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10 Effective Ways to Improve Your Creative Writing

Writing a story is a craft that requires constant tweaks, edits and trial and error by the writer. Here are ten tips to improve your creative writing and save you hours of painful re-writing in the future.

(1) Don’t underestimate your reader

You have a fantastic plot, your characters are realistic, the setting is ideal and you want to make sure that the reader gets every little detail that you have in mind. Great!

The only problem is that you may be tempted to bombard your reader with many intimate details so that they see it exactly as you do. In-depth descriptions can be useful and effective, but don’t overdo it. Keep your writing neat and tight; don’t waste space on long, rambling descriptions about things that aren’t necessary to your story.

Wouldn’t it be ideal if editors received submissions and decided to look past the typos and incorrect formatting because they think it might be a little gem of a story? The fact is that if your manuscript is full of errors or doesn’t follow the required guidelines then it’s going in the trash.

Don’t rely on your computer’s spell checker. If you make a typo, the computer will not warn you if you’ve still spelt a valid word. Your gorgeous heroine meets the bog (boy) of her dreams? The wealthy doctor places his golf ball on his tea (tee)?

(3) Give Your Characters Life

Characters are vital to your story so treat them with care and give them that breath of life that you, the writer, have the power to give. Give them unique characteristics; make them believable by making them have a purpose, motivation and conflicts to resolve.

(4) Use Strong Words

You want your writing to sound decisive, so use words that get the point across. Did Bob’s really big headache cause him a lot of pain or did Bob’s migraine cause excruciating pain? But remember not to overdo it: don’t use words that the reader won’t understand, you want to use strong words, not confusing or extravagant ones.

(5) Show Don’t Tell.

Who hasn’t heard that one before? But it’s a valid point and a useful rule for all writers. Fiction is for entertainment, so entertain your reader! Give them an excuse to escape into the reality that you have created. Let them see, hear, feel, smell, laugh, cry, love and hate. Show your reader the world that you’ve created, don’t just tell them about it.

(6) Check your Commas

While commas can be effective many inexperienced writers tend to sprinkle their sentences with them. When placed incorrectly, commas can chop up your sentences and sometimes even alter the meaning. Brush up on your high-school grammar; your work will improve with that alone.

(7) Grab their Attention from the Start

Opening lines are often referred to as ‘the hook’ because that’s exactly what you want them to be. You get the reader’s attention and reel them in for the rest of the story. Try something powerful to kick-start your story. For example: ‘Mark’s back broke with an audible crack’ or ‘Eliza didn’t realize that she was going blind’ or ‘The bullet that pierced Henry’s back and left him paralyzed was meant for a homeless man’. Each of these lines makes the reader ask ‘why?’ and once they ask that question, the reader will keep on reading until they find the answer.

(8) Give Your Reader a Satisfactory Ending

You can leave the reader speculating or wondering why at the end of your story, but try to resolve as much as you can. If your reader finishes the last sentence and is still asking questions about what happened to who and why, then you still need to tie up the loose ends.

(9) Sober up

Think of writing as going out to a bar: you go out, the lighting is dim, it’s noisy, maybe you drink too much but you meet a person who’s attractive, witty, shares the same interests as you and you’re smitten by them. A few days later you meet for coffee: are they as good looking or charming as you remember?

This can happen with writing. You become intoxicated with the feeling of success and think that you have written an award-winning piece. The question is, once you’ve sobered up, is it as good as you thought it was? Put your manuscript away and try not to think about it for a couple days. Then take it out and read it with a clear, open mind. Read it through once from beginning to end, then break it up into sections, then read it sentence by sentence. Is it as good as you remembered? If so, then well done! But the odds are that if you were too excited about finally wrapping it up, then you’ll find some points to revise.

(10) Challenge Yourself

Are you trying too hard to write in a specific genre or style? Do you only write short stories or novels or poems or movie scripts? Give that creative muscle a workout and try something different. It will be a refreshing exercise for your mind and you might be surprised by the result. If you don’t succeed then you have still learnt a valuable lesson.

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How to Improve Creative Writing

Last Updated: April 26, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Melessa Sargent and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 36,392 times.

Creative writing is an outlet to express your imagination by putting it onto paper. Many people enjoy creative writing, but some struggle with it because of how unstructured it can feel. If you have been writing creatively and you’d like to improve your skills, try learning grammar rules and receiving feedback on your work to strengthen your creative writing and boost your confidence.

Creating Polished Work

• Using correct grammar and punctuation will also make your writing seem more polished.

• For example, instead of saying, “He quickly and quietly ate his food,” try saying, “He gulped down his meal.” This sentence is more interesting, and gives the same effect to the reader.

Tip: Take a break from writing and come back to your piece after a few hours or even days. Mistakes will be easier to spot after you’ve taken a break.

• Revising is similar to proofreading, except you are looking for ways to improve your piece, not just correcting mistakes.

• Don’t be offended if someone doesn’t like your piece, or has a lot of feedback to give. You can choose whether or not to implement a change that someone else suggests.

Finding Time and Ideas

Tip: If you think you might forget to write, set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself.

• Get a library card so that you can check out books for free instead of buying them every time.

• For example, you might start with a prompt like, “Imagine what it would be like to be a plant,” or "Write about a day in the life of Barack Obama.”

• You can also use people-watching to practice writing down descriptions of behavior and clothing.

• For instance, try writing a fairytale from another character’s perspective, or setting it in today’s era.

• Deadlines that you set for yourself can seem easy to brush off, but you will be disappointed in yourself if you don’t meet them.
• Make sure your deadlines are realistic. Don’t plan on finishing an entire book by next week if you’re only halfway through.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.luc.edu/literacy/grammar.shtml
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/group-writing/
• ↑ Melessa Sargent. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 14 August 2019.
• ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1
• ↑ https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/why-its-important-to-read/
• ↑ https://cetl.uconn.edu/about/mission/

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How to Boost Your Creativity – Strategies for Generating Ideas and Overcoming Writer's Block

Do you ever find yourself stuck when it comes to writing or unable to come up with creative solutions to a problem? Don’t worry—you are not alone. Everyone experiences writer's block or a lack of creativity at some point.

At times, as writers, we may be really eager to write about a particular topic, only to be hindered by a mental block that makes it difficult to articulate our thoughts effectively. Despite our passion for writing, we may struggle to develop a cohesive idea that aligns with our intentions.

This common phenomenon is often referred to as " writer's block ," and it affects not only book or article writers but also songwriters.

In this article, we will explore tools that can help writers generate titles aligned with their intentions and also optimize the title for search engine optimization (SEO). Additionally, we will discuss causes and strategies for overcoming writer's block.

What is Writer's Block?

Writer's block is a temporary condition that impedes a writer's ability to produce new written content or causes a significant decrease in creativity and productivity.

This form of mental paralysis can hinder progress on any project or piece of writing, making it difficult to focus, find inspiration, and stay motivated. The resulting frustration can often lead to procrastination and a sense of being stuck, ultimately hindering the completion of a project within the desired timeframe.

What Are the Causes of Writer's Block?

Various factors can lead to writer's block, such as:

• Stress : High levels of stress or exhaustion can make it difficult for writers to concentrate and come up with fresh ideas.
• Fear or self-doubt : Writers struggle with anxiety and self-doubt, which can make it difficult to feel motivated and productive. If you're currently experiencing this type of writer's block, you're not alone.
• Lack of inspiration : Writers may struggle to find new and creative ideas. It's common for writers to face challenges, which result in a lack of motivation and a feeling of being stuck .
• Environmental factors : External factors such as noise or interruptions can disrupt a writer's concentration and hinder their ability to produce quality work.
• Perfectionism : Some writers strive for perfection and may become overwhelmed by the pressure to create flawless content, resulting in difficulty getting started or completing a project.
• Physical or mental health issues : As the saying goes, health is wealth. Medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, or chronic pain can affect a writer's ability to focus and be productive.
• Network Issue : such as low bandwidth or internet disruptions, can cause distractions, and frustrations, and ultimately lead to procrastination. As a result, by the end of the day, you may forget what you had intended to write about initially.

How Do You Overcome Writer's Block and Boost Your Creativity?

• Free writing : keep a journal and write without any expectations or limitations. Simply jot down whatever comes to mind without worrying about grammar or structure. This technique can help generate new ideas and inspire your writing. I use this technique often and find that it helps me overcome writer's block and get started on a new piece.
• Take a break : Stepping away from your work for a short period of time can help refresh your mind and provide a new perspective. When you come back to your writing, you may have a fresh perspective or renewed energy that can help you overcome writer's block and move forward with your project.
• Change your environment : This can also help stimulate creativity. Being in a new location can provide fresh inspiration and break up the monotony of writing in the same place. Consider working in a new setting or taking your writing outdoors to help overcome writer's block. This can help you get inspired.
• Try something new : Experimenting with a new genre, style, or format can spark fresh ideas and inspiration. This strategy has been recommended to me by my sister, and I have found it helpful in breaking out writer's block.
• Practice self-care : Taking care of your physical and mental health is crucial in reducing stress and anxiety, which can hinder creativity and productivity. Prioritizing activities such as exercise, healthy eating, and mindfulness practices can help improve focus and promote a positive mindset, thereby stimulating your mind, and ultimately overcoming writer's block.
• Reading Widely : This exposes you to a variety of writing styles. It can help broaden your perspective, increase knowledge, and spark new ideas. Reading can help overcome writer's block and boost creativity. Additionally, reading widely can also improve your writing skills by observing and learning from other writers' techniques and styles.
• The Art of Brainstorming : This can unleash a flood of ideas and inspire creativity by gathering a diverse group of individuals and fostering an environment that encourages the generation of ideas without criticism or judgment.
• Get organized : When faced with writer's block, getting organized can help clear your mind and provide structure, making it easier to focus and get your creative juices flowing.

Tools to Help to You Overcome Writer's Block

There are tools available that can help you generate ideas for articles. This can help you prevent episodes of writer's block.

Article Idea Generator :

This tool uses advanced algorithms and natural language processing to suggest a variety of SEO-optimized article topics based on user input.

Since it's open-source, it also allows for customization to suit individual writing styles, making it a personalized solution for beating writer's block.

This application assists you in getting rid of distractions by preventing certain websites and apps from interfering with your writing process.

By concentrating solely on your writing, you may be able to overcome writer's block and produce better-quality work.

It's worth noting that Freedom has both free and paid versions, and you need to sign up to access all of its features. Additionally, you can download the application to your device.

Headline Generator

The Headline Generator generates attention-grabbing and SEO-friendly titles for social media posts and YouTube captions by analyzing keywords. It saves time, sparks new ideas, and increases engagement and readership. Content creators can use it to boost their online presence.

ProWritingAid

This is an online writing tool that can enhance your writing with suggestions for grammar and style, as well as readability analysis.

By utilizing this tool, you can overcome writer's block and improve the quality of your work. However, you need to sign up to access all of the features.

Writer’s block can be a frustrating and daunting experience for anyone, regardless of skill level. It can sap your creativity and leave you feeling stuck and unmotivated.

Luckily, there are plenty of tools out there to help you overcome writer’s block, boost your creativity, and stay productive.

These are just a few examples of the numerous software tools available to help prevent writer's block. Ultimately, the best tool for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences as a writer.

Keep exploring different tools and trying new things until you find what works best for you.

With some patience and determination, you find yourself writing with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Here's a helpful article you can read about the power of rest and how it helps you be more creative:

If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with other Technical writers who may benefit from it.

If you're interested in reading more of my articles, feel free to check out my blog . Additionally, you can connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on my latest work.

Thanks for reading💖

As a web developer, I encountered struggles with certain programming concepts while learning to code. To help overcome these difficulties, I started a blog where I explain programming concepts that I previously had trouble understanding. Through my blog, I aim to assist and communicate with other developers, making programming concepts more accessible and understandable for everyone. 💖

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8 Creative Writing Tips and Techniques

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is creative writing, forms of creative writing, top 8 creative writing tips, how to get better at creative writing.

Creative writing transcends the realms of technical, business, and academic writing and focuses on elements such as plot, creative development, and narrative structure.

There’s no set formula for creative writing , but there are ways you can improve your writing technique.

If you want to learn more about creative writing , keep reading as we discuss what creative writing is, its various forms, and tips on how to get started.

Creative writing is a style of writing that is focused on expressing the writer’s imagination and creativity.

Creative writing often involves the creation of fictional or nonfictional works that go beyond the formal, professional, and traditional styles of writing. This type of writing allows writers to express themselves in a more personal and original way.

What Do You Do in Creative Writing? 

Creative writing gives writers the opportunity to be original and express themselves. It involves the use of literary techniques and devices to tell a story or to paint a picture in the reader’s mind.

There are many different forms of creative writing, such as novels, poems, screenplays, and even songs.

The main goal of creative writing is to entertain, inspire, or convey an idea or message to the reader. It is a form of self-expression that allows the writer to explore their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

It can also be a way for writers to explore new ideas, to entertain and inspire readers, and to share their perspectives and experiences with others. 

Ultimately, the purpose of creative writing is to connect with the reader on a deep level and to leave a lasting impression.

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Creative writing is an expressive form of writing that takes many forms and styles. Let’s look at a few examples of creative writing forms.

Fiction Writing

Fiction involves the creation of imaginary characters, settings, and plots. You can write fiction in many different genres, such as mystery, romance, fantasy, and more.

You can also write fiction in any length you want. For example, flash fiction is shorter than 1,000 words, while the average novel is around 90,000 words.

