Creating limitations to free yourself

When we talk of limitations, we generally think of negative things that restrict us in some way or prevent us from getting where we want to go.

But sometimes some self-imposed limitations can be very powerful in focusing our creativity.

To give an example, I compose music on my computer using various pieces of software. There's virtually nothing it can't do. And sometimes that's the problem, because every tiny last element of every track of a piece of music can be adjusted, it can feel overwhelming in knowing where to even start.

I remember the fun and enjoyment I had creating some of the earliest ambient compositions I did, probably some 7 or 8 years ago now. I used a PC with a microphone and simple wave editor, recorded a sound directly into it, cut it up a bit, changed the length, pitch etc, then simply played it on a loop and recorded the result on my Tascam Portastudio four track. Then found another sound, manipulated it again, recorded it on the Portastudio, etc until I had built up a complete composition.

(Part of the way a four track works is by using both stereo channels (left and right) of each side of the cassette and plays the resulting four tracks in a single direction. As an interesting by-product, with some careful recording, this enables you to overlay parts of your music in reverse with other parts in the forward direction.)

Anyway, the point here is the relatively limited features of the equipment I was using then, especially compared to what is widely available and affordable today, in a way actually made me MORE creative and I experimented with the equipment and pushed the boundaries to get new sounds and new compositions. The pieces I composed then are still some of my favourite I've done.

Another example is in writing, poetry especially. Whenever I used to get stuck or lacked inspiration for a larger piece of work, a very valuable exercise is to return to writing haikus.

(Click here and here for some haiku definitions).

Because haikus are a very ordered and specific form, to follow them correctly, a great deal of thought and application is required.

Each time I've returned to haikus I've found them incredibly rewarding once more and they're probably the single writing style that I've learnt most from.

So think about how this way of creating limitations to actually free yourself could apply to your creative projects. Maybe by introducing a few rules or guidelines, even if they're just to get you started, you can challenge and expand your own creativity...