Creativity In Crisis? How To Stop, Breathe And Begin Again And Get Your Creativity Back On Track

Emily was going through a difficult period with her creativity.

Although she’d recently had some of her writing published in a national magazine and some other work picked up by a renowned writers' publication online, she was struggling.

Emily was pleased with the writing she’d produced that had been published. But she wanted to develop and grow.

She didn’t want to write the same story over and over again, however popular that story was, and how well it was received.

But she was stuck in a cycle. Every day she’d go to her desk to write, try to come up with a good starting point to write from, then go about expanding it into something interesting. Then, sometimes only minutes later, she’d scrap the new writing in frustration, convinced it was nowhere near as good as her published work.

Some 30 plus days later, Emily was getting slowly more and more anxious, dejected, uninspired and creatively stuck. She’d reached a point of creative crisis.

How often have you felt like Emily?

How often do you feel so tight and anxious about creating that you can barely focus on the act of creating itself?

It happens to all of us, and though we know we’re in the midst of a creativity crisis, we’re so desperate to just get through and create, we don’t stop to take some of the simple steps that would free our creativity up again.

So here are 3 simple steps to Stop, Breathe and Begin Again when your in the midst of a creativity crisis.

Step 1. Stop. Whatever it is you’re creating, just stop. Put it on pause. ADMIT to yourself that you’ve reached a difficult point in this creative project, and more importantly ALLOW yourself to take time out, rather than slogging away blindly and ineffectually.

This may just be the hardest step, especially when you’re deep in the middle of a project and all you want is to get through it as quickly as possible. But before you can take the next step to get your creativity on track again, you need to just stop.

Step 2. Breathe. Literally, take a few deep breaths and calm yourself. You’ve taken control of your creativity, realised that what you were doing wasn’t working. This is a positive and brave step. Allow yourself to breathe and find your natural rhythm again.

Take some time out to absorb complete different surroundings. Go out for a walk somewhere beautiful. Spend some time with young children while they’re playing. Visit somewhere you’ve always wanted to but never got round to, like a gallery or a show or a monument.

Step 3. Begin Again. You’ll now be in a far calmer, more objective position. You have essentially two choices in beginning to create again. Either pick a new project, something quite small and fun that you can really enjoy without getting caught up and attached to the outcome.

Or, the second option is to return afresh to your current creative project. By stopping, then breathing, you’ll now see the project in a different light. Parts that seemed impossible or impenetrable will have become more clear. Trust yourself and your creativity, that you know the way forward. Because you do. Then begin creating again, in the way you feel is best.

The next time your anxiety is rising and you feel your creativity is in crisis, use these simple 3 steps.

Stop, Breathe, Begin Again, and you’ll return to creating with renewed purpose and energy.

Would you like help in getting your creativity kick-started today? Then download your free copy of the powerful and practical Explode Your Creativity! Action Workbook at http://www.CoachCreative.com.

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin.

Creative Sensuality - Get The Most From Your 5 Senses To Enrich Your Creative Work

Think of a scent that sends you back to your childhood in an instant, like the smell of boot polish your dad used to clean his shoes each morning, your mother’s best “special night out” perfume, or the warm fragrance of tomato plants in your grandfather’s greenhouse.

We experience the world through our 5 senses, they’re the channels through which we receive the details of the environment around us.

Being more aware of our senses, noticing the subtleties and quirks of both the exotic and the familiar, helps us not only have a more vivid and stimulating life, but also enriches our creative work, how we express our creativity and how effectively we connect with others.

Another example: You might hear a song that reminds you of your teenage years and a first love, those awkward but heady first exchanges behind the cinema on a Saturday night. Or the train signal unique to the local railways where you used to stay with your aunt and uncle every summer.

Each of us have vivid memories and feelings connected with certain senses.

So the best way to make your creative art evocative and connect with others is to draw on these senses as much as possible.

You don’t always have to draw on sensual details of the past either.

Much of the time it’s the quest for the new that drives an artist forward to pushing the boundaries of what they create, sometimes challenging the limits of what ANYONE has created before in a particular medium.

This is how we get the creative pioneers that lead the way in their creative form, setting new expectations and opening new avenues for those that go after them.

Think about some of your favourite artists and the art that’s particularly moved and inspired you.

Which artists and artwork has made you FEEL most, and has connected with you most deeply?

Which art and artists have taken your breath away and redefined what you thought was possible in creating?

Think about either of these – the art that’s moved you most and the art that’s blown away your expectations of what you thought was possible – and you’ll find they draw heavily on your senses.

Whether it’s a poem, painting or piece of music, the connection – the way it makes you feel more alive – is what makes it such an important piece of work for you.

Think about your own creative work. What pieces have you felt have most effectively connected with people’s senses?

Which creative projects for you have best expressed a certain time or a certain feeling you’ve wanted to express?

It’s all the senses. An artist without a strong awareness of their senses is like a pianist trying to play piano without their hands or a dancer trying to express their dance without moving a muscle.

Remember this each time you create, and aim to tap into your audience’s feelings and emotions as deeply as possibly through each of their 5 senses.

Your creative work can be as sensual, evocative and vivid as you want to make it.

Would you like to kick-start your creativity today? Then download your free copy of the Explode Your Creativity! Action Workbook at http://www.CoachCreative.com.

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin.

Creative Focus - How To Go From Scattershot To Laser Focused In 3 Steps

How easy to you find it to focus on one creative project, and to really make some significant progress?

When’s the last time you really felt “That was a great session of creating, I really enjoyed it and feel I moved it on to the next stage”?

Most creative people struggle to get this focused. New ideas pour in constantly, and rather than stick with the project you’re working on, it’s so easy to just jump aboard the next interesting new wave and ride it until another new one comes along.

You end up with dozens of unfinished projects scattered around – both physically, and scattered around as fragments in your head.

Having fresh ideas is a crucial part of a fulfilling creative life. But another equally important element is finishing creative projects, feeing proud that you’ve completed something and that it’s an authentic expression of who you are.

Rather than flitting from project to project like a confused moth in a room full of candles, sometimes it’s good to get laser-focused on just one at a time.

So here are 3 steps to get your creativity focused:

1. Write your “Statement of Intent”. Pick one creative idea to work on and commit to a period of time to work on it. Write your commitment down, it makes it clearer and more likely that you’ll follow through with it. For example: “I commit my creative energies to working for 30 minutes a day for the next 14 days on my new short story about my time travelling in Singapore.”

Include in your “Statement of Intent” an overall period that you’re going to work on the project (eg 14 days) and how much and how often (eg 30 minutes per day) to help you get really focused.

