unleash your creativity€¦ · if you want to improve your creativity, you also need to do a few...

Unleash your creativity - Copyright - How-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com 2011

Unleash Your

Creativity

How-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com

Think

Imagine


Index

Imagine

Think

Think

Think

Think

Think

Look

Look

Look

Look

Look

Look

Ask

Ask

Ask

2. Index

4 Introduction

5. Imagine ridiculous situations

7. Be in someone else’s shoes

9. Go one step further

11. Be optimistic

12. Be confident

14. Perseverance

16. Critic yourself

18. Each problem has multiple solutions

20. Brainstorm with someone

22. Read

24. Observe your environment

26. Be up-to-date with technology

28. Study history

30. Go to museums

32. Take pictures

34. Look at things from another angle

36. Be curious

38. Question things

40. Talk to strangers

Imagine

Look


Experiment

Action

42. Listen to children

44. Listen to creative people

46. Listen to music

48. Don’t be afraid of feedback

50. Use all your senses

52. Improvise

54. Draw some lines

55. Play with images

57. Combine different ideas

59. Play with words

60. Take some calculated risks

62. Do absolutely nothing

64. Forget about routines

66. Don’t hesitate to take notes

68. Make lists for everything

70. Give yourself deadlines

72. Dream

74. Reward yourself

76. Conclusion

Listen

Listen

Listen

Listen

Experiment

Experiment

Experiment

Experiment

Experiment

Experiment

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action


Introduction

If you want to be stronger, you need to do a few exercises to get bigger

muscles. If you want to improve your creativity, you also need to do a

few exercises! It’s pretty obvious when muscles are getting bigger and

bigger, but it can be hard to see some kind of improvement when imagination

or creativity are involved.

In this document, I will show you 37 simple tricks to help you boost your

creativity. Don’t be fooled by the title of these little tricks. Some might seem

obvious at first, but every one of them should help you gain more and more

confidence about unleashing your creativity. Just read the text associated

with each tip. You will see that titles are not revealing everything!

You don’t need to follow every single step in this guide to get some kind of

results. Only one of these tips could be enough to trigger a wave of creativity

inside your brain.

Just read the entire document and keep all the steps that are relevant to

your needs or simply fun enough for you to enjoy. You will need to do a few

exercises to improve your imagination, but it doesn’t need to be painful or

boring.

Steps are gathered into seven general topics: Imagine, Think, Look, Ask,

Listen, Experiment and Action. Your creativity can be stimulated using

several tools and it’s your job to pick up the right ones for you!

Enjoy!

Martin :)


Ima

gin

eImagine ridiculous

situations!

Using humor to develop your imagination is a nice and amusing

alternative! One of the easiest way to reach this goal is to visualize a

normal situation, but include unusual elements into it.

Here are a few examples to help you understand:

- Imagine a wedding involving dogs (or any other animals that could

make this situation even more funnier!). Whould they exchange

bones instead of rings? How would the bridesmaids look like?

Should the cake be made of meat?

- How about a world governed by babies? How would they interact

with each other? Would they punish adults by sending them outside,

far from their televisions or computers? Maybe cities would be colorful

and build with giant plastic blocks? Perhaps that the most powerful

companies in the world would sell diapers!

- Imagine that the earth is upside down. The sky would be below

our feet and the ground above our head. How would we walk in

the street? How could we build cities and make them viable?

So many interesting questions!


Ima

gin

eThese are only basic examples, but you can easily do the same

using a very simple method. Just take a pencil and a piece of paper

(or open your favorite text editor if you are in front of your computer)

and follow these steps:

- Make a list of characters. It can be based on animals, human beings

or imaginary creatures that already exist or that you created yourself.

- Write a list of objects. Once again, it can be real objects or imaginary

ones.

- Create a list of imaginary places or real locations.

- Build another list filled with fictional events or historical moments.

It can also be a casual moment in time (like reading a book).

When you are done, take a few elements of each list and try to mix

them together to create ridiculous situations. Just pick one item out

of each list and build a funny or unusual scenario as the starting point.

You can always add more details to your story as you are working

on it.

This is a very simple exercise that will help you learn how to build an

imaginary world using real elements mixed with fictional ones.

I was using ridiculous situations in the first place only to stimulate

your imagination. Once you are comfortable using this technique,

you can use it to create any kind of stories, whether they are funny

or not.

