 2006.
Tags: creativity