Poetry is a type of creative writing that uses expressive language. Poets use techniques such as rhyme, meter, and figurative language to create meaning and convey emotions and ideas.

Poems come in many different forms. You can try writing a haiku, a sonnet, a free-verse poem, or any other poetic structure that appeals to you.

Screenplays

A screenplay tells a story through the medium of film or television. It includes descriptions of characters, settings, and actions, as well as dialogue and stage directions.

A play is meant to be performed on stage. It includes dialogue, stage directions, and descriptions of characters and settings. Plays can be a powerful way to engage the audience’s emotions and imagination to convey complex themes.

Songs are a musical expression of creative writing . Songs can be written in a variety of genres, such as pop, rock, folk, hip-hop, and more. They can be written to express a wide range of emotions and ideas, from love and heartbreak to social and political issues.

Graphic novels

A graphic novel is a type of creative writing that combines text and illustrations to tell a story. It can be a work of fiction or nonfiction and can be written in a variety of genres.

Nonfiction Writing

Creative writing is typically associated with fiction, but there are nonfiction works that fall under the creative categories, too. These nonfiction works deal with real events, people, and ideas. Creative nonfiction can take the form of personal essays, memoirs, biographies, or even news articles.

There’s no scientific formula for creative writing . It all comes down to your own self-expression and the limitlessness of your imagination. However, there are a few creative writing techniques you can use in your next writing.

Here are eight ways you can improve your creative writing skills.

1. Find Inspiration

The first step for any creative writing project is to find your inspiration. This can come from a variety of sources, such as your own life experiences, your interests and passions, or even something as simple as a newspaper article or a conversation with a friend.

Take some time to think about what inspires you, and use that as the foundation for your writing.

2. Read Widely

To be a good creative writer, you need to be a good reader. Reading widely exposes you to different styles, genres, and techniques, and it can help you develop your own voice as a writer.

You’ll get to learn from a variety of authors, and you may discover new ways of structuring a story, creating compelling characters, or using language in a way that resonates with readers.

So read widely, and don’t be afraid to try out new genres or authors.

3. Try Freewriting

Freewriting is a writing exercise in which the writer allows their thoughts and inspiration to flow onto the page without any prescribed structure or editorial oversight.

It involves letting the mind wander and following the impulses of your subconscious, allowing you to tap into your creativity and explore new ideas.

While the first time you try freewriting you may end up with mostly unusable material, with practice, it can help you refine your writing style and unleash your creativity.

4. Write Often

The more you write, the better you’ll be. By writing every day, you’ll develop a habit that will make it easier to sit down and write even when you don’t want to.

Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, use that time to jot down some ideas or work on a scene. 

5. Use Literary Devices

Literary devices are techniques writers use to add depth, interest, and emotion to their writing. By using these devices, you can create vivid imagery, convey complex ideas, and engage the reader’s emotions in a way that goes beyond simple storytelling.

For example, you can use descriptive language to paint a picture of a character’s appearance, which allows readers to feel like they are truly immersed in the story. Other literary devices include symbols, allegory, emotional language, metaphors, and similes.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned pro, incorporating these techniques into your writing can help you craft more compelling and engaging stories.

6. Get Feedback

Getting feedback from other people helps you improve your creative writing skills.

Sometimes it feels intimidating to share your work, especially when you’re new to creative writing, but it’s a crucial step to help you progress.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your work and tell you what they think. Alternatively, you can attend a workshop for writers, where you can get more targeted feedback.

You can also join writing communities to meet like-minded creative writers. Spaces such as ProWritingAid’s Community allow writers to come together and support each other in their writing journey. You’ll get access to feedback and constructive criticism on different aspects of your writing, such as plot, character development, setting, and language use.

7. Edit Your Work

The editing process is an essential part of creative writing . Once you’ve finished your first draft, it’s important to continue making changes to your work, whether it’s cutting unnecessary words, reworking a scene, or adding details.

Many successful creative writers suggest editing after you’ve finished writing so it doesn’t interrupt your creative flow.

Editing can be time-consuming, but it’s worth it to produce the best work possible. You can use an editing software like ProWritingAid to show you where you can improve your writing.

ProWritingAid goes beyond just correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation issues by also showing you style improvement suggestions. Plus, if you’re looking to improve your creative writing skills, you can use ProWritingAid to compare your work to your favorite authors.

8. Have Fun

Creative writing is all about originality and self-expression, so above all, have fun with your writing. It’s easy to get bogged down in the details and to take things too seriously, but it’s important to remember that writing is supposed to be enjoyable. 

So relax, let your creativity flow, and have fun with it.

Creative writing is a form of self-expression that allows you to use your imagination and creativity to share your ideas and thoughts in a unique way.

Venturing into creative writing can be intimidating at first, but remember that you’ll get better with practice.

Take time to read widely, try writing exercises, and gather feedback on your work. Don’t be afraid to join creative writing communities so you can access support in your writing journey. 

And above all, remember: there’s no limit to your creativity. 

Hannah Yang

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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5 Effective Ways To Improve Your Creative Writing Skills

Do you dream of weaving tales that transport readers and leave them wanting more? Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your creative journey, honing your craft is essential.  

Improving your creative writing skills can seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategies, anyone can become a more compelling and proficient writer. This article unveils 5 powerful ways to elevate your creative writing , engage your audience, and transform your raw ideas into captivating stories. Let's dive in and discover how you can transform your writing from good to great.

Sharpen Your Foundational Tools

Sharpening your foundational tools is an excellent first step to elevating your creative writing skills. Some key areas to focus on and exercises to try:

Master Grammar and Punctuation

Understanding the rules of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure is defining for any writer. Study the basics using resources like grammar guides and online courses. Regular practice with grammar exercises will reinforce your understanding and application, assuring that your writing is clear and correct.

Expand Your Vocabulary

A rich vocabulary can add depth and variety to your writing. Read widely across different genres and subjects to expose yourself to new words and phrases. When writing, use a thesaurus to find synonyms that can make your language more precise and engaging. Your writing will avoid repetition and express your ideas more effectively.

Hone Your Style and Voice

Experiment with different styles and voices to discover what feels most natural and effective for you. Reading your work aloud can help you hear the rhythm and flow of your writing, allowing you to fine-tune your style. 

Develop Strong Editing Skills

Revise your work thoroughly, focusing on clarity, coherence, and consistency. Review your work multiple times, concentrating on different aspects each time. Seeking feedback from others can provide valuable insights and new perspectives on your writing, aiding you to improve further.

Study Literary Techniques

Study the works of great writers to understand how they use literary techniques like imagery, symbolism, and metaphor—practice incorporating these techniques into your writing to enhance your storytelling and add depth to your narratives.

Build a Consistent Writing Routine

A consistent writing routine can significantly improve your skills over time. Set clear, achievable writing goals to keep yourself motivated and on track. Dedicate time each day to writing, even if it’s just a few sentences. This habit will build your confidence and practice to become a more proficient writer.

Read Widely and Often

Reading widely and often exposes you to different styles, techniques, and ideas, all of which can fuel your creativity. You'll transform yourself from a passive reader into a keen observer, ultimately enriching your writing with depth, nuance, and a touch of the magic you encounter within the pages.

Tips to Maximize Your Reading Experience as a Writer:

Read Diversely

Don't limit yourself to your preferred genre. Explore different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, to gain a broader perspective on storytelling techniques and writing styles.

Read Actively

Engage with the text beyond just following the plot. Pay attention to the author's word choices, sentence structure, and the way they use language to create imagery and evoke emotions. Take notes, underline interesting passages, and jot down questions or thoughts that arise as you read.

Analyze Different Elements

Pay close attention to how authors develop characters, build worlds (for fiction), and structure their stories. What makes their characters relatable? How do they create a sense of place? Identify elements you find particularly effective and consider how you can adapt them to your writing.

Read with Intention

Choose books that align with your writing goals. If you're working on a historical novel , research and read works set in that specific period. Are you struggling with dialogue? Read books known for their exceptional dialogue and analyze how the author brings their characters to life through their conversations.

Make Reading a Habit

To reap the benefits of reading, make it a regular part of your routine. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to read. Carry a book with you or use an e-reader app on your phone so you can read during downtime. Join a book club or reading group to discuss what you’ve read and gain new insights.

Benefits of Reading for Writers:

Expands Your Vocabulary: Encountering new words in different contexts naturally expands your vocabulary and equips you to express yourself more precisely. As you encounter unfamiliar words, make a habit of looking them up and incorporating them into your writing.

Enhances Your Understanding of Storytelling: By observing how authors craft narratives, develop characters, and build suspense, you can learn and adapt these techniques to your writing. Take note of what resonates with you and think about how you can apply similar strategies to your writing.

Stimulate Your Imagination: Engaging with well-crafted stories stimulates your imagination and inspires creativity. Reading allows you to escape into different worlds and scenarios, sparking ideas for your writing. It encourages you to think outside the box and explore new concepts and themes.

Provides Inspiration and Ideas: Reading exposes you to a vast array of stories and ideas, which can spark your creativity and ignite new concepts for your writing.

Sharpens Your Critical Eye: Analyzing how authors use language, structure, and character development strengthens your critical thinking skills , allowing you to refine your writing approach.

Develop Your Storytelling Techniques

Storytelling is at the heart of creative writing. Developing your storytelling techniques can transform your writing, making your narratives more engaging and memorable. 

Understand Story Structure

Familiarizing yourself with classic story structures, such as the three-act structure , the hero’s journey , and the five-act structure , can make your writing more desirable. These frameworks assist you to plan and organize your stories effectively. Identify key plot points like the inciting incident, climax, and resolution to guide the flow of your narrative and keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Create Compelling Characters

Multi-dimensional characters with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and motivations are decisive for driving your story. Develop strong characters that readers can connect with emotionally. Plan character arcs that show growth and change, assuring your characters face challenges and evolve throughout the story. This progression makes their journey compelling and relatable.

Build Vivid Settings

Using descriptive language to create vivid settings transports readers into your story’s world. Details about the environment, weather, and sensory experiences make your setting more immersive. But you need to set relevant to the plot and contribute to the story’s mood and themes. A well-chosen setting intensifies the narrative and deepens reader engagement.

Master Dialogue

You must create dialogue that reflects the characters’ personalities and sounds natural. Avoid overly formal or stiff language unless it suits a specific character. Every line of dialogue should serve a purpose, whether it’s advancing the plot, revealing character traits, or providing exposition.

Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of telling readers what’s happening, show them through action, dialogue, and sensory details. This technique makes your writing more dynamic and engaging. Use subtext to convey underlying emotions and themes. What characters don’t say can be as important as what they do say, adding depth to your narrative.

Pacing and Tension

Control the pacing of your story to maintain reader interest. Use shorter sentences and chapters for fast-paced action while longer, descriptive passages for slower, reflective moments. Create tension and suspense by introducing conflicts, obstacles, and stakes. Keep readers on the edge of their seats by delaying resolutions and maintaining uncertainty.

Utilize Literary Devices

Incorporate literary devices like metaphors and similes to create vivid imagery and convey complex ideas in an accessible way. Use foreshadowing to build anticipation and create a cohesive narrative. Symbolism adds layers of meaning and enriches your story’s themes, making it more engaging for readers.

Revise and Edit

Writing is rewriting. Don’t expect your first draft to be perfect. Revise your work multiple times, focusing on different aspects like plot, character development, and pacing. Share your drafts with trusted readers or writing groups to get constructive feedback. Use their insights to refine and improve your story.

Practice Different Writing Techniques

Experimenting with different writing techniques is a fantastic way to boost your creative writing skills and expand your literary toolbox. 

Some techniques you can explore and how they can benefit your writing:

Experiment with Point of View

The point of view (POV) from which you tell your story can greatly influence how readers perceive it. Experiment with different POVs to see which best suits your narrative. First-person POV offers an intimate, personal perspective, while third-person limited can provide a close, yet flexible viewpoint. Third-person omniscient allows you to explore multiple characters’ thoughts and experiences. Changing the POV can give you new insights into your characters and story.

Vary Sentence Structure

Using a variety of sentence structures can make your writing more interesting and dynamic. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones to create rhythm and flow. Varying sentence structure benefits maintain reader interest and can emphasize important points or actions. Practice combining different types of sentences to make improvements to the overall readability and impact of your writing.

Focus on Character Development

Well-developed characters are fundamental for compelling stories. Practice creating detailed character profiles, including their backgrounds, motivations, and flaws. Develop characters that grow and change throughout the story. Show their development through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters. Strong character development leads readers deep into your story and cares about its outcome.

Stream of Consciousness

This technique comprises capturing a character's unfiltered thoughts and feelings in a continuous flow. It can be a powerful tool for revealing a character's inner world and creating a sense of intimacy with the reader.

Non-Linear Storytelling

Ditch the traditional chronological structure. Experiment with flashbacks, flash-forwards, and interwoven timelines to create suspense and keep your reader engaged. This technique can be particularly effective for stories with complex narratives or unreliable narrators.

Stay Inspired and Motivated

Staying inspired and motivated makes us delve into the practical aspects of nurturing a successful writing practice.

Seek Out Inspiration

Inspiration can come from many sources. Read widely across different genres and styles to expose yourself to various voices and techniques. Watching films, visiting art galleries, or simply spending time in nature can also spark new ideas. Keep a journal to jot down thoughts, observations, and snippets of dialogue that come to mind.

