Creative ideas are the life blood of the artist. In the past, I’ve struggle through a real love/hate relationship with my ideas. Years ago, my process for dealing with inspiration looked a little something like this:
Perhaps this sounds familiar to you.
Creative types tend to be outwardly confident. Most of the time, this is only to hide our deep self-loathing. It’s so easy to listen to that voice in our heads telling us that every idea we have is stupid. Over the last few years though, I’ve learned to not take the easy way out.
Now, as soon as an idea pops into my head, I write it down, no matter how crazy it seems. The artist should record every idea, especially the stupid ones. As I’ve said before, your latest bad idea is just your next great idea waiting to be developed.
- The idea hits
- IMMEDIATELY my mind tells me, “That’s dumb. That’s stupid. That’s too under-developed. It will never work.”
- I throw the idea away
- Three days, a month, or maybe a year later, I discover that someone has executed on the idea and found success.
- Smack self in head
Perhaps this sounds familiar to you.
Creative types tend to be outwardly confident. Most of the time, this is only to hide our deep self-loathing. It’s so easy to listen to that voice in our heads telling us that every idea we have is stupid. Over the last few years though, I’ve learned to not take the easy way out.
Now, as soon as an idea pops into my head, I write it down, no matter how crazy it seems. The artist should record every idea, especially the stupid ones. As I’ve said before, your latest bad idea is just your next great idea waiting to be developed.