2. Do not disturb. Throughout your period of focus, do all you can to eliminate distractions. Create in a place that is as undisturbed as possible. If necessary, let people know of your intention and kindly request they respect your privacy for that short period of time and allow you to focus.

To manage incoming new ideas, simply keep a small notepad nearby. When a new idea appears, jot it in your notepad to work on at a later time, then close the notepad and continue on your current project.

3. Review, adjust, create. Don’t worry about setting a specific goal like “I’m going to finish 10 pages of my new altered book”. Instead commit just to giving the project your time, energy and focus and allow it to evolve naturally, in whatever way it needs to.

At the end of your period of creativity, review your progress. Congratulate yourself on what you’ve achieved. Ask what’s worked well and what you can adjust to help you be even more focused the next time. Then set a new Statement of Intent and get creating again!

This 3 step process is a powerful way of getting focused with your creativity, and building your confidence in creating.

Now it's your turn. Start with step 1, and write your Statement of Intent. Then work on through the other 2 steps. Happy creating!

Would you like to kick-start your creativity today? Then download your free copy of the Explode Your Creativity! Action Workbook at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin.

7 Benefits Of A Creative Community- Why Continue To Struggle To Create Alone?

In the past it was very difficult for artists to connect with other artists and the majority worked alone, silent toiling with little support or interaction from others who are like minded.

These days though, the scene is very different.

With the explosion of ways to communicate via the internet, creative artists all over the world can exchange ideas, collaborate on creative projects, share resources and support each other from the comfort of their own homes.

Although much creating still needs to be done by the artist alone, they have the knowledge that a supportive group of other creative people can be literally at their fingertips.

Are you still struggling to create on your own?

Here are 7 major benefits that becoming part of a creative community can bring into your creative life:

1. There’s someone to hold you accountable to following through. You can make all kinds of silent promises to yourself about when and how much you’ll create. But when you declare this out loud to another person or group of people, it instantly gives you more motivation to keep to your word and follow through on your intentions.

2. You find new creative resources. There’s only so much time any creative person has, you can’t possibly read every article and book on creativity, or visit every website. A creative community can share their best creative resources, so you can go straight to those that are going to help you most.

3. You can work with a creative buddy. A creative buddy is just someone you agree to team up with to help each other in your creative lives. You can arrange to regularly check in and share what you’ve done, and encourage each other to take your creativity to the next level. This can make a huge difference to your creativity compared to creating “in a void” all alone.

4. You’ll achieve things as a group you couldn’t possibly do alone. One person can make a difference, but a group of people can make changes far beyond the sum of their parts. The possibilities for creating as a part of a creative community are limited only by the imagination and vision of the group members.

5. You’ll find collaborative partners. You’ll develop friendships with other creative people in a creative community. One thing this can lead to is collaborations, where two or more of you agree to work on a creative project together. Again, with the multitude of media and technology available these days, much of this can be done online.

6. You’re able to give something back to other creative people. Many of us when we spend time creating alone feel selfish or guilty. Whilst it’s perfectly OK and necessary to have your own time to create, by supporting and contributing to the creative lives of others in a community you’ll feel happier in spending time on your own creative work.

7. You get exposure and networking opportunities. Something that many artists find difficult is promoting or even showing their work to others. As part of a creative community, there’s a wealth of networking opportunities. You never know who’ll you meet or who will be on the group looking for artwork just like yours.

These are just 7 of the major reasons why being part of a creative community can support your creative life, and take your creativity to new levels within a very short space of time.

I’d like to invite you to check out CoachCreativeSpace, a friendly, supportive Creative Community of all kinds of artists. Our common aim is to help each other be as creative as we know can be.

It’s free to join, so head over to see more for yourself now at http:www//CoachCreativeSpace.

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creative Freedom - The Benefits Of Creating Just For The Joy Of Creating

Whatever we enjoy as creative projects, sometimes there's nothing like the thrill of simply creating for the joy of creating.

The excitement of the unknown possibilities, the feeling of fear mixed with awe, the spontaneous free flow of ideas, words, images or sounds...

Often, the barriers that appear when we go to create – both externally and in our minds – can be traced back to what we EXPECT to produce.

It’s deeply engrained in many of us that unless we have some amazing “end product” after a period of creating - something real and tangible to show for all our efforts - then somehow that time has been wasted.

We rarely allow ourselves (or others) time to just create for the pleasure of creating.

If I were to say you could have a whole day off from all commitments – 8 hours just to create whatever and however you wanted – what would your first reaction be?

Would it something like: “Fantastic, that gives me loads of time to experiment with some new painting techniques I’ve been longing to try out. I can really have fun with them without worrying about having to pack up half way through.”

Or would it more like: “A whole day? 8 hours!? Oh dear that’s a lot of time. I should be able to produce loads of stuff in that time. But what if I can’t? What if I get stuck or run out of ideas, or don’t have time to finish? If I don’t create something really significant it’ll be such a waste of time...”

If you’re more likely to reply like in the second example (as most of us probably would!), here’s a way to start to overcome that.

Decide for yourself to put aside an hour or so to commit to creating purely for the pleasure of it.

Choose a media or format that you've always wanted to try but never had the courage to. Or something you loved when you were a child but haven't returned to in years, maybe decades.

Don't have any expectations of yourself, or aim to complete a piece of work within the time period you've set aside.

The aim is to simply enjoy the experience of creating, not create a final "product".

Whether it's finger painting, writing spontaneous prose, playing piano, tap dancing, carving wood or anything else, just begin, experiment, flow where it takes you. Enjoy the child-like sense of discovery, your capability to express your feelings and ideas, and the deep human need we all have to simply create...

Take the next step to increase your creativity today, by getting your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Be More Creative - How A Giant YES On Your Wall Gives You Permission To Be Creative

Recently I came across the phrase “it’s like putting a giant YES on your wall”.

This struck me as such a powerful and visual phrase and made me realise again the power of "giving yourself permission" to be creative.

Ultimately, whoever you are, the only person who can control and decide how creative you are is you.

One of the major reasons why people don’t create as much as they could do, or as much as they’re capable of doing, is simply because they don’t allow themselves to be creative.

Any number of underlying fears and beliefs support this. Beliefs such as “I don’t deserve to be creative”, or “I can only create early in the morning”, or “I’m only creative in one specific area, I can’t transfer this to any other part of my life”.

How much do you allow yourself to be creative?

How freely do you give yourself permission to create? Or are there always conditions attached, or pay offs involved?

Think carefully and honestly about the thoughts and beliefs you have that actually hold you back from creating.