Even if the result is too original or cannot be used to create

something interesting, this is a good technique to help you boost

your creativity!


Ima

gin

eBe in someone else’s

shoes!

Another great way to stimulate your imagination is to impersonate

someone else. This is a very simple exercise that kids do most of the

time when pretending to be knights (for boys) or cute princess

(for girls!).

Just pick someone you admire and try to figure out what it would be

like to be in their shoes for one day.

How would people interact with you? What could you do and how

would you do it? Try to imagine every little aspects, every little details

of this character's life. How would you deal with this new situation?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when impersonating a

character (fictional or not):

- How old is he?

- What does he do in life?

- Where does he live?

- What are his qualities and weaknesses?

- What's his social status?

- With whom does he hang around with?

- Does he have a companion in life? If so, who?

- What are his hobbies?

- What kind of car is he driving?


Ima

gin

e- Does he travel a lot?

- What do you know about his past?

- What are his motivations in life?

- Any other questions that could help you figure out who he really is!

You could also go one step further by picturing how the future of this

character would look like. Would he (or she) get married or have any

children? Would he become very successful or fail miserably?

How would he die?

Remember that all elements of this character's life needs to be

relevant and coherent. For example, a character is unlikely to die

from lung cancer if he doesn't smoke or isn't living in an environment

that can cause such a decease.

This exercise, when done properly, will help you organize your ideas

into a clear, logical structure. You will learn to build a character that is

genuine and credible.


Ima

gin

eGo one step

further!

You can also use your imagination to think about a situation that

didn't happen yet. For example, you are in a big fight with one of your

friends. For a short period of time, you just don't talk to each other

anymore. Then, suddenly, this friend decides to call you back.

After talking for a few minutes, this situation is now resolved and

you are now best friends again.

Now try to imagine what would've of happened if your best friend did

not call back in the first place. Your life would be different. You

wouldn't have someone to talk to. You would still have other friends,

but none like this one.

Not sure what I mean?

Do you want another example?

Just think how you would feel if the most precious person in your life

would die tomorrow. That is one tough exercise. But trust me, you

will be more than happy to see this person again after doing so!

This exercise is good for two reasons: it helps you create and imagine

new situations out of your own life and it can also help you realize how

lucky you are to be who you are (that is to be surrounded by people

you love and who loves you!).


Ima

gin

eOnce again, this simple exercise is good to help you stimulate your

imagination. Juggling with elements from your own life will help you

create a situation from something really familiar and progress to

another one that you didn't experiment yet.

You don't need to create an imaginary world filled with original

creatures and strange places to come up with new ideas!

You just need to be yourself, evolve in the real world and in real

situations... and then imagine how it could possibly end.

It's easier to start with a familiar situation, but it can be more

challenging since you need to anticipate how you will react to a new

problem, a new dilemma.


Th

ink

Be optimistic!

Without a good attitude, it's hard to be successful. You need to be

confident and optimistic (but still realistic!) if you want to reach your

goal.

Getting rid of all these negative feelings is essential to give your

imagination the oxygen needed to perform! Pessimism, on the other

hand, is your worst enemy.

It doesn't mean that you can't anticipate the worse scenario possible

or prepare yourself for a disaster.

Being prepared simply means that you acknowledge that something

might go wrong and that you are able to face it. It means that you

have all the tools to turn a difficult situation into your advantage.

You don't need to think about it all the time because if you do, you

won't progress. Negative thoughts aren't helping you be productive!

Being positive and optimistic will help you boost your creativity!


Th

ink

Be confident!

Being arrogant is one thing. Being confident is another one. This

winning attitude will help you persevere and become more creative.

Knowing that you will succeed no matter what can only help you reach

your goals. Inspiration will come more easily.

Being confident also mean not being afraid of failure. Not doubt that

you've already failed at something in your life and that it will happen

again.

However, if you are confident that one day you will be successful,

then chances are that it will happen for real.

What does being confident means?

- You know how talented you are. You are aware of your potential and

are ready to go beyond it.

- Time is on your side. It may take days, weeks, months or years

before your reach your goal, but you will get there.

- You are not afraid of competition because you will offer something

better or different.

- Yes, it will be tough. You will face many challenges, but that won't

stop you. It will only make you stronger and better.

- Take calculated risks. That's the only way to move forward.