Setting specific, achievable goals can keep you motivated. These can be daily word counts, completing a chapter by a certain date, or submitting work to a contest or publication. Goals offer direction and a sense of accomplishment as you achieve them.

Join a Writing Community

Being part of a writing community can be incredibly motivating. Join a local writing group or participate in online forums where you can share your work, receive feedback, and support fellow writers. Engaging with others who share your passion can supply encouragement and new perspectives.

Embrace Challenges

Take on writing challenges or prompts to push your creativity. Participate in events like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) or weekly writing contests. These challenges contribute to a structured framework to write regularly and explore new ideas.

Celebrate Progress

Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Completing a difficult scene, reaching a word count milestone, or receiving positive feedback are all reasons to celebrate. Recognizing your progress will boost your confidence and motivation.

Take Breaks

It's important to rest and recharge. If you feel stuck or uninspired, take a break. Do something completely different to clear your mind. Sometimes, stepping away from writing can lead to breakthroughs and renewed enthusiasm.

Stay Positive

Writing can be challenging, and self-doubt is common. Stay positive and remind yourself why you love to write. Surround yourself with supportive people and focus on the joy of storytelling.

The path to creative writing mastery is an ongoing journey, filled with exploration, experimentation, and a sprinkle of happy accidents. By embracing these 5 effective strategies, you'll equip yourself with the tools to refine your craft, strengthen your voice, and transform your stories from promising seedlings into captivating narratives that bloom on the page. 

Remember, becoming a skilled creative writer takes time and dedication. Keep practicing, embrace feedback, and never stop learning. With these tips and consistent effort, you'll be well on your way to crafting captivating stories and expressing your unique voice through writing.

Enhancing your creative writing skills is a continuous journey that requires dedication, practice, and an openness to learning. Register for Skilltrans courses today so we can help you enjoy the process of bringing your imagination to life on the page.

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Train Your Brain to Be More Creative

• Bas Korsten

How to get those ideas flowing.

Creativity isn’t inherent. You have to hone it. Here are a few ways to do that, based on neuroscience.

• Engage with nature: Looking at trees and leaves, instead of our electronic devices, reduces our anxiety, lowers our heart rates, soothes us, and allows our brains to make connections more easily.
• Meditate: Meditation clears our minds of jumbled thoughts, and gives our brains the space to observe and reflect, improving task concentration and enhancing our ability to make smart decisions.
• Get moving: Exercising releases endorphins – chemicals our body produces to relieve stress and pain. And when we are less stressed, our brains venture into more fruitful territory.
• Connect with different kinds of people: Diversity makes the brain work harder, by challenging stereotypes.

I don’t do ruts.

• Bas Korsten is the Global Chief Creative Officer at Wunderman Thompson.

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How to Boost Creativity

Creativity is the ability to come up with or recognize ideas to solve problems, communicate with others, or entertain.

Creativity is all about finding new ways of solving problems and approaching situations. This isn't a skill restricted to artists, musicians, writers, or "right-brained" thinkers; it is a useful skill for people from all walks of life . If you've ever wanted to boost your creativity , these tips can help.

Commit Yourself to Creativity

The first step to increasing creativity is to devote yourself to developing your creative abilities. Do not put off your efforts. Set goals, enlist the help of others, and put aside time each day to develop your skills. For example, if you are interested in painting, schedule time regularly to learn and practice your skills.

Boost Creativity by Becoming an Expert

One of the best ways to develop creativity is to become an expert in this area. By having a rich understanding of the topic, you will be better able to think of novel or innovative solutions to problems. One way to develop expertise is by reading about creative people and listening to them speak.

Reward Your Curiosity

One common roadblock to developing creativity is the sense that curiosity is an indulgence. Rather than reprimanding yourself for following an internet rabbit hole, reward yourself when you are curious about something. Give yourself the opportunity and the time to explore new topics.

Rewarding yourself is important, but developing intrinsic motivation is also crucial. Sometimes, the true reward of creativity is the process itself, not the product.

Take Risks to Build Creativity

When it comes to building your creative skills, you must be willing to take risks to advance your abilities. Although your efforts may not lead to success every time, you will still be boosting your creative talents and building skills that will serve you well in the future.

For example, sharing your work in a creative writing course might feel intimidating. But the critique you receive from classmates and teachers can be invaluable.

Build Your Confidence

Insecurity in your abilities can suppress creativity, which is why it is important to build confidence. Note your progress, commend your efforts, and always be on the lookout for ways to reward your creativity.

Make Time for Creativity

You won't be able to develop your creative talents if you don't make time for them. Schedule some time each week to concentrate on some type of creative project.

Making time for creativity might involve saying no to some things that are draining your available time, or even choosing to let go of things in your schedule that are not bringing you joy. Sometimes, it might even involve asking others to help with tasks or take care of childcare and other household duties so you have some free time for your creative pursuits.

Overcome a Negative Attitude

Focus on eliminating negative thoughts or self-criticisms that may impair your ability to develop strong creative skills. Recognize these as roadblocks and work to overcome them.

When you find yourself dwelling on negative thinking, make an active effort to challenge those faulty ideas and replace them with more realistic or positive ones.

Fight Fear of Failure

The fear that you might make a mistake or fail in your efforts can paralyze progress. Whenever you find yourself harboring such feelings, remind yourself that mistakes are simply part of the process. While you may occasionally stumble on your path to creativity, you will eventually reach your goals.

Brainstorm New Ideas

Brainstorming is a common technique in both academic and professional settings, but it can also be a powerful tool for increasing creativity.

Start by suspending your judgment and self-criticism. Then start writing down related ideas and possible solutions. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible in a relatively short span of time. Next, focus on clarifying and refining your ideas in order to arrive at the best possible choice.

As unlikely as this may seem, recent research points to dim light as a trigger for creativity. Darkness may free you from perceived constraints and encourage you to take creative risks that may seem intimidating in bright lighting.

Explore Multiple Solutions

The next time you approach a problem , try looking for a variety of solutions. Instead of simply going with the first idea you have, take the time to think of other possible ways to approach the situation. This simple activity is a great way to build both problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

Keep a Creativity Journal

Start keeping a journal to follow your creative process and track the ideas you produce. A journal is a great way to reflect back on what you have accomplished and look for other possible solutions. This journal can be used to save ideas that can later serve as future inspiration.

Use Mind Maps and Flow Charts

A mind map is a way to connect ideas and look for innovative answers to questions. Create a mind map by writing down a central topic or word. Next, link related terms or ideas around the central word. While similar to brainstorming, this technique allows for branching ideas and offers a very visual way of seeing how ideas are linked.

As you start to develop a new project, create a flow chart to track the project from start to finish. Look for various paths or sequences of events that might occur. A flow chart can help you visualize the final product, eliminate potential problems, and create unique solutions.

Challenge Yourself and Create Opportunities

Once you have developed some basic creative skills, it is important to continually challenge yourself to further advance your abilities. Look for more difficult approaches, try out new things, and avoid always returning to the same solutions you have used in the past.

In addition to challenging yourself, you also need to create your own opportunities for creativity. This might involve tackling a new project or finding new tools to use in your current projects.

Try the Six Hats Technique

The "six hats" technique involves looking at a problem from six differing perspectives. By doing this, you can produce more ideas than you might have had you only looked at the situation from one or two points of view.

• Black hat : Use a negative perspective. Which elements of the solution won’t work?
• Blue hat : Think broadly. What is the best overall solution?
• Green hat : Think creatively. What are some alternative ideas?
• Red hat : Look at the situation emotionally. What do your feelings tell you?
• White hat : Look at the situation objectively. What are the facts?
• Yellow hat : Use a positive perspective. Which elements of the solution will work?

Find Inspiration to Boost Creativity

Never expect creativity to just happen. Look for new sources of inspiration that will give you fresh ideas and motivate you to generate unique answers to questions. Read a book, visit a museum, listen to your favorite music or engage in a lively debate with a friend.

Use whatever strategy or technique works best for you. Do you enjoy video games? Research indicates that playing video games can help increase your creativity.

Consider Alternative Scenarios

When approaching a problem, ask "what if..." questions to consider each possible scenario. If you take a specific approach, what will the outcome be?

By looking at these alternatives beforehand, you'll be better able to develop creative solutions to problems.

Try the Snowball Technique

Have you ever noticed how one great idea often leads directly to another? You can take advantage of this by using a "snowball technique" when you are generating ideas for a project. If an idea isn't appropriate for your current work, set it aside to work on later, or implement it in a future project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Strategies that can help stimulate creative thinking include challenging yourself to think about things differently, engaging in leisure activities that reduce stress, having social interactions with other people, and taking a break from a task to go for a walk.

Give yourself time to be creative. Engage in hobbies and pursue the things that spark your interests. Allow yourself to daydream or imagine different scenarios. Perhaps most important, allow yourself the freedom to pursue different ideas and take risks. Not every idea will pan out, but the process and practice will help you boost creativity and develop a stronger imagination.

Franken RE.  Human Motivation . 3rd ed. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

Steidle A, Werth L. Freedom from constraints: Darkness and dim illumination promote creativity .  J Environ Psychol . 2013;35:67-80. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.05.003

Tilly M. How to create a mind map (+examples) . The Institute of You.

De Bono E. Six Thinking Hats . Penguin, Limited.

Blanco-Herrera JA, Gentile DA, Rokkum JN. Video games can increase creativity, but with caveats .  Creat Res J . 2019;31(2):119-131. doi:10.1080/10400419.2019.1594524

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Productivity , Self-education

8 sharp techniques to improve your creative writing skills.

Good composition skills in any facet of creative writing will take you to amazing heights. You should remember that in order for your creative writing to reap rewards, it should captivate the reader. Your words should be carefully thought out, and they should have meaning. How can you accomplish this? It may take some adapting, but aiming to improve with these tips will never do you harm.

1. Have a Broad Understanding of the Subject

Writing creatively requires a focused approach and broad understanding of the subject in order to create a larger picture for the reader to visualize. You should spend time researching and conducting informational interviews in order to gain this knowledge about the subject. The more knowledge that you have, the more that you are able to convey to the reader through your writing. Oftentimes, writers miss out on painting the larger picture.

2. Do Something Different

Never be scared of doing something different or unique that will bring your writing to a whole new realm that may be unexpected or out of the ordinary. Oftentimes, this can evolve into something that is different yet amazing—something that readers will enjoy.

How can you achieve this? Think differently and put yourself in environments that are inspiring or relaxing. Sometimes, having no rules is the best way to reach your full potential when it comes to creative writing.

3. Think of the Three Act Structure

This method is prevalent not only in modern writing, but also in television and film. These “acts” are not distinct from one another, rather they flow seamlessly through the piece.

Setup, confrontation, and resolution. The setup will establish characters, how they relate, and their world. There will be an inciting incident that has an attempted resolution and a turning point. The confrontation will be the central problem with the main character attempting to resolve it with much adversity, turning into a journey. The resolution consists of the climax and the resolution of the problem.

4. Add Interesting Details about the Setting and Location

Bring your essay to life—literally. Using specific details about settings and locations, readers will be transported into your piece. Literature can be dry if focused only on the hard facts, but can become increasingly interesting when adorned with details about a location or setting. Even the smallest details can prove to have a major impact in creative writing.

5. Extended Metaphors

This is when the writer uses an analogy to explain a complex concept so that the readers may understand it better. Unfamiliar concepts can be explained in a way that is familiar and can be visualized.

One example of a well-known extended metaphor is when Shakespeare wrote “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” in Romeo and Juliet.

6. Record Your Ideas

Keep a notebook with you at all times so that you can scribble down any ideas when they come to mind. Inspiration can strike at any hour. Think about your topic when you’re doing mundane tasks or when you are out and about. You’d be surprised at what you’ll think of when you’re out of your working mode.

7. Use Meaningful Dialogue

Meaningful dialogue will demonstrate how the character feels or what they mean by what they are saying. Rather than only including the words that are being spoken, include one or two details about the character that will invoke an image in the reader’s mind about how the person is feeling. Most people know how to write a creative essay , but having meaningful dialogue transforms it into a masterpiece.

8. Create Tension or Conflict

Tension and conflict is created between characters and can be internal or external. You should balance these opposing forces to keep the reader interested in the story and anxious to see how it will be resolved. There are plenty of themes for conflict which include, but are not limited to, high stakes, universality, insight, empathy, surprise, causality, progression, empowerment, and mystery.

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9 ways to improve your creativity

Creativity is like lightning, it can strike when we least expect it. It can be powerful and yet it’s a fickle, elusive thing that even the most creative of people struggle to master. 

The value of creativity isn’t limited to writers  – it’s an in-demand soft skill, often heralded as one of the most valuable in the workplace. Being more creative could really benefit us all in the long-term, as engaging in creative activities is thought to delay the development of memory problems in old age.

So, how do you improve your creativity? We’ve put together a list of proven ways to flex those creative muscles and get your ideas flowing again. 

• Experiment with prompts

You may have already tried prompts in your search for inspiration, but they really can spark new ideas. Whether you’re a writer looking for a new novel idea, or you’re searching for inspiration at work, it can be hard to pluck innovative ideas from thin air. 

Stimulate your imagination with prompts to get fresh concepts flowing. You may not come away with anything this first time, but try and try again, and you’ll find your responses easier to form as you explore avenues you may never have dared to before.

• Try a new routine

Shaking up your routine can do wonders for your brain. It’s easy to become complacent and comfortable in your own space, so take the time to wake up at a different time than usual, explore your surroundings and discover new hours of the day. 