Many of them are probably so subtle you don’t even realise you have them. But those are the ones that are most dangerous and most destructive in the long term.

Once you identify these beliefs and thoughts that limit your creativity, you can begin to replace them with ones more supportive of your creativity.

To return to the earlier examples, turn these around to positive beliefs:

“I deserve to be creative as much as the next person.”

“I can create at any time of the day.”

“If I’m creative in one area, there’s no reason why I can’t apply that creative way of seeing and being to another part of my life.”

So take the biggest piece of paper you can find, write a giant “YES” on it and put it up on your wall.

Then think about all the things you'd like to say yes to around your creativity, but don't because of some fear or doubt or negative belief.

Add this list of things around the word yes on the sheet of paper.

Say YES to writing your novel. Say YES to taking up painting landscapes again. Say YES to getting your guitar out of your attic and playing some of your old songs again. Say YES to starting a new project in an area you've never tried before.

Whatever creative project you've been thinking about beginning or restarting, give yourself permission today and put a giant YES on YOUR wall!

Want to learn more about how to increase YOUR creativity? It’s easy: just sign up to "Create Create!" - Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin's free twice monthly ezine - today, and get your FREE copy of the “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook. Head on over now to http://www.CoachCreative.com

Stop Waiting, Start Creating! How Much Time Do YOU Spend Just Hanging Around Waiting For Others?

How much of your life do you spend simply killing time while waiting for others?

And at the same time feeling you really could be getting on with something more creative..?

We all seem to have busy lives these days and anything that can help us to make better use of our time is usually gratefully welcomed.

The act of creating each day and getting into this rhythm and discipline is one way we can begin to work towards this.

Even if we do this however, many of us find we still "waste" much time in waiting around for others.

Some everyday examples are waiting in queues in shops, or waiting for a train that's late. These situations we can’t do much about.

But then there are those other times where we're waiting out of some obligation for another. We're with people we're close to in our lives - our partners, children, friends or colleagues - and we may feel because we're in the same room or building at the same time, we "should" spend some time with them .

Rather than schedule a fixed amount of time in which to see them and have some quality undisturbed time together, we often just try to squeeze it in and drop the other activities we're currently doing.

How often have you been with a friend, and felt pressured because you know you don't have much time together until one of you has to leave to attend to some other task?

This looming urgency then puts a spoiler on your time together and instead of relaxing and enjoying each other's company, you never quite get into any meaningful conversation or commit to doing something together you both like and appreciate.

Over a period of weeks, months or years, this can build up and instead of having occasional enjoyable and largely undisturbed time together where you're both focused and committed, you feel like you have a series of snatched interludes, where in all honesty you'd probably both be rather spending the time doing something else!

It's like having a snack every few hours and throwing it down your throat because you know the restaurant is closing in five minutes.

When really, you’d rather take a couple of hours to sit down and relax with a delicious meal and a bottle of wine once a day.

Or maybe even worse, it may feel like sitting in a restaurant waiting for a meal with someone when neither of you are particularly hungry and can't decide what to order!

So maybe it takes being selfish first to be giving in the long term.

Maybe next time you try to snatch a few minutes with your partner, children or friends, just because you're both in the same place at the same time, think about how you could book some more focused and relaxing quality time together instead, and give you both the opportunity to really get the most from each other's company...

There are many ways to be more creative. I invite you to take a positive step to increase your creativity today.

Get your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creativity - 5 Ways To Ensure Your Creative Life Is Built On Firm Foundations Not Shifting Sands

To achieve anything of significance, to be able to create a body of creative work you're proud of and have a consistently rewarding life of creativity, you must have strong foundations to build upon.

You’re probably familiar with the story of the wise man who built his house upon the rock. By choosing a strong foundation on which to build his home - rock - when the rains came, the wise man’s house stayed standing.

His neighbour was less patient in building his house and wanted to erect it as quickly as possible. He didn’t care much where he built it and so his house went up on sandy ground.

When it rained, while the wise man’s house stood firm on its foundation of rock, his neighbour’s house begin to crumble, as the sands beneath became soaked in water and began to shift.

Which of the two neighbours are you most like in your creative life?

Do you have strong foundations that can withstand any kind of weather, rain or shine, sun or storm?

Here are 5 ways to make sure you have solid foundations in place so you can become as creative as you have the potential of being:

1. Create everyday. The only way to long term consistent creative output is to develop patterns and routines. Creating for a minimum amount each day is the easiest way to do this. As you get used to the daily act of creating, you can then increase the time you spend each day.

2. Healthy creative environment. Think for a moment about where you do most of your creating. Is it set up to make creating as easy as possible for you? Or do you have to fumble through lots of clutter before you can even start creating? Keep your creative space organised in the way that will best inspire you and allow you to create freely.

3. Strong creative beliefs. Do you believe that you’re creative and resourceful? Do you trust your creativity to always produce something interesting and stimulating? If not, it would serve you well to spend some time weeding out any negative beliefs and replacing them with some that are more empowering for your creativity.

4. Support network. What kind of network do you have around you to support your creativity? Look at the people you spend most time with, are they enthusiastic and positive about your creative life? Are there groups, clubs, forums or organisations you could join to give you more support, encouragement and guidance?

5. Creative stimulation and ideas. Do you have a steady new stream of ideas and inspiration flowing into your creative life? Do you absorb artwork, books, music and places that fire your imagination and spark off your creativity? Do you have a method to capture your ideas when you have them or do they drift by unrecorded, never to be seen again?

These are 5 crucial foundations that need to be strongly in place if you’re to lead a fulfilling creative life.

Which of these areas do you feel are strong for you already? Which could you pick to spend a little time on to improve, so you find it easier to create all the things you know you’re capable of creating?

Pick one area today, list 3 things you could start to put into action in the next 48 hours, then do them...

Decisive positive action now will serve your creativity well for years to come.

Want to learn more about how to increase YOUR creativity?

I invite you to get your FREE copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook at the CoachCreative website now: http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creative Writing With Confidence - 7 Ways To Kick-Start Your Confidence In Creative Writing Today

Often the difference that makes the difference in how often you write, what you write, and how well you write is not about how gifted you are as a writer.

Everyone can be a creative writer, everyone can develop, learn and evolve as a writer and see real progress in a fairly short space of time, as well as getting great enjoyment from writing.

Confidence is a far more important aspect and the more confidence you have, the more you write, and so your confidence grows more.

But how do get that confidence in the first place?

Here are 7 top ways to boost your confidence in writing creatively today:

1. Write every day. The only way to be fluid and confident in writing is to do it often. As we work on a daily calendar, it makes perfect sense to write every day, it keeps things simple and will help you get into a creative pattern.