Th

inkTimidy and insecurity are the opposite of all the things described

above. And unfortunately, you won't be imaginative and successful

if confidence is lacking.

Being confident forces you to be creative and imaginative. You know

that you will succeed. Therefore you need to do whatever it takes to

succeed.

That doesn't mean that you have to destroy competition in order to

reach your objectives.

It only means that you are looking ahead. Looking at the moment in

the future where it's gonna be your turn to use your full potential and

creativity to create something original and have success!


Th

ink

Perseverance!

Stop

I do have a lot of qualities! Unfortunately, until recently, perseverance

wasn't one of them! I managed to work on this aspect of my

personality and learn how to be patient.

Setting up a goal and working hard to make it happened is a wonderful

experience! But if you quit as soon as a problem arise, then no doubt

that you and success will never have a chance to meet!

So how can perseverance help you become more creative?

Simple...

Since you don't want to quit, you MUST find a way to be successful!

You MUST work hard to create something original and interesting!

Your creativity and imagination MUST help you get out of this situation

in a winning position!

Just like a deadline will give you a boost of adrenaline, perseverance

forces you to come up with the best solution possible!

Sure, you will probably start things over again and again a few times.

You will spend hours and hours doing things that won't be useful, but

in the process, if you learn from your mistakes and do things

differently each time you face a problem (by using your imagination!),

then there is no doubt that one day, you will achieve your goal!


Th

inkLots of artists are able to create masterpiece out of miserable

situations. They feel that if they can experience the worst in human

misery, then they will be more able to reproduce these intense

emotions into their creations.

I don't think that it's necessary. You don't need to be poor, depressed

or in pain to be creative!

You might study the condition of a homeless person to understand

what this person is going through. You can live on the street for a

couple of days if you really want to feel what this person must be

feeling.

You don't need to lose your house and file for bankruptcy to create

a masterpiece on homeless people!


Th

ink

Critic yourself!

Criticism can be a good source of inspiration! In fact, shaking the

foundation of something you take for granted can be a creative

experience.

So imagine when you try to do the same on yourself.

I thought I knew myself better than anyone else could until some

events in my life made me realize that it was barely the case. I did

not react like I thought I would. I did not feel like I thought I would

and the story didn't end like I thought it should've ended.

Compliments are nice, but they won't help you learn or grow like

criticism will. When you are challenged, you are forced to go beyond

yourself.

You must use your imagination to become stronger and better.

Before being analysed and crushed by others, why not do this

exercise on yourself?

Go ahead! Be tough on yourself. Try to do the following:

- Find one thing that is annoying about you. Then, try to find a solution

to fix it!


Th

ink- Remember one event in which you feel you acted like an idiot.

What did you do wrong and how could you avoid this same mistake

in the future?

- If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be

and how would you change it?

Don't hesitate to do the opposite if this exercise is too painful. Find

qualities about yourself and remember the good things you did

throughout your life yet.

You just need to be aware that negative events can always be turned

down into something positive and creative. Use negativity to your

advantage. It can be a very powerful source of inspiration since you

will challenge and feel your emotions...

...and your emotions are very tightened to your imagination!


Th

ink

Each problem has

multiple solutions!

Problems are great! Just like criticism will help you get better, problems

will help you think better! Imagine living in a problem-free world!

Wouldn't it be great? No more headache! No need to spend hours

trying to find solutions!

Unfortunately, it's not the case, but fortunately, you can use it to your

advantage!

Most of the problems you will encounter in your life will have several

solutions for each of them. Some solutions will be easy to find and

very obvious, while others won't be as easy to use or will result in more

problems!

In this ongoing quest to stimulate your imagination, your next

challenge is to find several solutions to each problem you will face in

your everyday life.

Of course, you will only use one solution (the best one, I hope!), but

this technique is also good in helping you anticipate or prepare

yourself for the unexpected.

Just do the following exercise:

- Imagine an extreme situation: a gigantic meteorite will hit the earth

in 72 hours.


Th

ink- What would you do first?

- How would you prepare yourself knowing that you might not survive?

- Where will you go? Will you stay-at-home?

Try to think about everything that's involved and your possible reaction

to this unusual event. Now do the following (more practical) exercise

about an everyday situation:

- You have three young kids. One just dropped a glass of water on

the floor.

- The second is heading for sharp scissors (but he's too young to play

with scissors).