Brain activity fluctuates throughout the day, you may find yourself scribbling down ideas first thing in the morning rather than last thing at night.

If you’re stuck in a rut with your current routine, take a look at the writing routines of famous writers and our own team of experts on our blog. 

• Speak to new people

Seeing the world from a new perspective, listening to new opinions or contrasting beliefs to your own can be a fantastic way to challenge your view of the world. 

Research suggests that the desire to learn and discover new experiences seems to have significantly more bearing on the quality of creative work than the intellect of an individual alone. 

You don’t need to be a genius to boost your creativity, you just need to be open to new experiences beyond your current environment. Joining a writing group or course can be a brilliant creative and social venture. 

• Try a new skill

Similarly to the above, trying a new skill can be an extraordinary way to boost your imagination. 

“Experiencing or learning new things requires your mind to think (and neurons to connect) in new ways. It provides new perspectives and supple ground for ideation and creativity,” writes Kendra Sand .

• Free writing

Have you ever tried free-writing? It’s an activity that can take many forms, although it is often mistaken for stream of consciousness which is far too meticulous and crafted to be considered free writing. The purpose of free writing is to write without constraint. The content and grammatical structure doesn’t matter, all that matters is the constant writing of whatever is on your mind. 

Creativity is the byproduct of free writing – helping you unlock your thoughts and unleash your imagination.

• Sign up for our creativity course

Our Creativity for Writers course is all about developing your creative skills and learning new ways to generate fresh ideas and solutions to overcome the obstacles you may be facing.

With proven tips, writing assignments and feedback from peers as well as an award-winning author.

• Go for a walk

Stanford University researchers found that walking stimulates imagination . They examined the creativity levels of people while they walked versus while they sat still. They found that a person’s creative output increased by an average of 60% while walking. Another study found a nature hike boosted creativity by 50 percent.

Whether you’re in an urban or rural setting, there’s an abundance of stimulus to get you thinking. Listening to sounds, feeling the texture of the world beneath your feet, as well as the scents and sensations you may come across all act as inspiration to get you thinking. 

If you want to take it up a notch, many well-known writers are also runners, citing the activity as a part of their creative process. 

• Cultivate a creative life

Creativity is a mindset that needs to be nurtured. It is a muscle to be trained, not a switch that can be turned on or off at any whim.

Finding new ways to embrace creativity in other aspects of life is something our Creativity for Writers course excels at. Our course leader, Francesco Dimitri, has also written a brilliant article on how to be more creative . 

• Let go of perfectionism 

Tried all those things and still can overcome your creativity block? Fear could be holding you back. 

Writers by nature are prone to overthinking, writing draft after draft until they’re just right. It can be hard to just let go of the need to be perfect. 

Perfectionism is so often intertwined with imposter syndrome and writer’s block, whether you’re worrying about people’s opinions, that you’re not good enough or that you’ll ever have a good idea ever again. It’s the fear of failure that’s suppressing your creative freedom. 

Imposter syndrome is something even successful writers struggle to defeat.

Being more creative is a long-term commitment but it can be immensely rewarding for writers and non-writers alike. If you try our suggestions, let us know how they helped and which activity you enjoyed most. 

If you’re looking for more guidance on your creative journey, sign up for our Creativity for Writers online course and explore the science and philosophy behind living a creative life. 

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Fostering Creativity: 12 Strategies to Boost Creative Skills

It has also been called “ the skill of the future” (Powers, 2018).

This is partly because creativity helps individuals adapt to uncertainty and solve problems as they arise. Research has also suggested that creativity – as a component of the personality factor “ openness to experience” – is a better predictor of an extended lifespan than intelligence or overall openness to experience (Turiano, Spiro, & Mroczek, 2012).

For our own good then, it would appear creativity is worth cultivating. But can it be cultivated? If so, how? And what is creativity?

In the following article, we explore what creativity is and how personal creativity can be fostered. We discuss creativity in the classroom and workplace. We touch on creativity in art and music. We also note the intriguing connection between nighttime and creativity.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Strengths Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients realize your unique potential and create a life that feels energized and authentic.

This Article Contains:

What is creativity, 6 ways (+1) to be more creative, fostering creativity in the classroom: 3 tips, 3 steps for a more creative workplace, becoming more creative in art and music: solitude and collaboration, the link between night and creativity, positivepsychology.com’s resources, a take-home message.

Creativity can be defined as the ability to bring something original and valuable into the world.

Creativity can occur in almost any field. It happens in art and music, of course. It can also happen in mathematics, engineering, science, business, education. Anywhere there are problems to be solved or the mind seeks expression, creativity can be found.

Is creativity a trait that a privileged few are born with?

Not at all. In fact, research on creativity shows it can be fostered in anyone (Neumann, 2007).

Let’s take a look then at how creativity can be encouraged in any person.

1. Daily walking

Walking is the evolutionary basis for many human abilities. It is also known to foster creativity. As O’Mara (2019) writes, our ability to walk upright on our own two feet (bipedalism) has freed our hands and minds to create in ways no other animal can.

O’Mara (2019) holds that minds in motion are more creative. In one example, he relates that the Irish mathematician Sir William Hamilton had struggled for years with how to perform specific calculations in three-dimensional geometry.

Then one day in 1843, while walking beside the Royal Canal in Dublin, Hamilton made an intellectual breakthrough. He realized how quadrupled numbers or “quaternions” could be used to calculate not only in three but four dimensions (the fourth dimension being time). He quickly carved the formula for quaternions on a stone in the nearby Broom Bridge.

Since 1990, mathematicians from around the world have gathered for a commemorative “Hamilton Walk,” from his home in Dublin to the bridge where he carved his breakthrough formula.

Who knows what further mathematical breakthroughs might occur on this commemorative walk, sparked by minds in motion?

At Stanford University, Oppezzo and Schwartz (2014) compared individuals’ creativity while sitting to that when walking (including walking inside versus outside). Subjects were asked to perform various tasks requiring creativity while walking indoors on a treadmill, walking outdoors, sitting indoors, or sitting in a wheelchair outdoors as it was being pushed.

In one task, subjects were given three objects and asked to think of as many different uses as they could for each object. Overall, creative output was found to improve by about 60% when walking (either indoors or out), versus sitting. So, if you’re looking to boost your creativity, try going for a short walk – or a long one.

2. Set task limits

This idea is borrowed from an entrepreneur who called it “ embracing constraints” (Tank, 2019). This might seem counterintuitive at first. Doesn’t being creative imply being more expansive, letting one’s mind run free? Actually, setting strict limits can also foster creativity.

Tank (2019) cites the example of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), whose editor bet him he could not write a children’s book using only 50 different words. Geisel rose to the challenge, producing under this unusual constraint one of his bestselling and most memorable books: Green Eggs and Ham (Seuss, 1960).

So, consider setting some unusual limits for yourself. Whatever the activity, you might find that setting limits produces interesting and creative results.

Relaxation is known to enhance creativity. There are various proven ways to put oneself in a relaxed state. These include progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, walking meditation, and yoga postures.

For example, progressive muscle relaxation has been associated with reductions in heart rate, anxiety, and perceived stress. In addition, relaxed states have been shown to foster thought processes important for creativity. For example, diaphragmatic breathing has been associated with improved attention, a key component in creative problem solving (Ma et al., 2017).

Furthermore, stress – the opposite of relaxation – is known to kill nerve cells in the hippocampus, an area of the brain where new memories are formed. These new memories help us make connections with other things, fueling the creative process. Stress management is, therefore, imperative.

So, take a break. Create a relaxed state for yourself by breathing deeply, stretching, going for a walk, whatever works for you. Once relaxed, you might find a creative answer to a problem that has been eluding you.

4. Collaborate

There is a famous image of the solitary genius, working alone in a lab or searching for a melody on a lone piano. But is the ‘solitary genius’ a myth? In a paper on collaboration and creativity, Uzzi and Spiro (2005, p. 447) note how collaboration can boost creative production: “ creativity is not only, as myth tells, the brash work of loners, but also the consequence of a social system of actors that amplify or stifle one another’s creativity. ”

Uzzi and Spiro (2005) argue that many of history’s great creators – such as Beethoven, Marie Curie, the Beatles, and Maya Angelou – were involved in creative networks in which members critiqued, encouraged and collaborated on each other’s projects.

So, if you tend to work alone and find yourself stuck on a project, consider seeking collaboration, for example, by discussing your project with another person in your field. You might find a new way forward on your project, with a little help from your friends.

5. Sleep on it

Artists, scientists, and other creative individuals have often described how sleep, and especially dreaming, helped them create new solutions to persistent problems.

For example, the psychobiologist Otto Loewi had a recurring dream that contained the design of an experiment. This experiment would later prove that brain cells communicate via chemicals or “neurotransmitters.” For this discovery, Loewi would share the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1936 (McCoy & Tan, 2014).

More recently, various experiments have shown how sleep promotes creative problem solving. One set of experiments suggested that in REM (dream phase) sleep, the brain replays memories to extract essential patterns or lessons from them.

In non-REM (deep or dreamless) sleep, the brain then makes connections between these patterns or lessons and other things we already know (Lewis, Knoblich, & Poe, 2018). We can thereby arrive at new solutions to problems that have preoccupied us during waking hours; as when, for example, James Watson dreamed of two intertwined serpents, leading to the discovery of DNA as a double helix (Conradt, 2012).

So, if your mind is stuck on a problem, try sleeping on it. You might wake up with your solution.

6. Genius hour

This tip for fostering creativity comes from a teacher who uses it in his classroom (Provenzano, 2015).

He calls it “genius hour,” but the period spent could be more or less than 60 minutes. The idea is to start a side project, something you are passionate about. The inspiration, ideas, and skills you develop in this labor of love might well translate to other, more routine projects, moving those forward in positive ways.

+1. Your creative tip

It seems appropriate that an article on fostering creativity would encourage you, the reader, to come up with at least one of your own tips in this regard. We invite you to think of something that has helped you foster creativity in yourself or others. Feel free to share any such suggestions in response to this article.

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Allowing kids to develop their creativity from a young age will give them skills for a lifetime.

1. Value creativity

In the classroom, show your students that you value creativity. This can be done in many ways.

Encourage trial and error on tasks. Thomas Edison famously said, of different trials to solve a given problem, “ I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work ” (Daum, 2016).

Sometimes, by finding what won’t work, you are led to what will, as when Edison tried hundreds of materials as microphone transmitters before successfully narrowing the choice to a small carbon disc.

2. Give it time

Valuing creativity also means giving it time in the classroom. Sarah Diaz, a kindergarten teacher in Spain, asserts that adequate time is crucial for creativity, especially for young children (Tornio, 2017). Consider giving students an entire class period each week to work freely on projects and materials they have chosen.

3. Write it down

Lauren Cassini Davis, a second-grade teacher, describes the effect on her classroom of handing out “Da Vinci” notebooks to all students (Davis, 2018). These are empty notebooks in which students are encouraged to write any questions, ideas, or expressions that occur to them, at any time during the day, on any topic, as Leonardo Da Vinci did throughout his long and creative life.

Ms. Davis relates how, within just one week, she was astounded by everything that the students had written in their notebooks. The notebooks were full of questions such as ‘How does your brain work?’ ‘Why do we have music?’ and ‘Why am I not a tiger?’ There were also poems, drawings of inventions, and comments about life in the classroom. These notebooks became a spur to all kinds of creative learning projects.

1. Break boundaries

In 2014, Steve Jobs and Apple unveiled a new corporate headquarters in Cupertino, CA.

According to Johnny Ives, Apple’s chief designer, this headquarters was meant to break down boundaries between offices and occupations.

The new Apple headquarters maximized common pathways and workspaces, allowing people to “ connect and collaborate and walk and talk” (Levy, 2017). It seems to have worked. In 2018, Fast Company recognized Apple as (still) the most innovative company in the world (Safian, 2018).

Fostering creativity takes dedicated time. We noted this above, concerning creativity in the classroom. It also applies to the workplace.

Google, for example, was known for its “20%” program. This program gave software developers and other employees permission to work 20% of their paid time on projects of their choosing. While Google eventually took back this 20% time, it was credited with spawning some of the company’s best products including Google News, Gmail, and AdSense.

Other companies have adopted various approaches to giving creative time in the workplace, with the consensus being that creativity is a business asset, and employees should be given time to explore and develop their new ideas (Subramanian, 2013).

3. Promote trial and error

According to business consultant Deborah Goldstein, creativity in business requires experimentation, and even failure, to be supported. She asserts that “ Experiments never fail. Even when the attempt fails, with the right mindset, teams learn priceless lessons to succeed in the future ” (Forbes Coaches Council, 2017).

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In particular art forms, such as painting, work is often solitary. Artists need time and solitude to focus on the act of painting. Yet such solitude can be difficult to bear if not broken by social contact.

Jason Horejs (2020) writes of breaking the isolation that can occur in art. He cites the example of a female painter living in a small town in Montana. This artist speaks of how joining an artists’ group in her area helped her socially and artistically.

The group meets every Saturday to paint together. They regularly hold art shows with constructive critiques of each other’s work. They also have a group website with links to individual artists’ web pages.

Such collective pursuits have helped this artist remain inspired and creative, even when alone in her studio. In the end, it might be some mixture of solitude and collaboration that keeps us creative in art. What of music?

In his autobiography Testimony (2016), Robbie Robertson, guitarist and principal songwriter for The Band , describes how his band was used to creating songs.

Robertson often drafted songs on his own. He sketched “The Weight,” a classic The Band song, by himself in one night. Afterward, he would bring these song ideas to the group.