2. Acknowledge your achievements. It’s easy to write prolifically for a month then look back and think “I haven’t created much recently”, even though you have. Keep a record of what you write, you’ll be surprised at how much you create and then forget. It all adds to your experience and building confidence.

3. Get support from a group. These days we’re all so connected it’s much easier to find a group of similar writers, either locally or on the internet. Seek out a group that will support you not judge, where a strong attitude of everyone helping each other become a better writer prevails.

4. Write at the times that work for you. We all have natural flows of creativity. Though we can train ourselves to write at anytime, there are times of the day you’re more confident writing. Find the times that work best for you – early morning, after lunch, late at night, whatever works best for you.

5. Set regular, achievable goals. To increase your confidence, set a series of specific, reachable goals, rather than one huge overwhelming goal. Your progress will be easier to measure and your confidence and motivation grows. For example: “I’m going to write 500 words on my novel today”, rather than “I’m going to finish my novel this year.”

6. Get a creative buddy. Having a supportive partner in creativity is a very powerful way to increase your confidence. Also, you can contribute to someone else building their confidence. Either ask a friend to be your creative buddy, or find someone through a group you’re a part of.

7. Enjoy yourself! The more you enjoy your creative writing, the more your confidence will naturally grow, so the more you’ll want to write. Pick a variety of different writing projects and styles, experiment and have fun. You’ll discover new enjoyable ways of writing you’ve not even tried before.

These are 7 great ways to boost your confidence in creative writing today.

Which one are you going to choose to use first?

Get your creative writing kick started again right now with the FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not making the best of their unique creative abilities. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creatively Stuck? How To Ask The Right Questions To Get Your Creativity Flowing Freely Again

You might be struggling with all kinds of issues in your creative life right now?

Maybe you’re wondering what you should be focusing your energies on? Which creative form to develop your work in? Whether to start a new project or finish an existing one?

You might even be wondering why you feel so adrift from the creative person you really want to be, and from creating the art you truly long to create?

In short, you’re looking for answers to some pretty fundamental questions about your creative life.

But where and how do you find these answers? Do they even exist?

Well, YES! Sometimes it’s just about asking the right questions, then listening.

If you ask yourself the questions that you most need to ask - then trust yourself enough to believe that somewhere inside you, processes are taking place, cogs are whirring, ideas are bubbling and a sense of clarity is forming - you will be presented with the answers you need.

For example, if you find yourself stuck creatively, or don't know what project to do next or how you can best use your creativity, ask yourself this one simple question -

"What does my creative life need right now?"

Then just take the time to sit and let the answers come to you.

You may want to close your eyes and let your thoughts gather. You may want to take some pens and paper and brainstorm or mindmap the ideas as they come to you.

You might want to draw diagrams or pictures. Or you may find another way that works even better for you.

Ask, and listen, with a genuine openness and trust in yourself and you’ll be amazed at what happens.

Maybe this isn't exactly the right question to ask at this time? Maybe it’s too specific even?

Taking this idea to a wider scope, you could simply ask -

"What questions do I need to ask myself right now?"

What do you need to ask yourself to get the core of what will help you move forward? If you don’t know where you want to be heading, and don’t take any steps to find out and start moving, you’ll be stuck and standing still for good.

Take the time though to ask yourself the questions that, deep down, you KNOW you need to ask yourself, then be prepared to listen openly, and there will always be something valuable to hear...

Take the next step to help you be more creative today.

You can get your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook when you sign up to my FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creating With Intention - How Clear Intentions Help You Be More Creative

When you create, what’s the intention behind it? Do you know how much of a difference creating with intention can make to your creative life and creative projects?

When you have clear intentions, you’re able to focus more clearly and move more easily towards them.

Your internal forces seem to unite in a common direction and with a common purpose and you move forward more swiftly and smoothly.

Something I learned when attending acting classes was to act in the class with intention. The tutor asked: “Why do you come to this acting class? What’s your intention, what do you hope to get from it?”.

He explained that when his students had this intention in the back of their minds, they get more from the class, because they pick out the parts that serve their intention best. They make the most of the exercises that are relevant and move on from those that don’t.

When you're clear about your intentions, you also become more attuned to the opportunities that arise for you.

You know which will take you in the direction you want to go. If you know that you’re working towards specific aims – even though the art you’re creating may still be diverse and spontaneous – you become more open to the pathways that will lead you where you want to go.

Intentions can sometimes be very specific.

For example "I want to write 3 chapters of my novel within the next month."

Others are more of a “directional intention” than an “destination intention”.

For example in my acting class, my intention was to become more confident and expressive in using my voice.

There was not necessarily a definitive point or state I was expecting to reach, but having that intention somewhere in my mind allowed me to constantly be aware of this in the course of the classes and make the exercises more relevant and useful to me.

What in your creative life do you have clear intentions for?

What do you have a strong picture of in your head, about how you'd things to be?

What other things in your creative life are you unclear about? Areas where you have no clear intentions and maybe you feel you're simply drifting rather than working steadily towards a goal or in a particular direction?

What differences do you notice between the areas where you have a strong intention and those you don't?

What steps can you take today to become more clear in your intentions in all areas of your creative life? Pick one to start with, then build from there.

I invite you to take the next step to help you increase your creativity today.

Get your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook when you sign up to my FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creative Ideas - How To Deal With An Overload Of Creative Ideas

Often it’s not a lack of ideas that’s the problem, it’s having TOO MANY ideas and not knowing which to work on.

I'm sure you’ve experienced an overload of ideas in some way, your head in meltdown, new thoughts and variations bombarding you with such intensity that rather than note them down or try to develop them, you simply want to switch off, deflect them and give your poor little head a break!

But then the paradox is that these could be the times when you are most richly creative.

Whether you’re coming up with solutions for a particular issue or creating a new piece of work, you may fear that by focusing on just the one thing you’re working on right now, dozens of great ideas might slip through your grasp and be lost forever.

Different people deal with this ideas overload in different ways.

At worst, the constant flow of creative ideas, rather than be something that’s highly useful and to be celebrated, becomes something negative, maybe even dreaded. The feelings of anxiety and overload become what dominate your thoughts and feelings, rather than the content of the ideas themselves.

One of the best ways you deal with these is to always have a notepad with you.

Whether it’s a paper notebook or a page in a word processor, it provides some way to jot ideas down when they come.

Then when that flash of inspiration comes, you can note it down then and there, then - and here's the crucial part - CLOSE the notebook and continuing doing whatever you were doing before.

You soon build up a notebook full of powerful ideas that are there for you to draw upon in the future when you need to.