- Finally, the third one is outside crying and knocking on the door

because he is afraid of a dog passing by.

How do you handle this situation? Do you go for the scissors first? Do

you remove the glass from the floor before opening the door to the one

who is crying? Do you open the door, take the crying kid and then put

a towel near by on the floor to prevent injuries while heading for the

scissors? This situation could be resolved in several different ways and

that's your job to imagine every possible scenarios.

Don't hesitate to use these exercises if you have to face a problem

that stresses you out! You can also use these techniques to resolve a

situation that is not necessarily a problem yet! Want to ask your boss

about raising your salary? Ask yourself the following questions:

- When is the best time to ask him?

- How should I ask him?

- What if he says no because of reason A.

- What if he says no because of reason B (etc...).

- What if he says yes. How much should I ask?

Being prepared to face a problem or a situation can prevent you from

facing bad surprises, but it's also a great way to make your imagination

work to your advantage!


Th

inkBrainstorm with

someone!

Finding new ideas alone is not easy. If you have a relative or a friend

you are really close to, that you really trust, try to invite this person for

a brainstorming session. You can also try with several friends at once,

but you might end up with a collective work rather than something

more personal. Finding the right person that will understand what you

feel is essential.

After all, you don't want your work to be stole by your best friend!

Once you are teamed up, start your brainstorming session. At first, no

need to be serious. Just say anything that comes to mind. Even the

most stupid, irrelevant idea might lead to something more valuable or

interesting. Once you've gathered all kinds of ideas, try to eliminate the

ones that you don't feel inspired by.

Just keep the most creative ideas, whether they are relevant or not.

Next, brainstorm again! This time, try to stay closer to your subject.

Keep only the ideas that could really be useful for your project. You

can still bring in new suggestions, but don't spend too much time on

them if they're not relevant.

After hours of hard work, it's now time to make a choice! Choose a

couple of ideas (no more than three) that you think could fit with what

you want to achieve.


Th

inkBrainstorm for the last time with these concepts before making a final

decision.

You should now have one solid theme for your project. One idea that

made it until the end!

So what do you do next? Well, just sleep on it!

Why? Simply because your brainstorming session might have ended

up with a great result, an idea that you are 100% passionate about.

Something that you never thought possible and that could make your

project the greatest one of all time! Perhaps the most original project

in the history of humanity!

However, you might find out the next morning that your "super-idea" is

definitely not so super or is already used by someone else... and that's

perfectly normal. We all get excited while brainstorming and the worst

mistake you could make is TO NOT challenge your idea the next

morning.

Before moving on, make sure that your idea is still relevant, original

and feasible. Is it really a brand new idea? Can you work on your

project for a long period of time without getting tired of it? How about

the monetization potential? Are you reaching the right audience?

Don't hesitate to bash, crash and destroy your project at this point.

After all, you only spent a day or two finding it. You might as well

destroy it now instead of letting others do so once it's finished.

If everything is solid and you still think that your idea is great, then

go for it and have fun!


Lo

ok

Read!

To create great movies, you need to go to theaters and watch movies.

So if you wish to write great stories, why not read some books?

Too obvious, right? I know... but when I'm creating a comic strip, I

usually spend my time working on my comic strip. I don't buy books

and read comics. I don't have the time to do so. I am in a creative

process. So I just want to create.

Spending 100% of my time creating is not a good thing to do. I need to

be up-to-date on what's happening in the world of comic books if I want

to reach the top.

Reading is a simple and easy way to learn how to write better. While

reading books from various authors, you will study different writing

styles and eventually, find your own. You also learn how to build a

story, to create a plot and how to design nice and engaging characters.

Don't limit yourself to novels! You can also read newspapers,

magazines on just surf on the net!

If you want to boost your creativity, just do the following:

- Read a text backwards, from the end up to the beginning.

- Read a text out loud. It's easier to understand.


Lo

ok- Read a text by skipping a word every two words.

- Search for websites in foreign languages. You might learn new words

that will trigger new ideas for a character's name.

- Search for lyrics from your favorite songs. They are often very

inspiring!

- Read everything that can help you learn something, like science

magazines.

- Read children stories. They are usually the most original, imaginative

and spontaneous publications available!

Reading should be fun.

Even if you don't wish to become a great author, you should really try

to read more!

Choose a topic you like and read about it! The more you read, the

more you learn, the more you know about your subject and the more

you will be able to turn this knowledge into an original creation!