They worked in close company to flesh the songs out, in the basement of a large pink house in upstate New York. Their group creativity thrived on being able to hear each other’s musical ideas, moment to moment. It was also important for them to see each other’s musical cues.

Robertson then relates how during their first recording session for Capitol Records, band members were separated from each other in the studio. Partitions had been put up to better record the distinct sound of each instrument. However, the band members soon found that without being able to see or hear each other as usual, they lacked the organic sound that had so impressed Bob Dylan and other musicians.

At Robertson’s insistence, the studio partitions were removed. The resultant recordings went on to become the highly creative and acclaimed album Music from Big Pink . The Band had thus found the type of working and studio environment that facilitated creativity for them.

And Robertson had found the interplay between solitude and collaboration that worked best for The Band ’s material. Again, it might be a unique balance of solitude and collaboration that helps us be most creative in art and music.

As nocturnal (versus diurnal or daytime) types, we find the quiet of night refreshing and open with possibilities.

Some well-known “night owls” more inclined to working and innovating after dark include individuals as diverse as Winston Churchill, Christina Aguilera, Bob Dylan, Fran Leibowitz, and Barack Obama (Curtin, 2018).

Giampietro and Cavallera (2007) explored creativity in people inclining toward a nocturnal work schedule. They found nocturnal types scored more highly than diurnals on a task (Torrance Test of Creative Thinking) measuring creativity on dimensions of originality, fluidity, and flexibility of responses.

But take heart, diurnal types.

Plenty of diurnal individuals swear by such pro-daytime habits as rising early and are very creative in their own right. Apple CEO Tim Cook rises at 3:45 a.m., while Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and General Stanley McCrystal are also early risers, who swear this starts their day off right.

In the end, what counts most is finding the schedule – nocturnal, diurnal, or somewhere in between – that best suits your personality, circumstances, and creativity.

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• Visualize Success . This resilience-building exercise invites individuals to engage their creative thinking to visualize successful performance.
• Career Visualization . This exercise is similar to the previous visualization, and is designed to help individuals imagine in a detailed way how it would look, feel, and be to have the career they would like.
• Social Problem Solving . This exercise was developed to help individuals or groups apply brainstorming techniques when solving problems. Clients generate as many solutions as they can to a problem, emphasizing quantity over quality, then assess each possible solution in terms of effort required
• Designing Affirmations Worksheet . This exercise was developed to help individuals creating self-affirmations that can help them help them build self-esteem.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others develop their strengths, this collection contains 17 strength-finding tools for practitioners. Use them to help others better understand and harness their strengths in life-enhancing ways.

Creativity – the ability to bring something original and valuable into the world – is not reserved for a privileged few artists or intellectuals. We all have the potential to be creative. This potential can be cultivated by finding the specific means for enhancing creativity in a given individual or group.

Specific means for an individual might include going for a walk or engaging in relaxation exercises that enhance thinking and creativity.

Means for cultivating creativity in groups might include providing students or employees with Da Vinci-style notebooks for writing down ideas as they occur, designing workspaces that invite collaboration, or setting aside “genius time” for your students’ or employees’ creative pursuits.

In the end, we need to be adaptive and innovative in finding the means by which creativity is enhanced for a particular person, group, or situation.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Strengths Exercises for free .

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• Davis, L. C. (2018, December 17). Creative teaching and teaching creativity: How to foster creativity in the classroom. Psych Learning Curve. Retrieved from http://psychlearningcurve.org/creative-teaching-and-teaching-creativity-how-to-foster-creativity-in-the-classroom/
• Forbes Coaches Council. (2017, December 21). 15 ways leaders can promote creativity in the workplace. Forbes . Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/12/21/15-ways-leaders-can-promote-creativity-in-the-workplace/#6d08235f58ef
• Giampietro, M., & Cavallera, G. M. (2007). Morning and evening types and creative thinking. Personality and Individual Differences. 42 (3), 453–463.
• Horejs, J. (2020, April 19). Working alone: Breaking the isolation that can surround the pursuit of art. red dot blog . Retrieved from https://reddotblog.com/working-alone-breaking-the-isolation-that-can-surround-the-pursuit-of-art-19-2/
• Levy, S. (2017, May 16). Inside Apple’s insanely great (or just insane) new mothership. Wired . Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2017/05/apple-park-new-silicon-valley-campus/
• Lewis, P. A., Knoblich, G., & Poe, G. (2018). How memory replay in sleep boosts creative problem-solving. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22 (6), 491–503.
• Ma, X., Yue, Z. Q., Gong, Z. Q., Zhang, H., Duan, N. Y., Shi, Y. T., … & Li, Y. F. (2017). The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect, and stress in healthy adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 874 .
• McCoy, A. N., & Tan, S. Y. (2014). Otto Loewi (1873–1961): Dreamer and Nobel laureate. Singapore Medical Journal, 55 (1), 3–4.
• Neumann, C. J. (2007). Fostering creativity. A model for developing a culture of collective creativity in science. EMBO Reports 8 (3), 202–206.
• O’Mara, S. (2019). In praise of walking: The new science of how we walk and why it’s good for us. Penguin Books.
• Oppezzo, M., & Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology : Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40 (4), 1142–52.
• Powers, A. (2018, April 30). Creativity is the skill of the future. Forbes . Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/annapowers/2018/04/30/creativity-is-the-skill-of-the-future/#1ba564e34fd4
• Provenzano, N. (2015, June 25). Creativity in the classroom. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/creativity-in-the-classroom-nicholas-provenzano
• Robertson, R. (2016). Testimony . Knopf.
• Safian, R. (2018, February 21). Why Apple is the world’s most innovative company. Fast Company. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/40525409/why-apple-is-the-worlds-most-innovative-company
• Seuss, D. (1960). Green eggs and ham . Beginner Books.
• Subramanian, S. (2013, August 19). Google took its 20% back, but other companies are making employee side projects work for them. Fast Company. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/3015963/google-took-its-20-back-but-other-companies-are-making-employee-side-projects-work-for-them
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I’ve found in my own creative career, that any activity that clears the mind of the daily channel fodder, a lot of it worry based, is essential to allow the juice to flow. An example being that if a life stress hits hard, creativity is impossible. Another base philosophy is maintaining the child’s ability to be curious, unattached/open and make it fun always. Through the eyes of a child. I’ve told many people I see they are creative and they always say “I cannot draw to save my life!” So I think what you have laid out is very useful as the first things to know. It takes away this mystery of being born creative. Well done. By the way I’m a night time creator, originally driven by a total fear of ending up in a factory after school, (fact) braved my way into Art College, committed to working my ass off and realizing that to be creative was mostly desire and great teachers taught you all the formulas for improving a scant talent as presentable work. I now “go” with the first idea that comes into my view/head, no matter what, then work it. Always make at least four options. The more you make the better you get, because your brain makes brand new connections every time you stretch a little. You grow confident re enforced by a passion that is FUN. I go daydream/meditate mode for an hour every night and it works wonders for me personally. I also add chats to myself or others, amongst that mode. For me it’s like an natural method of doing a factory mind reset!

Vassudeva (post on 27 November, 2020),

Thank you for your comment!

I agree that walking is a great technique for fostering creativity. I’m glad you’ve been inspired to walk daily.

It also occurs to me that such walks can be paired with journaling, in a “walk journal” that records any new ideas that came while walking. Probably best to write any ideas down immediately after the walk, so they don’t slip away.

Jeff Gaines

My Major Misconception is now Rectified!! Today I realized Creativity Can be Fostered in anyone at any age..Thanks for the Info. I am now starting to walk daily to improve my Creative Thinking. Various dimensions in which we can foster creativity is well explained. Will be trying-out in my work group.

Thank you for the feedback! I agree we are designed for creativity, even if trends in a given society work to keep us doing rote or mechanical tasks, toward someone’s else’s ends. But the creative potential is there, and I do believe can be cultivated.

loved the article…its a common misconception that creativity is the blessing only a few enjoy, I believe humans have been fundamentally designed for creativity….we just have very different expressions. Infact i have found trapped creative energy as one of the issues while working with those experiencing a low emotional state,

This such reach article with ample ideas for adults and school age as well … It just make you think the opportunities on embarking on creativity journey

Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you found the article thought-provoking! Sincerely, Jeff Gaines

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The science behind creativity

Psychologists and neuroscientists are exploring where creativity comes from and how to increase your own

Vol. 53 No. 3 Print version: page 40

• Neuropsychology
• Creativity and Innovation

Paul Seli, PhD, is falling asleep. As he nods off, a sleep-tracking glove called Dormio, developed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, detects his nascent sleep state and jars him awake. Pulled back from the brink, he jots down the artistic ideas that came to him during those semilucid moments.

Seli is an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and also an artist. He uses Dormio to tap into the world of hypnagogia, the transitional state that exists at the boundary between wakefulness and sleep. In a mini-experiment, he created a series of paintings inspired by ideas plucked from his hypnagogic state and another series from ideas that came to him during waking hours. Then he asked friends to rate how creative the paintings were, without telling them which were which. They judged the hypnagogic paintings as significantly more creative. “In dream states, we seem to be able to link things together that we normally wouldn’t connect,” Seli said. “It’s like there’s an artist in my brain that I get to know through hypnagogia.”

The experiment is one of many novel—and, yes, creative—ways that psychologists are studying the science of creativity. At an individual level, creativity can lead to personal fulfillment and positive academic and professional outcomes, and even be therapeutic. People take pleasure in creative thoughts, research suggests—even if they don’t think of themselves as especially creative. Beyond those individual benefits, creativity is an endeavor with implications for society, said Jonathan Schooler, PhD, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “Creativity is at the core of innovation. We rely on innovation for advancing humanity, as well as for pleasure and entertainment,” he said. “Creativity underlies so much of what humans value.”

In 1950, J. P. Guilford, PhD, then president of APA, laid out his vision for the psychological study of creativity ( American Psychologist , Vol. 5, No. 9, 1950). For half a century, researchers added to the scientific understanding of creativity incrementally, said John Kounios, PhD, an experimental psychologist who studies creativity and insight at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Much of that research focused on the personality traits linked to creativity and the cognitive aspects of the creative process.

But in the 21st century, the field has blossomed thanks to new advances in neuroimaging. “It’s become a tsunami of people studying creativity,” Kounios said. Psychologists and neuroscientists are uncovering new details about what it means to be creative and how to nurture that skill. “Creativity is of incredible real-world value,” Kounios said. “The ultimate goal is to figure out how to enhance it in a systematic way.”

Creativity in the brain

What, exactly, is creativity? The standard definition used by researchers characterizes creative ideas as those that are original and effective, as described by psychologist Mark A. Runco, PhD, director of creativity research and programming at Southern Oregon University ( Creativity Research Journal , Vol. 24, No. 1, 2012). But effectiveness, also called utility, is a slippery concept. Is a poem useful? What makes a sculpture effective? “Most researchers use some form of this definition, but most of us are also dissatisfied with it,” Kounios said.

Runco is working on an updated definition and has considered at least a dozen suggestions from colleagues for new components to consider. One frequently suggested feature is authenticity. “Creativity involves an honest expression,” he said.

Meanwhile, scientists are also struggling with the best way to measure the concept. As a marker of creativity, researchers often measure divergent thinking—the ability to generate a lot of possible solutions to a problem or question. The standard test of divergent thinking came from Guilford himself. Known as the alternate-uses test, the task asks participants to come up with novel uses for a common object such as a brick. But measures of divergent thinking haven’t been found to correlate well with real-world creativity. Does coming up with new uses for a brick imply a person will be good at abstract art or composing music or devising new methods for studying the brain? “It strikes me as using way too broad a brush,” Seli said. “I don’t think we measure creativity in the standard way that people think about creativity. As researchers, we need to be very clear about what we mean.”

One way to do that may be to move away from defining creativity based on a person’s creative output and focus instead on what’s going on in the brain, said Adam Green, PhD, a cognitive neuroscientist at Georgetown University and founder of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity . “The standard definition, that creativity is novel and useful, is a description of a product,” he noted. “By looking inward, we can see the process in action and start to identify the characteristics of creative thought. Neuroimaging is helping to shift the focus from creative product to creative process.”

That process seems to involve the coupling of disparate brain regions. Specifically, creativity often involves coordination between the cognitive control network, which is involved in executive functions such as planning and problem-solving, and the default mode network, which is most active during mind-wandering or daydreaming (Beaty, R. E., et al., Cerebral Cortex , Vol. 31, No. 10, 2021). The cooperation of those networks may be a unique feature of creativity, Green said. “These two systems are usually antagonistic. They rarely work together, but creativity seems to be one instance where they do.”

Green has also found evidence that an area called the frontopolar cortex, in the brain’s frontal lobes, is associated with creative thinking. And stimulating the area seems to boost creative abilities. He and his colleagues used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to stimulate the frontopolar cortex of participants as they tried to come up with novel analogies. Stimulating the area led participants to make analogies that were more semantically distant from one another—in other words, more creative ( Cerebral Cortex , Vol. 27, No. 4, 2017).

Green’s work suggests that targeting specific areas in the brain, either with neuromodulation or cognitive interventions, could enhance creativity. Yet no one is suggesting that a single brain region, or even a single neural network, is responsible for creative thought. “Creativity is not one system but many different mechanisms that, under ideal circumstances, work together in a seamless way,” Kounios said.