This can take some restraint! The natural urge is to follow the idea, flow with it and develop it instantly, dropping everything else in the meantime.

But if you lived like this you’d never get anything done, instead constantly being in that uniquely exciting first tiny steps stage of having an idea you've never had before, hurling your resources into it until another mind-blowing idea comes along 5 minutes later!

Sound familiar?

So try this technique and see what happens.

Catch the magic of a new idea in a notebook and keep in incubation until it's time to let it flourish and grow...

Want more great creativity exercises, tips and articles? Then sign up to "Create Create!" - Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin's free twice monthly ezine - today, and get your FREE copy of the “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook. Head on over now to http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creative But Isolated? The Advantages Of Creative Communities And Finding Your Own Creative Tribe

A life of creativity can sometimes feel like a lonely and isolated experience.

True, often being alone is just what’s needed to get focused and create as freely as you can, without distraction from anything and anyone. This is great for when you’re in the midst of creating. But that’s not all the time.

What do you do the rest of your time?

Do you have sessions of creativity in which you become completely involved and lost in creating, then return to your “everyday” life, almost pretending that the time you just spent creating didn’t even happen? Almost as if it's some secret alternative life that people would disapprove of?

How helpful and supportive of your creative life is this way of living?

And how often do you feel you’re at the forefront of a new creative movement of a group of, er, one artist? Yourself.

It doesn’t need to be like this. When you reach out and find others who create, others who go through the same frustrations and creative breakthroughs, the same struggles and celebrations, it can have a profound impact on your own work.

Find your “Creative Tribe” and the mutual support and encouragement you receive from that creative community will help you create with a new confidence, and a fresh surge of motivation.

So what does your Creative Tribe look like? How do you find it?

It helps to consider the two main parts to being in a Creative Tribe – giving and receiving:

1. What do you have to give?

Because you’re creative yourself, you know the many feelings and experiences that go hand in hand with a life of creativity.

You know what it feels like to find a new artist and source of inspiration, or to be hit by a new creative idea while queuing in the supermarket. You know what it’s like to be sat staring at blank page, screen or canvas, wondering not WHERE the next idea will come from but IF IT WILL ever come.

You know the thrill of finishing a project you’ve thrown your heart and soul into. You know the excitement of being fully in the flow of creating, losing track of time and space.

And you know what kind of support helps YOU be more creative.

All of these things mean you’re in a wonderful position to help, encourage and nurture other people’s creativity as part of a community. All of them mean you’d be a valuable member of a Creative Tribe.

2. What would you like to receive?

When you’re lying awake at night wondering if you’ll ever finish that novel, or how you can continue to create in such isolation and secrecy, what would help you, what would make you feel like you’re not alone?

What kind of encouragement would enable you to be more creative, to keep your motivation high and the ideas flowing?

How would it enhance your own creative work to share ideas and experiences with others who create? What added dimensions and richness would talking, sharing, even collaborating, bring to your creative work?

How would it make you feel to know you’re actually supporting the creative lives of others, helping them achieve their creative dreams as you pursue yours?

All of these can be gained from being a part of a Creative Tribe, a community of like minded creative people.

You’re invited to check out CoachCreativeSpace, a friendly, supportive Creative Community of all kinds of artists. Our common aim is to help each other be as creative as we know can be.

It’s free to join, so head over to see more for yourself now at http://www.coachcreativespace.com.

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creative Writing With Confidence - 7 Ways To Kick-Start Your Confidence In Creative Writing Today

Often the difference that makes the difference in how often you write, what you write, and how well you write is not about how gifted you are as a writer.

Everyone can be a creative writer, everyone can develop, learn and evolve as a writer and see real progress in a fairly short space of time, as well as getting great enjoyment from writing.

Confidence is a far more important aspect and the more confidence you have, the more you write, and so your confidence grows more.

But how do get that confidence in the first place?

Here are 7 top ways to boost your confidence in writing creatively today:

1. Write every day. The only way to be fluid and confident in writing is to do it often. As we work on a daily calendar, it makes perfect sense to write every day, it keeps things simple and will help you get into a creative pattern.

2. Acknowledge your achievements. It’s easy to write prolifically for a month then look back and think “I haven’t created much recently”, even though you have. Keep a record of what you write, you’ll be surprised at how much you create and then forget. It all adds to your experience and building confidence.

3. Get support from a group. These days we’re all so connected it’s much easier to find a group of similar writers, either locally or on the internet. Seek out a group that will support you not judge, where a strong attitude of everyone helping each other become a better writer prevails.

4. Write at the times that work for you. We all have natural flows of creativity. Though we can train ourselves to write at anytime, there are times of the day you’re more confident writing. Find the times that work best for you – early morning, after lunch, late at night, whatever works best for you.

5. Set regular, achievable goals. To increase your confidence, set a series of specific, reachable goals, rather than one huge overwhelming goal. Your progress will be easier to measure and your confidence and motivation grows. For example: “I’m going to write 500 words on my novel today”, rather than “I’m going to finish my novel this year.”

6. Get a creative buddy. Having a supportive partner in creativity is a very powerful way to increase your confidence. Also, you can contribute to someone else building their confidence. Either ask a friend to be your creative buddy, or find someone through a group you’re a part of.

7. Enjoy yourself! The more you enjoy your creative writing, the more your confidence will naturally grow, so the more you’ll want to write. Pick a variety of different writing projects and styles, experiment and have fun. You’ll discover new enjoyable ways of writing you’ve not even tried before.

These are 7 great ways to boost your confidence in creative writing today.

Which one are you going to choose to use first?

Get your creative writing kick started again right now with the FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not making the best of their unique creative abilities. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com

Procrastination, Your New Special Best Friend - How Procrastination Can Help You Be MORE Creative

Just the word “procrastination” sends a shiver down the spine down of most of us who create.

That feeling of knowing you want to be working something, like a new creative project, but other small things seem to keep getting in the way and demanding your attention.

What are some of the most common procrastination techniques you use?

Maybe you have to keep up to date with your email, in case you miss an important message. Or you have to keep checking your favourite sites on the internet, because maybe they’ve added something amazing in the last few minutes you just NEED to see as soon as possible.

Maybe your collection of art books need rearranging because although they’re organised in order by artist, you decide that maybe they be better organised by type of art first, then sub type, THEN artist, to save you time when you need to go to one.

Or maybe you feel you cannot possible create until you’ve eaten that sandwich/ pizza/ cake /(insert-your-favourite-comfort-food-here)...

Any of these sounding familiar?

So, procrastination, what is it good for? Nothing! Except that’s not quite right.