Lo

ok

Observe your

environment!

Observation is a great quality. If you spend your time talking endlessly

to your friends face-to-face or on the phone, then you probably don't

spend too much time observing the things that are happening around

yourself.

That's sad since observation is one of the easiest technique to learn

new things.

Here is a small list of things you could observe to help you become

more creative:

- Watch how people are interacting with each other. Why are they

acting the way they are?

- Observe nature and wild animals. Try to understand what you see.

- Analyse the objects in front of you. Why are they made like this?

Could it be possible to build them using other shapes or colors?

- Observe clouds in the sky and try to uncover familiar shapes.

Every human being, animals, objects or places that your eyes can

possibly see can become a cool subject for analysis. If you go a little

further, you can use these subjects as a source of inspiration for your

creations!

Observation is the foundation of imagination.


Lo

okYou need to build a large library of shapes, colors, textures and

feelings in your head to become even more creative.

The only way to build this library is to observe and learn.

From then, new ideas will emerge more easily and you won't have

trouble finding original concept based on what you've observed

so far!


Lo

ok

Be up-to-date with

technology!

If you work in an environment related to technology, you know that

creativity is essential to stand out from the crowd. New gadgets are

invading the market on a daily basis and most of them are quite

original.

Even publications that are focusing on future technologies can be a

very useful source of inspiration.

Learning new things about technology can help you build the world of

tomorrow.

You could find new ideas to create innovative objects or build inspiring

cities. Even if you are not creating a high-tech story set in a distant or

futuristic world, just being aware of the evolution of humanity is a nice

exercise to help your become more imaginative.

It could help you come up with interesting concepts that could be

applied today or even in a story set in the past!

You need an example? Let's say that someone, somewhere, is

releasing a new archaeological tool that could help scientist "see"

through several kilometers below the surface of the earth. Why not

write a story about one scientist who could use this new tool to

discover a new species that was, until now, unknown to man?


Lo

okSince technology is everywhere, this can be the case for any subject

you are working on.

Don't hesitate to take an idea and apply it to something different! For

example, you could take this same tool (that can help you see through

several kilometers below the surface of the earth) and use it on the

Moon or on Mars!

Your character could discover a new form of life, something that could

be the beginning of a new story.


Lo

ok

Study history!

The history of man kind is filled with similarities throughout centuries.

People weren't that different 2000 years ago. Sure, they didn't had the

same cultural background or the same habits, but they were still

human beings with feelings and emotions... just like us.

This rich history can easily be the starting point of your creative

process.

Take your favorite period in time and learn as much as possible about

it. History can be interesting if you really choose to study an event or a

character you really enjoy.

You can learn about different aspects like relationship between

individuals or the kind of jobs that was available back then. You could

also study the political system that was in place in that particular regim.

You can use any historical characters or events of your choice and

imagine new situations, new stories that can lead to some original

material.

Here are some examples of things you could do:

- Take a particular moment in history and imagine how it would be if it

was happening now.


Lo

ok- Pick up your favorite character from the past and create a new life

for him.

- Imagine what the world would be today if you could erase an event

from the past.

- Recreate an historical event accurately with the most details

possible.

Be creative! Don't hesitate to take some notes on historical facts that

you really enjoy.

Even if you decide NOT to use this method to stimulate your creativity,

you can still learn new things that could be useful later on!


Lo

ok

Go to museums!

Another easy way to find some inspiration is to visit museums. You

don't need to go see some artists doing weird, abstract paintings or

live performances if you don't want to. Many museums are now offering

very interesting, interactive expositions on a wide variety of subjects.

You just need to go out and take a look at what others are doing.

Even if it's not related to your work, it could easily lead to some new

ideas.

When you visit a museum, try to ask yourself these basic questions:

- Why did the artist choose this medium?

- What message does the artist want to display?

- Do you find the artworks beautiful?

- Is it original or provocative?

These simple questions might help you understand the motivations of

an artist. You might even discover your own motivation.

If you want to enjoy your visit in a museum, just remember that art is

just a statement. Most of the time, you might think: "Hey! that's not art!

My two year-old son could've done that!"... and you are perfectly right!

But the artist has the credit of finding this new idea first because he's a

very creative and imaginative person.


Lo

okThe medium or the techniques he uses doesn't really matters. It's the

message behind the artwork that counts!

