17 Creative
Brainstorming Methods That (Might) Produce Brilliance
Being creative
is a muscle--it needs to be worked in order
to stay active.
But just like a muscle, it can also get used
to the same exercises if you aren't careful to change things up every now and
then.
If you're ever stuck in a rut, try one of these:
1. The
"J.K. Rowling" Brainstorm:
Legend has
it J.K. Rowling began her fateful journey to creating the Harry Potter series by
writing notes on paper napkins. Whether that's true or not, it is a great
exercise to jot down ideas that are very meaningful. Do you know how annoying
it is to write on a napkin? It's not a great surface. Which makes what you
write all that more special. Go to a diner, order a cup of coffee, and try it.
2. Write 10
ideas every day:
This is one of
my favorite (and standard) "creative" muscle workouts. Every day,
write down 10 ideas you think would be fun to pursue. Don't worry about how
long they would take to make, budget, or whether or not they are realistic
in any way--just let your mind wander and see what it believes it could make
real. You'll be surprised how, after a few days, you'll be flooded with great
ideas.
3. Brainstorm
every idea that couldn't possibly work.
This is like
approaching creativity backwards. Next time you're in a meeting and everyone is
all, "Let's write down all our best ideas," if you get stuck, try
going the other direction. Write down anything and everything that
"couldn't possibly work." Funny how this often leads to an obvious
and brilliant solution that "just might be crazy enough to work."
4. Write with
your non-dominant hand:
This is an
exercise I learned in college while taking a poetry class. To emphasize the
importance of minimalism, we were instructed to write poems with our
non-dominant hand. What happens when you do this is you get so frustrated by
how slow (and sloppy) you are writing that you actually subconsciously delete
words for the sake of getting to the heart of what you actually want to say.
The end result? A wildly short and yet provocative piece. Try it--with
anything.
5. Draw what
you want to say:
Even if
you are not an illustrator, there is something about using symbols and stick
figures to communicate your message instead of words. Whether you are trying to
figure out how to organize a proposal, a chapter of your book, a presentation,
etc., try drawing your idea instead of writing it out. The words will
practically reveal themselves.
6. Construct
it all by memory:
This is
another helpful exercise I've learned through studying poetry. Instead of
sitting in front of your notepad and trying to get everything down on paper,
construct your message by memory in your head. If you stick with this long
enough, two things happen. First, you automatically delete anything that isn't
vibrant enough to be remembered (a positive), and second, you keep things short
and concise because otherwise you wouldn't be able to remember it. Then, once
you've got it all the way you want it, write it down.
7. Speak it as
you write it:
Give it a
voice. Sometimes sitting in silence with your brain running laps ends up
working against you. Say it out loud. Hear it. Feel it. Play with it and work
with it. Writers especially, read your work out loud. I promise, you'll come up
with some amazing material by using your real voice as a tool.
8. Go for a
walk with a pen.
Just a
pen, no notepad. If something really great hits you, write it on your hand.
Again, a test in brevity here: When we carry around notebooks we sometimes feel
compelled to jot down everything that comes to mind. But if you only have a pen
and your tablet is your hand, then you will be more mindful of what you
ultimately choose to write down. Brevity tends to reveal the most simple (and
best) material anyway.
9. Have an
"idea storm."
This is one of
our tactics at Idea Booth. For big campaigns, we gather the whole team around our big table and
we hold an "idea storm." One person stands at the head of the room
(where the walls are painted with idea paint--you can write on them with dry
erase marker), and as people contribute ideas, they all get written down on the
board. After about 15 minutes, we step back and circle the best ones, and then
as a group we dive deep and expand on each one, sharing out loud how we would
bring them to life.
10. Read.
I mean,
so simple but so undervalued. Too many people try to be creative in a vacuum.
They sit in a room by themselves and tap their pencil on their desk and wait
for brilliance to strike. It doesn't really happen like that. Instead, start
reading everything surrounding the challenge: Read about what other people have
done in that particular niche, read case studies, read about the history of
whatever you are looking to solve, etc. Read, and the answer will reveal
itself.
11. Detox from
all technology.
Again,
extremely undervalued and rarely done because it is a challenge, but the
results always speak for themselves. Next time you find yourself in a creative
rut, take a Saturday, wake up early, and fall off the grid. Turn off your phone
and put it in your closet. Don't open your laptop. Spend your entire day
detached from the digital world, and every time you get that
"inkling" to do something or you get bored, journal or go for a
walk or read instead. I promise you, come afternoon you'll be flooded with
ideas.
12. Brainstorm
in front of an audience.
We all have
that friend we share everything with. Well, use them as a resource. If you're
struggling with an idea, invite them over, pull out the whiteboard, sit them
down, and say, "Look, I just need to think through this out loud. Let me explain
what I'm thinking, and then you provide me with any feedback or ideas." By
the time you're done explaining the challenge, chances are you'll have realized
the answer yourself.
13. Use social
media to gain feedback.
That's really
what social media is used for--conversation. Instead of spending three months
bashing your head against the wall trying to come up with "the perfect
idea," just start testing and sharing things on social media and see what
people respond to. Brainstorm by interacting with people and adjust as you go
along, based on feedback.
14. Wake up at
odd hours.
This can be
extremely jarring but it can also be really effective. If you're used to
getting up at 6 or 7 a.m., try getting up at 3 or 4 in the morning, pitch
black, and starting your day then. This is not for the faint of heart, but
there is something to be said for drastically adjusting your surroundings to
spark your creativity.
15. Create it
in a completely different format.
As a musician,
I tend to do this a lot as a cross-training exercise: I take something I am
working on writing and compose the same story through music (piano, an
instrumental, a song, etc.). This is another challenge in keeping things
concise, and also tends to reveal a lot about the underlying emotions of what
it is you're creating. Music is, after all, a language.
16. Write it
as a letter.
If you're ever
struggling to figure out how to say something, or who it is you're
"talking to" with what you're creating, image it as a letter to one
person. Visualize that one person in your mind: What do they look like? How old
are they? What do they want to hear? Write as if you are speaking to them and
them only, and watch the voice reveal itself naturally.
17. Create
consistently!
BY NICOLAS COLE
http://www.inc.com/nicolas-cole/17-creative-brainstorming-methods-that-will-produce-brilliance.html?cid=em01020week33a
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