Procrastination has a very vital part to play in your creative life. In fact, it can help you in a special way that almost nothing else can.

And for that reason, procrastination can be no longer seen as the evil that must be avoided at all costs, but actually as something you can use to be MORE creative.

Procrastination actually helps you because it highlights exactly what's really important to you - the things you're avoiding most!

If you didn't want to do them at all, you just wouldn't, you'd forget all about them completely. But because they ARE so important, they keep calling you back.

It's this conflict - the tension between really wanting to create something and having all kinds of procrastination tactics pop up to try to stop that - that causes the pain and the struggle.

If you had no real motivation or desire to create these projects, the procrastination would be out of a job.

Procrastination is like an overpaid top supermodel - if the pay off isn’t worth it, it won’t even bother getting out of bed and showing up.

So think for a moment about your favourite procrastination habits. Notice the patterns and routines. What are the creative projects you’re really avoiding?

They may not be obvious as first. You might be happily creating any number of projects. But somewhere in the back of you mind there’s a niggling feeling that really you’d love to be writing that novel about your childhood summer holidays in India or painting that huge abstract painting you’ve never quite dared to.

Welcome procrastination as your new best friend today.

Let it help you find what it is you really long to create.

Only then can you start making plans and taking action to create those projects that truly matter.

Take the next step to being more creative today by getting your FREE copy of Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin’s powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook. Head over now to http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creatively Stuck? How To Ask The Right Questions To Get Your Creativity Flowing Freely Again

You might be struggling with all kinds of issues in your creative life right now?

Maybe you’re wondering what you should be focusing your energies on? Which creative form to develop your work in? Whether to start a new project or finish an existing one?

You might even be wondering why you feel so adrift from the creative person you really want to be, and from creating the art you truly long to create?

In short, you’re looking for answers to some pretty fundamental questions about your creative life.

But where and how do you find these answers? Do they even exist?

Well, YES! Sometimes it’s just about asking the right questions, then listening.

If you ask yourself the questions that you most need to ask - then trust yourself enough to believe that somewhere inside you, processes are taking place, cogs are whirring, ideas are bubbling and a sense of clarity is forming - you will be presented with the answers you need.

For example, if you find yourself stuck creatively, or don't know what project to do next or how you can best use your creativity, ask yourself this one simple question -

"What does my creative life need right now?"

Then just take the time to sit and let the answers come to you.

You may want to close your eyes and let your thoughts gather. You may want to take some pens and paper and brainstorm or mindmap the ideas as they come to you.

You might want to draw diagrams or pictures. Or you may find another way that works even better for you.

Ask, and listen, with a genuine openness and trust in yourself and you’ll be amazed at what happens.

Maybe this isn't exactly the right question to ask at this time? Maybe it’s too specific even?

Taking this idea to a wider scope, you could simply ask -

"What questions do I need to ask myself right now?"

What do you need to ask yourself to get the core of what will help you move forward? If you don’t know where you want to be heading, and don’t take any steps to find out and start moving, you’ll be stuck and standing still for good.

Take the time though to ask yourself the questions that, deep down, you KNOW you need to ask yourself, then be prepared to listen openly, and there will always be something valuable to hear...

Take the next step to help you be more creative today.

You can get your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook when you sign up to my FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creating With Intention - How Clear Intentions Help You Be More Creative

When you create, what’s the intention behind it? Do you know how much of a difference creating with intention can make to your creative life and creative projects?

When you have clear intentions, you’re able to focus more clearly and move more easily towards them.

Your internal forces seem to unite in a common direction and with a common purpose and you move forward more swiftly and smoothly.

Something I learned when attending acting classes was to act in the class with intention. The tutor asked: “Why do you come to this acting class? What’s your intention, what do you hope to get from it?”.

He explained that when his students had this intention in the back of their minds, they get more from the class, because they pick out the parts that serve their intention best. They make the most of the exercises that are relevant and move on from those that don’t.

When you're clear about your intentions, you also become more attuned to the opportunities that arise for you.

You know which will take you in the direction you want to go. If you know that you’re working towards specific aims – even though the art you’re creating may still be diverse and spontaneous – you become more open to the pathways that will lead you where you want to go.

Intentions can sometimes be very specific.

For example "I want to write 3 chapters of my novel within the next month."

Others are more of a “directional intention” than an “destination intention”.

For example in my acting class, my intention was to become more confident and expressive in using my voice.

There was not necessarily a definitive point or state I was expecting to reach, but having that intention somewhere in my mind allowed me to constantly be aware of this in the course of the classes and make the exercises more relevant and useful to me.

What in your creative life do you have clear intentions for?

What do you have a strong picture of in your head, about how you'd things to be?

What other things in your creative life are you unclear about? Areas where you have no clear intentions and maybe you feel you're simply drifting rather than working steadily towards a goal or in a particular direction?

What differences do you notice between the areas where you have a strong intention and those you don't?

What steps can you take today to become more clear in your intentions in all areas of your creative life? Pick one to start with, then build from there.

I invite you to take the next step to help you increase your creativity today.

Get your free copy of the powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook when you sign up to my FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

From Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin

Creative Ideas - How To Deal With An Overload Of Creative Ideas

Often it’s not a lack of ideas that’s the problem, it’s having TOO MANY ideas and not knowing which to work on.

I'm sure you’ve experienced an overload of ideas in some way, your head in meltdown, new thoughts and variations bombarding you with such intensity that rather than note them down or try to develop them, you simply want to switch off, deflect them and give your poor little head a break!

But then the paradox is that these could be the times when you are most richly creative.

Whether you’re coming up with solutions for a particular issue or creating a new piece of work, you may fear that by focusing on just the one thing you’re working on right now, dozens of great ideas might slip through your grasp and be lost forever.

Different people deal with this ideas overload in different ways.

At worst, the constant flow of creative ideas, rather than be something that’s highly useful and to be celebrated, becomes something negative, maybe even dreaded. The feelings of anxiety and overload become what dominate your thoughts and feelings, rather than the content of the ideas themselves.

One of the best ways you deal with these is to always have a notepad with you.

Whether it’s a paper notebook or a page in a word processor, it provides some way to jot ideas down when they come.

Then when that flash of inspiration comes, you can note it down then and there, then - and here's the crucial part - CLOSE the notebook and continuing doing whatever you were doing before.

You soon build up a notebook full of powerful ideas that are there for you to draw upon in the future when you need to.

This can take some restraint! The natural urge is to follow the idea, flow with it and develop it instantly, dropping everything else in the meantime.