In search of the eureka moment

Creativity looks different from person to person. And even within one brain, there are different routes to a creative spark, Kounios explained. One involves what cognitive scientists call “System 1” (also called “Type 1”) processes: quick, unconscious thoughts—aha moments—that burst into consciousness. A second route involves “System 2” processes: thinking that is slow, deliberate, and conscious. “Creativity can use one or the other or a combination of the two,” he said. “You might use Type 1 thinking to generate ideas and Type 2 to critique and refine them.”

Which pathway a person uses might depend, in part, on their expertise. Kounios and his colleagues used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine what was happening in jazz musicians’ brains as they improvised on the piano. Then skilled jazz instructors rated those improvisations for creativity, and the researchers compared each musician’s most creative compositions. They found that for highly experienced musicians, the mechanisms used to generate creative ideas were largely automatic and unconscious, and they came from the left posterior part of the brain. Less-experienced pianists drew on more analytical, deliberative brain processes in the right frontal region to devise creative melodies, as Kounios and colleagues described in a special issue of NeuroImage on the neuroscience of creativity (Vol. 213, 2020). “It seems there are at least two pathways to get from where you are to a creative idea,” he said.

Coming up with an idea is only one part of the creative process. A painter needs to translate their vision to canvas. An inventor has to tinker with their concept to make a prototype that actually works. Still, the aha moment is an undeniably important component of the creative process. And science is beginning to illuminate those “lightbulb moments.”

Kounios examined the relationship between creative insight and the brain’s reward system by asking participants to solve anagrams in the lab. In people who were highly sensitive to rewards, a creative insight led to a burst of brain activity in the orbitofrontal cortex, the area of the brain that responds to basic pleasures like delicious food or addictive drugs ( NeuroImage , Vol. 214, 2020). That neural reward may explain, from an evolutionary standpoint, why humans seem driven to create, he said. “We seem wired to take pleasure in creative thoughts. There are neural rewards for thinking in a creative fashion, and that may be adaptive for our species.”

The rush you get from an aha moment might also signal that you’re onto something good, Schooler said. He and his colleagues studied these flashes of insight among creative writers and physicists. They surveyed the participants daily for two weeks, asking them to note their creative ideas and when they occurred. Participants reported that about a fifth of the most important ideas of the day happened when they were mind-wandering and not working on a task at hand ( Psychological Science , Vol. 30, No. 3, 2019). “These solutions were more likely to be associated with an aha moment and often overcoming an impasse of some sort,” Schooler said.

Six months later, the participants revisited those ideas and rated them for creative importance. This time, they rated their previous ideas as creative, but less important than they’d initially thought. That suggests that the spark of a eureka moment may not be a reliable clue that an idea has legs. “It seems like the aha experience may be a visceral marker of an important idea. But the aha experience can also inflate the meaningfulness of an idea that doesn’t have merit,” Schooler said. “We have to be careful of false ahas.”

Boosting your creativity

Much of the research in this realm has focused on creativity as a trait. Indeed, some people are naturally more creative than others. Creative individuals are more likely than others to possess the personality trait of openness. “Across different age groups, the best predictor of creativity is openness to new experiences,” said Anna Abraham, PhD, the E. Paul Torrance Professor and director of the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development at the University of Georgia. “Creative people have the kind of curiosity that draws them toward learning new things and experiencing the world in new ways,” she said.

We can’t all be Thomas Edison or Maya Angelou. But creativity is also a state, and anyone can push themselves to be more creative. “Creativity is human capacity, and there’s always room for growth,” Runco said. A tolerant environment is often a necessary ingredient, he added. “Tolerant societies allow individuals to express themselves and explore new things. And as a parent or a teacher, you can model that creativity is valued and be open-minded when your child gives an answer you didn’t expect.”

One way to let your own creativity flow may be by tapping into your untethered mind. Seli is attempting to do so through his studies on hypnagogia. After pilot testing the idea on himself, he’s now working on a study that uses the sleep-tracking glove to explore creativity in a group of Duke undergrads. “In dream states, there seems to be connectivity between disparate ideas. You tend to link things together you normally wouldn’t, and this should lead to novel outcomes,” he said. “Neurally speaking, the idea is to increase connectivity between different areas of the brain.”

You don’t have to be asleep to forge those creative connections. Mind-wandering can also let the ideas flow. “Letting yourself daydream with a purpose, on a regular basis, might allow brain networks that don’t usually cooperate to literally form stronger connections,” Green said.

However, not all types of daydreams will get you there. Schooler found that people who engage in more personally meaningful daydreams (such as fantasizing about a future vacation or career change) report greater artistic achievement and more daily inspiration. People who are prone to fantastical daydreaming (such as inventing alternate realities or imaginary worlds) produced higher-quality creative writing in the lab and reported more daily creative behavior. But daydreams devoted to planning or problem-solving were not associated with creative behaviors ( Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts , Vol. 15, No. 4, 2021).

It’s not just what you think about when you daydream, but where you are when you do it. Some research suggests spending time in nature can enhance creativity. That may be because of the natural world’s ability to restore attention, or perhaps it’s due to the tendency to let your mind wander when you’re in the great outdoors (Williams, K. J. H., et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology , Vol. 59, 2018). “A lot of creative figures go on walks in big, expansive environments. In a large space, your perceptual attention expands and your scope of thought also expands,” Kounios said. “That’s why working in a cubicle is bad for creativity. But working near a window can help.”

Wherever you choose to do it, fostering creativity requires time and effort. “People want the booster shot for creativity. But creativity isn’t something that comes magically. It’s a skill, and as with any new skill, the more you practice, the better you get,” Abraham said. In a not-yet-published study, she found three factors predicted peak originality in teenagers: openness to experience, intelligence, and, importantly, time spent engaged in creative hobbies. That is, taking the time to work on creative pursuits makes a difference. And the same is true for adults, she said. “Carve out time for yourself, figure out the conditions that are conducive to your creativity, and recognize that you need to keep pushing yourself. You won’t get to where you want to go if you don’t try.”

Those efforts can benefit your own sense of creative fulfillment and perhaps lead to rewards on an even grander scale. “I think everyday creativity is the most important kind,” Runco said. “If we can support the creativity of each and every individual, we’ll change the world.”

How to become more creative

1. Put in the work: People often think of creativity as a bolt of inspiration, like a lightbulb clicking on. But being creative in a particular domain—whether in the arts, in your work, or in your day-to-day life—is a skill. Carve out time to learn and practice.

2. Let your mind wander: Experts recommend “daydreaming with purpose.” Make opportunities to let your daydreams flow, while gently nudging them toward the creative challenge at hand. Some research suggests meditation may help people develop the habit of purposeful daydreaming.

3. Practice remote associations: Brainstorm ideas, jotting down whatever thoughts or notions come to you, no matter how wild. You can always edit later.

4. Go outside: Spending time in nature and wide-open spaces can expand your attention, enhance beneficial mind-wandering, and boost creativity.

5. Revisit your creative ideas: Aha moments can give you a high—but that rush might make you overestimate the merit of a creative idea. Don’t be afraid to revisit ideas to critique and tweak them later.

Further reading

Creativity: An introduction Kaufman, J. C., and Sternberg, R. J. (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2021

The eureka factor: Aha moments, creative insight, and the brain Kounios, J., & Beeman, M., Random House, 2015

Creativity anxiety: Evidence for anxiety that is specific to creative thinking, from STEM to the arts Daker, R. J., et al., Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , 2020

Predictors of creativity in young people: Using frequentist and Bayesian approaches in estimating the importance of individual and contextual factors Asquith, S. L., et al., Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts , 2020

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3 science-based strategies to increase your creativity 

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How can you hack your creativity? 

The term “hacking” has a bad name. It comes out of coding and refers to someone trying to gain control over a computer system, typically for nefarious purposes. The word then morphed a bit, becoming pop culture shorthand for a “quick fix” or a “shortcut.”

None of those definitions apply here. First, the system we’re trying to gain control over is our own neurobiology. Second, when it comes to sustained peak performance, there are no shortcuts.

When I use a term like “hacking” to describe an approach, what I’m really saying is “figuring out how to get your neurobiology to work for you rather than against you.” That’s long been my approach to high achievement.

Here are three science-based strategies to juice your ability to come up with new and creative ideas.

Strategy 1: Befriend your ACC

When researchers talk about creativity, a frequent topic of conversation in the phenomena is known as insight. We’ve all felt it — it’s that experience of sudden comprehension, that aha moment when we get a joke, solve a puzzle or resolve an ambiguous situation.

At the turn of the 21st century, Northwestern neuroscientist Mark Beeman and Drexel University cognitive psychologist John Kounios shed light on this subject. They gave people a series of remote association problems — aka insight problems — and then used  EEG and fMRI to monitor their brains as they tried to solve them.

Remote association problems are word puzzles. Subjects are given three words — for example, pine/crab/sauce — and asked to do one thing: Find a fourth word that complements all of them. (In this case, the answer is “apple,” as in: pineapple, crab apple, and applesauce.)

Some people solve this problem logically, by simply testing one word after another. Others come at it via insight, meaning that the right answer simply pops into mind. A handful of folks blend both strategies.

What Beeman and Kounios uncovered was a noticeable shift in brain function that occurred. Right before people viewed a problem that they’d eventually solve with insight, there was heightened activity in their brain’s anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The ACC plays a role in salience and executive attention, and it’s the part that handles error correction by detecting conflicting signals in the brain.

“This includes alternative strategies for solving a problem,” says Kounios. “The brain can’t use two different strategies at the same time. Some are strongly activated, because they’re the most obvious. And some are weak and only remotely associated to the problem — odd thoughts, longshot ideas. These ideas are the creative ones. When the ACC is activated, it can detect these non-obvious, weakly activated ideas and signal the brain to switch attention to them. That’s an aha moment.”

Beeman and Kounios discovered the ACC lights up when we’re considering off-the-wall ideas.

Which raises a key question: What fires up the ACC? The answer: A good mood.

When we’re in a good mood, the ACC is more sensitive to odd thoughts and strange hunches. In other words, if an active ACC is the ready condition for insight, then a good mood is the ready condition for an active ACC.

The opposite is also true: While a good mood increases creativity, a bad mood amplifies analytical thought. The brain limits our options to the tried and true — the logical, the obvious, the sure thing we know will work.

When we’re in a good mood, we feel safe and secure. We’re able to give the ACC more time to pay attention to weak signals; we’re also more willing to take risks. This matters because creativity is always a little dangerous. New ideas generate problems, and they can be flat-out wrong, tricky to implement and threatening to the establishment.

But this also means we pay a double penalty for negativity. A bad mood not only limits the ACC’s ability to detect those weaker signals; it also limits our willingness to act on the signals that we do detect.

While a good mood is the starting point for heightened creativity, a daily gratitude practice, a daily mindfulness practice, regular exercise and a good night’s rest remain the best recipe that anyone has yet found for increasing happiness. All four practices are multi-tool creativity boosters that supercharge our abilities to turn the novel into the useful.

Gratitude trains the brain to focus on the positive, altering its normally negatively-biased information-filtering tendencies. This impacts mood, but it also increases novelty — since we’re used to the negative, the positive is often refreshingly different. Gratitude feeds the salience network with more raw material, and the good mood that results gives the default mode network a better shot at using the material to make something startlingly new.

Mindfulness teaches the brain to be calm, focused and nonreactive, amplifying executive attention. But it also puts a little space between thought and feeling and gives the ACC more time to consider alternative, far-flung possibilities.

But what kind of mindfulness training you’re using matters. Divergent thinking requires an open monitoring style of meditation. In open monitoring, instead of trying to ignore thoughts and feelings, you allow them in without judgment.

Exercise  lowers stress levels, flushing cortisol from our system while increasing feel-good neurochemicals, including serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins  and dopamine. This lowers anxiety, augments our good mood and amps up the ACC’s ability to detect more remote possibilities. Plus, the time-out that exercise provides works as an incubation period.

A good night’s rest provides additional benefits. It increases energy levels, providing resources to meet challenges. The resulting feeling of safety lifts our mood and increases our willingness to take risks, and both amplify creativity. Moreover, sleep is the most critical incubation period of all. When we sleep, the brain has time to find all sorts of hidden connections between ideas.

Gratitude, mindfulness, exercise and sleep are nonnegotiables for sustained peak performance. The nonnegotiable part is key. When life gets complicated, these four practices are often what we remove from our schedule. But when life gets complicated, lean into these practices instead to get the creativity needed to untangle the complicated.

Strategy #2: Understand the importance of non-time and no one

“Non-time” is my term for that vast stretch of emptiness between 4AM (when I start my morning writing session) and 7:30AM (when the rest of the world wakes up). This non-time is a pitch blackness that belongs to no one but me.

The day’s pressing concerns have yet to press, so there’s time for that ultimate luxury: Patience. If a sentence takes two hours to get right, who cares?

Creativity needs this non-time.

Deadlines can often be stressors. Pressure forces the brain to focus on the details, activating the left hemisphere and blocking out that bigger picture. Worse, when pressed, we’re often stressed. We’re unhappy about the hurry, which sours our mood and further tightens our focus. Being time-strapped, then, can be kryptonite for creativity.

We need to build non-time into our schedules. Non-time is time for daydreaming and psychological distancing. Daydreaming switches on the default mode network, enabling our subconscious to find remote associations between ideas. Non-time also gives us a little distance from our problems. That allows us to see things from multiple perspectives, to consider another’s point of view. If we don’t have the time to get that  space from our emotions and take a break from the world, then we won’t have the luxury of alternative possibilities.