For example, an artist could give you a piece of paper with nothing

written on it and talk about it for hours... and yes, it could be presented

as art! But the statement the artist is making about this piece of paper

is more important than the piece of paper itself!

Once you understand that, finding yourself in front of a wall loaded of

blank pieces of paper won't be as frustrating as it used to be!


Lo

ok

Take pictures!

Here is a simple exercise that you can try at home. Take a picture of a

well-known object (it can be anything, a table, a car or a television...

just use your imagination!).

Crop a small portion of your picture. Make sure that the subject of your

image is now harder to recognize. Now show it to someone else and

ask him to tell you what the original image was.

Pictures can be a very intense source of inspiration. That's why I would

suggest that you carry your digital camera wherever you go! If you

don't want to carry your camera, you can always use your cellphone to

take a snapshot of your environment.

The trick is to observe. Try to find objects, shapes, individuals or places

that inspire you.

You see a beautiful sunset?

You find an unusual object on the ground?

You see someone who looks funny? Just take a picture!

Just remember that if you want to photograph someone, better ask for

her/his permission first.


Lo

okYou can also take some closeups of objects. Search for textures or

nice color patterns. These images could also be useful if you want to

make a video game or even use them on the background of your new

comic strip.

Just be creative.

When you are finished taking pictures, just upload them on your

computer and study them carefully. Turn them around, crop some

parts, play with them until something useful or original comes out

of them!

Turn your eyes into a digital camera! See the world like a

photographer!


Lo

ok

Look at things from

another angle!

Since you were born, you've always resolved problems using the

same logic... yours! If you're an optimistic individual, then you're

probably living a life that is enjoyable, rich and interesting. On the other

hand, if you see everything with a negative attitude, then maybe you

think that life is unfair.

If you try to look at things from another perspective, not only are you

able to solve problems more easily, but you're also training your brain

to evaluate a situation more clearly, to "imagine" every possibilities.

Here is an example of a situation and how you could look at it.

- You lost your job and since you don't have any revenue, you're about

to lose your house too...

... and here are the ways you could react to this situation:

- You're depress and devastated. You just sell your house, rent an

apartment and hope for the best.

- You just sell your house, rent an apartment and look immediately for

a new job!

- You sell your house, go live with a friend until you can afford a new

place and find a new job.

- You try to keep your house by making some sort of arrangement

with the bank and find a new job as soon as possible.


Lo

ok- Hey! You hated your old job and think it's the perfect opportunity to

learn something new! You sell your house, rent an apartment and go

back to school.

These are just five possibilities. I'm sure you could find even more of

them.

The point is simple...

Based on your experience, your knowledge, your environment or the

people you live with, you usually react to a situation in a certain way

and that's perfectly normal.

If you hate school, then option number five won't be your choice. If you

are a person who is determined, then maybe option three or four will

be your choices.

Try for a moment to think about one giving situation (could be a sad or

a happy one, like the arrival of a newborn baby!) and go through all the

possibilities. How would you react? What would you do in this particular

situation and, most importantly, what would be the different options in

front of you?

It doesn't matter if, in real life, you always do the same thing or always

react the same way. The important thing here is to be able to visualize

all the possibilities you could choose in any given situation.

That's essential if you want to create characters that will have a

personality different from yours. Otherwise, you won't be able to

anticipate their reactions or make these characters credible!


Ask

Be curious!

Being curious is a wonderful quality. Don't hesitate to ask questions

when you don't understand something. If you don't like asking

questions, don't worry because it's perfectly normal.

As adults, we have a tendency to not ask questions even if something

is not clear in our mind. Perhaps it's the fear of looking ridiculous,

stupid or ignorant in front of other adults.

On the other hand, kids are always asking questions... and they aren't

shy of asking the same question over and over again! Their quest for

knowledge is remarkable.

To help you boost your creativity and stimulate your imagination, you

must work on this nice quality... once again. Being curious can only

lead to knowledge and knowledge can only help you find new, original

ideas.

How? Imagine that you would like to create a funny comic strip. What

you have in mind is something cool and original, but you're not sure

how you're gonna do it yet.

After asking some questions to your best friend about one of his

hobby, you learn that he likes to bake cakes using fruits and chocolate.

You decide that your comic strip will be made with fruits and chocolate.


Ask

Asking questions and being curious can only help you come up with

new ideas.