But if you lived like this you’d never get anything done, instead constantly being in that uniquely exciting first tiny steps stage of having an idea you've never had before, hurling your resources into it until another mind-blowing idea comes along 5 minutes later!

Sound familiar?

So try this technique and see what happens.

Catch the magic of a new idea in a notebook and keep in incubation until it's time to let it flourish and grow...

Want more great creativity exercises, tips and articles? Then sign up to "Create Create!" - Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin's free twice monthly ezine - today, and get your FREE copy of the “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook. Head on over now to http://www.CoachCreative.com

Increase Creativity - Tap Into The Rich Creative Source Of Your Dreams

How much can we learn from our dreams?

There are an almost unlimited number of theories around dreams and dreaming and the whole concept of our dreams being a window to our subconscious thinking.

Psychologists have for centuries debated the importance and significance of our dreams and studied what they mean to us and what they can tell us about ourselves and our states of mind.

But let’s get back to you and your creativity.

Of what use are your dreams to you as a creative person? How can you tap into the wondrous, often abstract collisions of images, sounds and ideas you experience through dreaming?

Many great artists cite dreams as being absolutely key in providing inspiration for their work.

Maybe for some it was just seeing something different or so removed from what they experience in their waking life that provided that inspirational spark, that catalyst for a new piece of work, or re-inspired and energised them in resuming a current piece.

How many more have claimed to see visions in dreams that have led them to them otherwise seemingly unobtainable breakthroughs, discoveries or insights?

When we recall some of the most memorable dreams we've had, it can provide us once again with an excitement and passion, a glimpse of what is possible in our imagination.

And what’s creativity after all but making something that didn’t exist before?

If we can imagine something, literally if we can "make images" of something in our head, then we can go some way to re-creating this in our lives, whether for a particular piece of work, or for the way our lives are led in general.

We all dream, but most of the time we forget them before we even wake up.

One way you could begin remember your dreams more, and to draw more from them to enhance your creativity is to keep a type of Dream Journal next to your bed.

Whenever you wake after a particularly dramatic, exciting or memorable dream, quickly jot down and/or sketch the main ideas in your Journal.

Some practice may be required before you're trained enough to write in the dark and to record the dreams in sufficient detail so you can remember and fill in the rest when you wake again.

Persist with it though, and you’ll find the more dreams you note down, the easier it becomes to remember more and more detail.

And you may find you've unlocked one of the richest possible veins of inspiration and ideas you'll ever know...

You’re invited to take the next step to increase your creativity today by getting your copy of Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin’s powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook. It’s FREE when you sign up to the FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

Going Deep With Your Creativity - How To Find Why You REALLY Create

Sometimes it’s good to create freely and aimlessly, creating just for the love and experience of creating, and without any specific end goal in mind.

Think of this as the equivalent of a going for a long walk in the country with a treasured friend on a lovely summer day, starting at a place of beauty and wandering out, exploring further, going wherever your curiosity takes you.

Other times we create with a more specific purpose and vision in mind.

Maybe we want to write a novel about our experiences of growing up in Africa, or we wish to write a collection of musical pieces for a short film a fellow artist has asked us to contribute to.

Creating in this way is more like a brisk hike up a mountain, from a specific starting point to a specific summit.

We know where we want to be, we know which direction we need to head in, and off we go, determined and focused.

Both of these different types of creating have their own value.

As creative people, over our creative lifetimes, we’ll have a number of different projects that cover both of these types of project, and all the points in between.

But if we go a little deeper we find that actually the motivation and purpose behind the gentle amble in the country is as strong and vital as that behind our more focused mountain hike.

In fact, there is a powerful driving force behind EVERYTHING we create.

By finding what it is, and realising how important and valuable it is to us, we’re able to create more freely, more deeply and more often.

So how do we find this reason behind our creativity? Why DO we create what we create?

We need to go a little deeper and look at the values behind the creativity. What personal values of yours does this way of creating nourish and fulfil?

To find the deepest values behind your creative work, follow these simple steps:

1. Choose a creative project you’re thinking of starting. Ask yourself the question: “What will creating in this way give me?”. Answer as fully as you can.

2. Take one of these new statements, and ask “What will THAT give me?”.

3. Repeat step 2 until you’ve reached the deepest value level.

4. Return to another of your statements from step 1 and continue the steps through to find your deepest value level for this part.

Here’s an example to show how this can work:

Example A: You’re a writer and decide to write freely for an hour on the topic of food.

Q. What does writing freely on this subject give you?

A. It gives me a chance to explore the subject of food which I’m very passionate about. Normally I write fictional stories so this is a way of exploring a different way of writing. Also I have no set outcome, no end product I’m aiming for so that’s quite freeing.

Q. “Exploring a different way of writing” – what does THAT give you?

A. It gives me freedom, it’s liberating. It helps me find new parts of my creative self, new angles, new abilities.

Q. “Finding new parts of my creative self” – what does THAT give you?

A. It gives me the sense I’m growing and learning as an artist and a person.

Q. “Growing and learning as an artist and a person” – what does THAT give you?

A. It makes me feel happy and that I’m making use of the creative gifts I’ve been given.

Very quickly we can uncover some of the deeper values behind the original creative project. Let’s look at a different example:

Example B: You’re a musical composer and are asked to create a soundtrack for the new short film of a film-maker friend.

Q. What does composing this soundtrack give you?

A. I love the work of my film-maker friend so it’s great to be asked to contribute. He’s always been very supportive of my work so it enables me to give back as well as challenge myself creatively.

Q. “It enables me to give back” – what does THAT give you?

A. It makes me feel like I’m paying back the time and energy he’s given me. It helps me feel I’m connecting with other artists too, and I’m part of a wider artistic community.

Q. “Connecting with other artists” – what does THAT give you?

A. A feeling that I’m making a difference and contributing. I’m not just one person creating alone.

Q. “A feeling that I’m making a difference and contributing” – what does THAT give you?

A. A feeling of happiness and a sense of worth. Knowing my creative work and my life is worthwhile. That I’m making use of my creativity not just for myself, but for the good of others too.

Again we see the deeper values, and the deeper motivation behind why we create what we create.

Once we understand the deeper value behind why we create, we’re able to create more freely and with more clarity, purpose and energy.

Try this simple “Deeper Value” process for a project you’ve been thinking of, and work through each statement you come up with to the level of the deepest value.

Do this for a number of different projects and you’ll start to notice the common threads, the collection of values that are fundamental to you and your creativity.

Want to more exercises to help you increase YOUR creativity? Then sign up to "Create Create!" - Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin's free ezine - today, and get your FREE copy of the “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook. Head on over now to http://www.CoachCreative.com

How To Be More Creative - Should You Go For Hot Flash Or Slow Burn?