And it’s not just non-time — it’s also time spent with no one.

Solitude matters . Certainly a great deal of creativity requires collaboration, but the incubation phase demands the opposite. Taking a break from the sensory bombardment of the world gives your brain even more reason to wander into far-flung corners. A 2012 study run by psychologists at the University of Utah, for example, found that after four days alone in nature, subjects scored 50 percent better on standard tests of creativity.

Try to start your day with 90 to 120 minutes of uninterrupted concentration. It’s a high-flow bit time that pays significant long-term dividends.

Strategy #3: Think inside the box

“Think outside the box” is how the saying goes, but we might have it backward. Constraints drive creativity — as jazz great Charles Mingus once explained: “You can’t improvise on nothing, man; you’ve gotta improvise on something.”

In studies run at Rider University on the relationship between limits and creativity, students were given eight nouns and asked to use them to write rhyming couplets (the kind that appear in greeting cards). Another group was not given nouns but just told to write rhyming couplets. The work of both groups was then judged for creativity by an independent panel of experts.

Time and again, the participants in the group that started with the constraint of eight nouns outperformed the other group.

The point is that sometimes the blank page is too blank to be useful. That’s why one of my cardinal rules in work is: Always know your starts and your endings. If I have these twin cornerstones in place, whatever goes in between — a book, an article, a speech — is simply about connecting the dots. Without dots to connect, I can get stuck or waste time wandering into tangential territory (which helps explain why my first novel took 11 years to complete).

Important caveat: Many people believe that time constraints — that is, deadlines — are a limit that enables creativity. Maybe. Maybe not.

Earlier, I said that feeling unpressured for time was a key to fostering creativity, and this remains true. Yet it’s also true that deadlines can save creative projects from dragging on indefinitely.

Just set the deadline far enough into the future so you can build long periods of non-time into your schedule. Creative deadlines should be hard enough to make you  stretch, not hard enough to make you snap.

Excerpted from the new book The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Steven Kotler . Copyright © 2021 by Steven Kotler. Reprinted by permission of Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Watch his TEDxABQ Talk here: 

About the author

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of nine bestsellers (out of 13 books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, WIRED, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review.

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How to Be More Creative: Your Guide to Unlocking the Potential of a Creative Thinker 

Most of us, including myself, grew up with the idea that only artists are creative people. 

In my case, I have a voice that will free up every public space, and my paintings were always abstract, but still, I was no Kandinsky. 

This being the case for many, we naturally say that everything remotely close to creativity is not for us.

The thing is, creativity doesn’t necessarily have to be inherited (although many are born effortlessly cool, sigh ) but developed over time. Moreover, it surely doesn’t refer strictly to painters, sculptors, or musicians. 

So, do you want to find out how to be creative and create your AHA moments?

Spoiler alert: it has much to do with neuroscience . 

But first. 

What Is Creativity?

Creativity is the act of coming up with new ideas and turning them into something tangible, like projects, writings, songs, innovative businesses, and so much more. Creativity allows people to perceive the surrounding world in a new way and connect different aspects that lead to a solution. 

This means creativity is based on a set of 3Ps approach :

• Person : the one that’s thinking about something.
• Process : the connections that are made.
• Product : the final result.

It’s worth mentioning that the definition of creativity changed over time. 

For example, Plato considered creativity something spiritual, a uniquely “human” trait, mostly seen in painters, sculptors, writers, and others from the creative art field, i.e., with artistic creativity, implicitly refusing that a technical person can be creative as well. 

In more recent studies, researchers attributed creativity to other fields, including science, architecture, or entrepreneurship, pointing out that everyone can be creative if they’re working on the processes that lead to inspired ideas.

Precisely because creative thinking can be perceived in many ways, I’m going to add one more perspective.

In her book , Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert defines creativity as “the relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.”

S he also says that while some scientists don’t agree with the idea that creativity is magic, she firmly believes that it’s definitely something otherworldly : “Ideas have no material body, but they do have consciousness, and they most certainly have will. Ideas are driven by a single impulse: to be made manifest. And the only way an idea can be made manifest in our world is through collaboration with a human partner.”

When an idea visits us, she says, we have the choice to accept it and make it manifest or ignore it and let it go.

Why creativity matters

Creativity is vital in all meaningful aspects of life. 

From a thing that may seem insignificant, like finding a solution in your household to fix a problem with just a few objects you have on hand, to creating a new innovative app or your next musical masterpiece, creativity is at the very core of it. 

Moreover, studies have shown that there’s a connection between creativity, art, and happiness.

• The British Journal of Clinical Psychology published a study showing an increase of positive emotions whenever people take part in art-oriented activities. 
• The University of Otago’s found something similar to the previously mentioned study: people involved in creative activities are happier and give them a boost of extra creativity.
• A study by The University of Cambridge discovered a link between creativity and happiness, which is empathy. This means that when we use our talents and ideas to help others, we feel happier.

Besides this, by working on your creativity, you’ll also improve or develop other important skills. 

A few creative thinking examples would be problem-solving, creative writing, communication, open-mindedness, lateral-thinking, visual thinking, experimentation, and divergent thinking, to name a few .

Now that I’ve set the foundation, I can move on to the actionable part and see how you can improve your creativity skills.

17 Ways to Become More Creative

Neuroscience tells us that three distinct brain networks need to be engaged so that you can activate your creativity. 

These are the default network (referring to brainstorming and daydreaming), the executive control network , or executive attention (helping a person to focus), and the salience network (detects environmental stimuli and switches between the executive and default brain networks).

So, let’s see what exactly you can do to activate and connect these three and help your mind spur new creative thoughts.

1. Record everything

A good starting point is to take notes and photos of everything that you find inspiring. You can also create a collection of symbolic objects representing the places or events you’ve seen. 

Anthony Burrill, the author of Make it Now!, gathered keepsakes from his family travels in scrapbooks that continue to inspire his work. He said : “Soaking up new influences is an important part of forming your creative DNA.”  

2. Set deadlines

Deadlines may seem stressful and a key factor for our work-related anxieties, but let’s look at the positive side of these superficial enemies.

They can activate our creative impulses because we’re faced with taking action to meet a fixed date for finishing a project, reducing procrastination.

Here’s how deadlines work :

• They make your tasks real because it’s a big difference between doing something later (inviting you to procrastinate), or doing something until Monday , determining you to take action faster.
• They create a sense of urgency, convincing you to find motivation and finish the task.
• They make you more committed to the situation, as you don’t want to face the consequences of not finishing the task.

3. Try to ignore trivial notifications 

Yes, social media is a good place to share your work or talk to your friends, but it’s also very distracting. 

Whenever you get yourself into a focused mood, try to stay there. By constantly checking social media, you’re creating disruption that leads to losing important ideas.

And it’s not just about social media, but all kinds of phone notifications. Cognitive psychologists demonstrate that responding to a text message can take you a 64 second recovery time. Moreover, Gloria Mark, professor of informatics at the University of California, stated in her research that it could take us up to 23 minutes to get focused again after a longer interruption. 

While some of us get better at switching between tasks or dealing with interruptions, most people experience frustration and higher workloads.

In order to keep this under control, you can set precise sessions of scrolling through your newsfeed or answering messages to make sure you’re doing this just a few times a day.

In this way, you avoid procrastination and your notifications taking control over your work, but most importantly, you’re helping yourself to open the possibility for more creative thoughts.

4. Add creativity to your calendar

You may think that creativity can’t be forced and especially can’t be restricted by setting time frames for it. 

And you’re absolutely right. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t control it.

Scheduling creativity means being consistent about your process, allowing yourself to create something and be focused only on that for a period of time. Take it as an exercise for your creative and critical thinking. You may even learn a lot more in the process, like in this case , where the author wrote 10,211 headlines in 100 days.

While probably you will make tons of junk, you will also get to do something amazing at one point. 

Practice makes perfect.

5. Set constraints 

For many people, creativity works best when having all the resources at hand. 

However, there are cases when setting a few constraints for yourself may be more beneficial. 

For example, architect Frank Gehry, known for building the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with its flawless acoustics, said that limitations and constraints inspired his work . 

The same goes for Anthony Burnhill, who said : “It’s about being clever with what you have and seeing the benefits in the restrictions you have.”

This doesn’t mean you need to set barriers for your creative process, but it should rather help you find solutions with limited resources, making room for you to think more and flourish. While pondering on what is a solutions architect , one might find that the role embodies a person who is adept at identifying and solving complex problems, much like a masterful artist finding harmony in chaos.

6. Keep an eye out for new things

Living your life with a more positive attitude, and saying “Yes” more than “No” to new opportunities, even when they’re out of your area of expertise or comfort zone, will increase your chances of discovering new things, thus being more creative. 

Also, start being curious. This is a very easy but important approach on how to be creative.

By asking questions, learning new things, and simply having a wanderer’s mind regarding the world around you will increase your imagination. In other words, be like a child who’s constantly asking “Why?”

This very simple question can ignite amazing ideas.

The more you know and the more you learn, the better the chances to improve your innovative thinking and come up with solutions.

7. Build your creative network or see if it’s better to work alone

Creative activities can be both individual and collective.

For some people working in isolation is the way to go. Take the poet Jack Gilbert , for example. In her book, Big Magic , Elizabeth Gilbert said that he used to vanish for years, living in solitude, then come out with his next best work that everybody admired.

On the other hand, you may work better in a community that’s characterized by diversity, this being a method of challenging stereotypes . 

Our brains are a bit lazy, always seeking comfort. Exposure to other people and cultures is one way of enhancing your creative and critical thinking and not letting the brain get lethargic. 

This idea is also showcased by researchers at Johns Hopkins University , who claim that “exposure to diversity experiences might foster the development of more complex forms of thought, including the ability to think critically.”

This leads us to…

8. Step out of your comfort zone

Because our mind wants comfort and not challenges, we tend to accept the situation and just succumb to our brain’s desire for laziness. 

And that works too.

But if you want to be more creative, you have to sometimes get out of your comfort zone and start putting your brain to work. For example, if you’re more of an indoor person, going out after you finish your workday or even during your break time could really improve the way you challenge yourself.

I gave you this particular example because I am very much an indoor person. I feel best when sitting comfortably at home, with my movies and books of choice. However, after a few days of just sitting indoors, going out strictly to buy the bare necessities, it starts to get heavy on me, and I have to change something in my daily routine.

9. Turn down the criticism 

Creative thinking can be accessed better with a mind freed of criticism, whether it’s inner criticism or aimed at those around us. 

The explanation for this is quite simple.

You need space to tap into new creative thoughts and come up with solutions, and you can’t do this with a mind full of judgment, which allows you to be neither optimistic nor imaginative.

So, if you wonder how to be creative, keep in mind that this is an essential part of the process.

You know yourself better, so try to find ways to snap out of any situation that makes you feel bad or that can lead to pressure and negative comments or behavior.

10. Allow yourself to be bored 

Here’s a perfect explanation from Veritasium , showing all the benefits boredom can bring you.

In short, if you’re constantly busy, you don’t leave any room for your mind to wander. 

Studies say that when you’re bored, you start to daydream, which activates your brain’s imagination network, leading to creativity. 

This BBC article clearly states that even writers and musicians acknowledge the importance of boredom in their lives. If J.K Rowling didn’t get bored on her train ride back to London, we probably wouldn’t have Harry Potter today. 

This leads us to the next point.

11. Daydream

Daydreaming may seem like something counterproductive and the opposite of something that brings creativity, but recent studies have shown that it’s not always the case. 

Take this one , from Behavioral Science, for example. Their research has shown that “Participants who often found their daydreams meaningful reported greater inspiration at the end of the day, and those who frequently reported fantastical daydreams reported more creative behavior.”

When we let our minds wander, they’re unconstrained, going to different places and igniting our creative thinking.

To get in that state of daydreaming, you can even practice it by not doing anything or engaging in low-key activities that don’t require much of your focus. In other words, let yourself be bored.

12. Take a walk in nature

This could be the easiest method on how to improve your creativity skills, and there are many studies showing evidence that nature helps us in various ways. 

A study named Influence of Forest Therapy on Cardiovascular Relaxation in Young Adults shows that going for a walk in nature will reduce anxiety, stress and lower blood pressure. Another study from PNAS states it even helps people by reducing depression.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go every time for a walk in the woods. A study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine states it’s enough to go to a green urban space in your city to improve your well-being and the ability to connect with other people.

On top of these, another study published in the US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health says that we can improve our attention capacities and creativity by going for a few minutes outside.

So, the conclusion is that you have to disconnect yourself from devices from time to time just to recharge your batteries (pun intended).

13. Meditate 

You probably know about this one or have already tried the Headspace app, which has guided meditations for inspiring creativity. Either way, one thing is clear: meditation works. 

Meditation has been described as a state of “nonjudgmental, moment-to-moment awareness”, which helps us eliminate those criticisms we discussed earlier. We clear our cluttered minds by practicing meditation, leaving space for healthy reflection and concentration, thus improving our innovative thinking.

In his book, Mindfulness for Creativity , Danny Penman says that meditation and other mindfulness practices increase three skills used in creative problem solving: 

• Divergent thinking , which makes us open to new ideas. 
• Increased attention , which helps us come up with new ideas faster.
• Enhanced courage , which is linked to the innovation process.

14. Exercise

Physical exercises proved to be very effective in improving our mood, and they can even help with creativity. If you wonder how to get creative faster, remember that exercising helps our body release endorphins, which relieve us from pain and stress, paving the way for creative and critical thinking.