One of the oldest questions and dilemmas for artists and creative people is the consistency of their output.

Is it better to maintain a steady output, write/ paint/ compose a little each day, even if it's just for ten or fifteen minutes?

By developing this kind of “everyday creativity” habit we create an ever-open channel for our creativity to flow steadily through.

It never becomes intimidating or disheartening if we create a little less some days because we know that the next day, or the day after that, we'll return with something amazing again.

Alternatively there's the inspiration of the “artist’s muse”.

We sit and wait for that elusive inspiration to strike and bless us with the ability for glorious fresh creative expression. And then watch it disappear again for days, weeks or months on end...

The more glamourous or romantic notions around being creative suggest the "Hot Flash" approach just described is the ONLY way for the true creative.

But look at any artist who has produced a consistent body of significant work.

A little research into their methods and discipline nearly always reveals a steady unwavering dedication, a commitment to their art and to themselves, a few tiny steps each day.

And so with your life in general.

Do you spend months just waiting around for the right partner/ job/ circumstances to suddenly fall into your lap?

Yes go ahead, if you want to spend most of your life feeling frustrated and anxious.

Instead you can take control, always moving towards your dreams and ambitions, always seeking new ways and new ideas, being open minded, experimenting and seeing what works for you and what doesn't, both creatively and in your wider life.

The things that work for you, keep doing, the stuff that doesn't work, you just drop.

You choose to be in charge, and you can then enjoy everything that you do, every experience you have.

Remember even if you do choose to take the "Slow Burn" route, it doesn't mean you WON'T have those amazingly rich bursts of creativity. In fact it gives them more of a chance to develop, permission almost to visit you any time, because you're always open, always ready.

So how do you currently create? By Hot Flash or Slow Burn?

And how well does this allow you to be as creative as you can be?

Take the next step to be more creative today by getting your copy of Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin’s powerful and practical "Explode Your Creativity!" Action Workbook. It’s FREE when you sign up to the FREE “Create Create!” ezine at http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creative Writing - Are You Prepared In Body And Mind To Be A Creative Writer?

Being a creative writer is not only about having pens and paper, or a word processor, and just writing. Yes that's at the core of it, the essential process of writing. But to be as creative as you can be, and to truly live up to your writing potential, it's important to prepare yourself. This involves two elements, body and mind, or the physical and the mental.

Here are some powerful tips for each to get you ready to be the best writer you can be:

Physical:

Most important on the physical side is having the right equipment available. You don’t need fancy pens or expensive paper or the latest laptop to be a writer. But you do need to have materials that are easy for you to work with.

Creative ideas come from everywhere and at any time, so you need a way to capture and collect these ideas. The easiest way – tried and tested by writers for centuries – is to carry some kind of notebook with you, then jot down the ideas as they come to you.

The other part of the physical side is the environment where you do most of your writing. Do you have somewhere set up to write, somewhere you can go to easily and get straight into writing without having to rearrange half the room first?

Do all you can to make writing freely as easy as possible for yourself. Have your equipment organized and close to hand, and make your creative writing space as comfortable as possible for you to write without hindrance.

Mental:

Being prepared mentally is even more important. What kind of mindset do you have in place about being a writer? How do you see yourself as a writer?

Take a few moments to finish this sentence in as many ways as you can:

“As a writer, I am...”

Just write everything that comes to mind. Notice then how positive your responses are. How do theses replies fit with you being a prolific, creative writer?

What do you believe about yourself as a writer? What do you think you’re capable of? Be honest with yourself. If your answers are negative and full of doubt, it will serve you and your writing well long term to work on these thoughts and beliefs.

What beliefs about yourself and your writing do you need to have to be the best writer you can be? Write them down. Then start repeating them regularly to yourself, until they become embedded in your mind.

By following these tips on preparing yourself physically and mentally, you’ll be more able to become the creative writer you know deep down you’re capable of.

Which tip are you going to use to start helping you today?

Get your creative writing kick started right now with the FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not as creative as they know they can be. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com

Creative Writing Ideas- 3 Steps To Finding An Endless Source Of New Ideas For Your Creative Writing

There’s a saying that a painter is only as great as his last painting, or a band are only as good as their last record... Maybe it follows then that a creative writer is only as good as their last great creative writing idea?

But what if you’re really struggling for new ideas for your writing?

What if you don’t feel you’ve had an interesting idea for months, even years? Where’s the best place to find them?!

Well, unfortunately there aren’t any drive through fast idea stores where you can pick up a few juicy new ideas in a couple of minutes without leaving the comfort of your own vehicle.

But there’s actually a better way to approach this dilemma.

There’s a way to tap into all the great ideas you’ll ever need for your creative writing.

Here then is your 3 steps to endless ideas heaven:

Step 1. Put in your “Ideas Are Everywhere” eyes. If you take on the mentality and outlook that “Ideas Are Everywhere”, you’ll soon find they come flooding more quickly that you can catch them.

If you expect not to have ideas, you won’t. If you expect to find new ideas, to be inspired by the tiny details you see, hear, feel, taste and smell all around you, everywhere you go, then you will. It’s really that simple.

So put on your “Ideas Are Everywhere” eyes (and other sensory organs!) and get out there and experience the ideas that are ready and waiting to be discovered.

Step 2. Capture your ideas when they occur. Having plenty of ideas is just the start. How many times has a great idea popped into your head and you’ve thought “Wow, I like that, I’ll write about that later”, only to forget it moments later?

Learn to capture your ideas so you can return to them and develop them at a future date. The easiest way to do this is to carry a notebook with you at all times. As soon as a spark of an idea appears, jot it down as fully and as vividly as you can in your notebook.

You’ll find too this actually helps you with Step 1. The more you start noting down your ideas, the more you train yourself to look for others.

Step 3. Write from your best ideas. So by now you’ll have a collection of interesting ideas in your notebook. What to do with them?

A common mistake is to go to the earliest idea in your book and try to write something more around that, just because it’s the first in the queue. Just because it’s first, doesn’t means it’s the best.

Always scan through your ideas and pick the first one that catches your eye and your imagination, whether it’s one you wrote down 5 years ago or 5 minutes ago. You’ll always have more ideas than you can develop, so go with the natural energy and excitement of those that really leap out and beg to be developed into something more.

Discover more creative writing ideas right away. Get your FREE 5 part creative writing ecourse at http://www.YouAreACreativeWriter.Com.

Creativity Coach and keen creative writer Dan Goodwin helps people who are frustrated they're not making the best of their unique creative abilities. See more at his website: http://www.CoachCreative.com