A study by Stanford University discovered that people were more creative during and after taking a walk.

This makes a lot of sense since we allow our mind to wander while focusing on physical tasks—a situation called “ ego-depletion .” 

Given the current worldwide situation, going to the gym may not be the perfect solution for you if you’re feeling unsafe, but the good news is that you can practice a few minutes of exercise at home. 

If this is not (yet) a priority to you, add the workout time to your calendar and try not to skip it. You just need to find a solution that works for you.

15. Surround yourself with beauty

You’re most likely already doing some of the things that make you happy. Try to add beauty to the equation.

Here’s what I mean by that. 

A study by the University of California shows that when you find yourself in a state of amazement by looking at a painting, listening to music, or simply admiring the beauty of nature, you experience a release of proteins called cytokines which have positive effects on happiness, well-being, and creativity.

Let’s break down a few artsy activities that are going to help you.

• Listen to music

While we do our best work in silence , sometimes we need an enhancer or simply a less distracting constant sound to activate our executive attention, especially if too many other background noises surround us. 

In such cases, there’s always music.

Different types of music genres raise different types of feelings. An upbeat genre is most helpful when working out, or classical music is better for study sessions. 

While classical music is good for everyone that needs to enter a state of focus, other genres could work too, as music is subjective and every person has different preferences.

If you don’t know yet what kind of other genres you should listen to when you need to concentrate, go to Spotify’s search section and select the Focus category.

What I personally experimented with while working is that songs with few lyrics or no lyrics at all are better. 

• Check out paintings 

How to be creative and develop a taste for the arts at the same time? By looking at paintings, of course. 

When checking them out, it’s impossible not to admire or disagree with that painter’s style and technique. The thing is, you surely have an opinion about what you’re looking at, probably even start analyzing the colors and other aspects of the paintings. 

But even just by looking at art for the sake of it, you’re entering a state of awe, which is highly beneficial for your creativity. 

Especially if you look at surrealist paintings.

This 20th-century art movement was notable for its rejection of reality and the belief that creativity can be unleashed and accessed by letting go of the conscious and entering the unconscious .  

So, if you’re trying to tap into your creative side, let yourself feel uncertain about what’s real and what is not, or simply take in the world from a different perspective by looking at surrealist paintings .

• Read absurdist fiction

Absurdist fiction refers to a narrative that presents its characters in inexplicable situations for them and the readers alike. 

As humans, we try to find meaning in every experience. Still, when something absurd occurs, it’s like a glitch in the Matrix, and we have to access our divergent thinking by questioning reality to try to understand what’s happening. 

However, we can only imagine it. 

And I can say for sure that this genre is very stimulating for the mind. For example, take this beginning of Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis: “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.”

I know, right?

16. Create something, anything

This is on the opposite side of what I mentioned in the previous point, where you are just an observer. 

You can also try to create something. 

A study from Drexel University shows that when people create any form of art, even coloring, or doodling their brain’s pleasure pathways are activated, which means they are happier and wishful about pursuing more creative activities. This applied to artists and non-artists as well. 

Let’s look at it more closely and see what happens when you:

This is a good example of divergent thinking. 

Doodling is a form of drawing without really focusing on it. It’s like you’re letting your mind unconsciously lead your hand to create something.

Because you’re not thinking of anything in particular, your mind wanders when you doodle, and you can actually generate new creative thoughts meanwhile.

This is a good creative process for artists, while for others, it can be something relaxing and a generator for solutions.

Historical doodles , done mainly by artists, are a subject of study because they offer a glimpse of psychological interpretation of the personality of their creators.

• Practice a hobby

Everyone needs a break from their daily jobs because as much as you love doing what you do, you still need some other activities so that you won’t get into a tiresome routine that drains you of creativity.

If you’re not practicing something already, try creating any form of art. This doesn’t refer strictly to painting, singing, or sculpting. You can try other things that have the same benefits of reducing stress and improving your creative thinking, such as knitting, quilting, photography, woodworking, gardening, or repurposing old objects at home.

If you need another divergent thinking example, here is one. 

Write whatever you feel or perceive as interesting. I sometimes have very colorful dreams, which I turn into notes or some kinds of rusty poems. 

The simple act of keeping track of your thoughts can increase your creativity because writing requires a deeper thinking process.

If you don’t have ideas that could create an entire novel, there’s no problem. Keeping a journal is also extremely helpful. If you don’t mind sharing your thoughts with others, you can turn that journal into a personal blog.

17. Play video games

It seems that besides having fun while playing video games, they can also help your thinking.

In this study, The Effects of Video Games on Creativity: A Systematic Review , researchers found that when someone is playing video games, they enter a flow state. 

The explanation would be that when they’re starting an in-game task, they’re really focused on finishing it, which will bring them immediate feedback. While working on the task completion, they’re so absorbed that they lose track of time and enter the flow state. In this condition, creativity can occur.

If we talk about open-ended games, such as Minecraft, the players can feel they’re even co-creating the game they’re playing, as the possibilities of creation are endless and depend on their imagination.

Steps of the Creative Process

As you’ve previously seen, creativity is not necessarily an inherited talent but a skill that can be honed, and you know now what you should do to be more creative.

Besides those activities that will form a new creative mindset, we should also discuss the steps of a precise task. Here’s how to put the creative process to work .

1. Perform research

Creative thinking means connecting things you already know about and producing a new approach. This means you have to focus on learning and gathering information first about a topic you want to find a new solution for so that later you could link them and come up with creative solutions.

2. Experiment

Your next great solution as a creative thinker will probably come after experimenting with a few others first, not so successfully. Don’t be afraid to create several drafts that lead nowhere. They are paving the way to the finished product.

3. Incubate 

This step requires you to let all the ideas sink. This means you’ll have to step away from your work and let your mind relax for a while. As we’ve seen previously, you can even let yourself get bored for a bit, as this is highly beneficial because your mind will come up with creative thoughts faster. 

4. Cultivate 

Did that great idea come to your mind? Go ahead and bring it to reality so others can benefit from it. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to creativity, each of us can shine in our workplace or at home—from day-to-day tasks to complex ones that require more innovative thinking practice.

Whichever the case, I hope this article showed you a few ideas on how to be creative and convinced you that anyone could tap into their imagination and become a more creative thinker.

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The Importance of Creativity in Children's Education

Many of us are guilty of focusing on logical skills when teaching children how to read, write and even interact with others. While these are needed in order for them to have a better understanding of the world, encouraging creativity can have a huge positive impact on your child’s development.

There are a multitude of benefits linked to inspiring creativity in young children. Here are some of them:

Mental health and self-confidence

Encouraging your child to be creative from a young age can have a significant impact on their mental health and well-being. Fun creative activities such as pretend play and storytelling can offer them some escapism from the real world, and can help young children process their feelings, thoughts, opinions and emotions in a more efficient and productive way.

When children engage in creative expression, they not only have fun but also subconsciously work on emotional development, which is essential for their own mental growth. Creating something from scratch or adding their own creative flair to something that already exists fosters a sense of pride and self-worth, which is a great way to teach your child about self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Problem-solving and critical thinking skills

When children face a problem, they tend to use their creative thinking skills to solve it. For instance, if two children want to play basketball but don't have a ball, they might think of using a crumpled piece of paper and an empty box as a makeshift ball and hoop. In this scenario, they are not just finding a solution; they are actively using their problem-solving skills and critical thinking to create an entirely new way to play the game.

Creative thinking allows children to come up with different solutions to a problem, improving their critical thinking skills and brainstorming abilities. Additionally, creativity helps children become more adaptive by teaching them to change their approach when facing obstacles. This flexibility in thinking is crucial for their development and will serve them well as they grow into more capable and resilient people.

Academic and cognitive skills

Creativity is more than an outlet for self-expression, as it can also boost children's academic and cognitive skills, laying a strong foundation for their future success. The creative process allows children to become better thinkers and learners, which can lead to improved performance in key areas like reading and writing . For example, when children participate in creative writing activities , they use their imagination and think outside the box, making the learning process more enjoyable and self-directed.

In early childhood education, fostering creativity has a huge impact on cognitive skills. Activities that promote creative thinking, such as problem-solving tasks and imaginative play, help children develop their memory and critical thinking. These skills are crucial for academic success and are foundational to quality education.

Young learners who have honed their creative abilities early on tend to exhibit better concentration, advanced language development, and better listening skills. These skills are essential for thriving in higher education.

By integrating creativity into children's education, we set them on a path towards achieving quality education and long-term academic success.

Motor skills

Creativity is not just about thinking outside the box; it also plays a significant role in boosting children's motor skills , which are a key part of their physical development. Engaging in hands-on creative activities can greatly improve fine motor skills. Art activities that involve manipulating materials, like molding playdough or painting with small brushes, are particularly effective for encouraging the development of these motor skills. Shaping playdough into different forms or painting requires children to use their hands in coordinated ways, improving their dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

These fine motor skills are crucial for child development, as they lay the foundation for more complex tasks such as writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils.

Communication skills

Creativity is not only a gateway to imaginative play but also a powerful tool for boosting children's communication skills. When children engage in creative activities, whether it's storytelling, role-playing, or collaborative art projects, they naturally develop their social skills. These activities encourage them to express their ideas, listen to others and work together, which are essential parts of effective communication. By integrating creativity into their daily routines, children in their early years learn how to show their thoughts and feelings more clearly, laying a strong foundation for their communication abilities as they grow.

In early childhood, creative activities are particularly beneficial for helping children make sense of their surroundings and interact with others. Through imaginative play, for example, children experiment with different roles and scenarios, which helps them get a better understanding of the world and how they fit into it. This in turn inspires them to ask questions, share their perspectives and even build a broader vocabulary !

How to boost creativity

If you’re looking for ways to spark your child's creativity , there are plenty of simple yet effective strategies you can incorporate into their daily routine!

Encouraging creative play at home or in a homeschooling environment is one of the most powerful ways to boost your child’s creativity. Start by creating a fun and supportive environment filled with different materials that inspire imaginative play. Whether it’s a variety of art supplies like crayons, markers, and paper, or building blocks and costumes for pretend play, having these readily available allows young children to express their ideas freely and creatively.

Role-play is an effective way to boost children's creativity. For example, setting up a “restaurant” at home where your child can be the chef or server not only makes playtime more engaging but also helps them develop their storytelling and problem-solving skills. Pretend play scenarios like this allow children to step into different roles and explore new ideas, all while having fun!

Reading is another powerful tool for inspiring your child to be creative and encourage them to use their imagination. When children read, they’re introduced to new worlds, characters , and ideas that can inspire their own imaginative play. Encourage them to create their own stories based on what they’ve read, or ask them to draw pictures of their favorite settings or characters. This not only reinforces what they’ve learned but also allows them to explore different ways to express their thoughts and ideas creatively.

By integrating these creative experiences into your child’s routine, you’re helping them develop a strong foundation for creative thinking that will benefit their academic success and beyond!

How Night Zookeeper can help

One of the most effective ways to boost creativity while ensuring that your child is also getting the academic support they need is by using an educational program.

Night Zookeeper is a reading & writing program for children aged 6 to 12 that puts creativity at the forefront of education. It transforms reading & writing into a game that encourages children’s imaginations by letting them learn through play and encouraging them to build their on Night Zoo by completing lessons, challenges and games. This gamified approach makes learning fantastically fun, engaging and entertaining.

Sign up today and get a FREE 7-day trial!

Got any questions? Email us at [email protected] . Follow us on social media for more advice, updates and freebies:

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This fun drill will help you get more creative around the green

In your next practice session, try using a number of clubs for the same shot to increase your creative thinking around the green.

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Do you find yourself using the same chip-shot technique , with the same club, regardless of the shot you face? No matter where you are in your game-improvement journey, it’s common to fall into a one-dimensional routine as soon as you get around the green. Sometimes, we simply default to trying to execute the same shot with the club we’re most comfortable with — even if it’s not the best choice.

One way to improve this area of your game is to work on expanding your creativity , says Heather Angell, the director of instruction at Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla.

“There are so many aspects of golf that do not allow for creativity,” she said. “With the short game, think outside the box.”

According to Angell, one way to do this is to challenge yourself with a fun drill: try practicing a chip shot with every club in your bag.

“Observe how the ball reacts with each club, then determine which club you feel most confident with that will get the ball closest to the hole,” she said.

Practicing in this way will help you envision multiple scenarios for each shot you face. And you may even discover that you prefer a different shot or technique over your general go-to.

This simple putting drill will help improve your tempo

“One of my favorite clinics I teach is one where I go through my entire bag for a shot around the green,” Angell said. “I start out with my putter, demonstrate the shot, and explain how the grass it too high to use the putter consistently for my liking. Then I proceed through my wedges, 9-iron, 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, and even 5-iron, talking about each one and whether I like the result and ease of execution with each club.”

There are no limits with this drill. Angell encourages players to try hitting shots around the green with their hybrids , fairway woods and even the driver.

“I encourage using the club you most confidently feel you can get closest to the hole, even if it’s not a ‘typical’ club to hit around the green,” Angell said. “One of my favorite shots is using my hybrid like a putter for shots just off the green, because the added loft of the hybrid allows the ball to launch on top of the longer grass and roll across it like a putter would on the green. The shot has become a favorite of my students as well, as it is much easier to get this shot closer to the hole than chipping.”

So the next time you find yourself with some practice time in the short-game area, give some unexpected clubs a try. You may be surprised by the quality of the results — and your handicap will thank you.

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As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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