Try to do one of the following exercise at least once a day:

- Ask a question to someone. Something like: "What's your favorite

hobby"? Remember that you are in search of information. You're not

trying to resolve an issue.

- Don't be satisfied with the information presented to you. Always try

to go deeper, to learn more about the subject.

- If someone you know is doing something (it can be anything, really),

just ask him why. What is the goal or the purpose of this action?

- Go to a place you've never visited before (could be a restaurant, a

shop or a park) and sneak around. Just be curious!

Another fun exercise that you could try with someone else is the

"question game"! The rules are pretty simple! The first player is asking

a question to the second player. This one is answering back with

another question and so on... You will end up with a never ending

question game!

It's a nice exercise to stimulate your curiosity and practice yourself

at asking questions!


Ask

Question things!

???

?

??

Most people don't like to question things. After all, why question

something that is already working right? And if I do ask questions, will

I be perceived as a troublemaker, as someone who's always

complaining?

Just take a moment and ask yourself a simple question: if no one is

ever asking questions, never trying to change things that we take for

granted, would the world be what it is today? Probably not! Humanity

would still think that earth is flat. Walking on the moon would still be a

dream, not a reality.

Maybe computers wouldn't exist either.

Trying to change the way we think or the way we act can only lead to

evolution. If you want to change something, you need to challenge it!

I'm not asking that you go out on the street and start a revolution!

However, do this exercise for yourself and you will start realizing that

things are the way they are because we want them to be that way. Not

necessarily because it's the best way!

Do the following exercises:

- Ask yourself why thing are the way they are. Pick any subject you like

and try to challenge it.


Ask

- If you could change something, what would it be and how would you

change it?

- Take something you think will never change (for example, gravity)

and imagine how you would react if you could change something

about it.

After making this exercise, you might realize a few things! Your

perception of life could change a little. For the best of for the worst.

Challenging something won't hurt anyone if you do this for yourself.

The difference between you and an activist is that this person will

take action.

On the other hand (unless you want to), you goal while doing this

exercise is to see the world from another angle. To understand why

things are the way they are and how you could change them to make

the world better.

This new ability of yours to challenge things we take for granted will

only help you get more creative and interesting.

It will be easier for you to create a new world by breaking boundaries

that others won't!


Ask

Talk to strangers!

Most of the stories we write are involving characters. These characters

have feelings, emotions and qualities. It's no surprise that meeting new

people is probably the best way to gather information if you want to

create credible characters!

Have you ever talked to someone on the street just for the pleasure

of having a conversation? Some people do it all the time. Others never

do it and never will!

If you have the occasion of doing so, try it! You'll be surprised to see

that most people are actually enjoying it, or perhaps even wishing for

it secretly!

To make sure someone will respond favorably to your request, just

take the time to read the body language of people around you! If the

people you are targeting are reading the newspaper or are always

looking at their feet, try to avoid them!

You need to look for people who are receptive and willing to engage

a conversation with a stranger!

Once you found the perfect person to talk to, just be interested in what

they are doing or saying! If you only talk about yourself, this

conversation will turn into a monologue and you won't keep your

subject's interest for a very long time!


Ask

It's not the best way to gather some information about this person!

Remember that your goal is to create a fictional character using

pieces of information collected while talking to strangers! So you really

need to listen to what this person has to say!

Talking to different individuals will help you learn new things about

human nature that might be useful to create a believable character!

You'll discover new behaviors about these individuals that you

probably never noticed before! Or maybe were you just not aware that

such behaviors could exist!

This is definitely not an easy exercise to do, but it's probably the most

rewarding one!


Lis

tenListen to children!

No doubt that children are very creative. They can play with an empty

box for hours (well, maybe not for hours, but for a longer time than we

possibly could!)!

So in your constant quest for original ideas, why not spend more time

with your children?

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

- Give some dolls to a child and ask him to come up with a story

involving them.

- Ask questions to a child. They don't understand the world like we do

and their answers are often very surprising.

- Feed your child with creativity! Play games with them and take an

active part in stories they might come up with.

- Ask a child to draw something funny or original (like a dog that can fly

or a tree that can reach the sky).

You can also try to do a small brainstorming session while playing a

game with a child. Just pick up some dolls and describe to the child

the personality and goals of your characters.

Then, tell him a little bit about your story and let him imagine how it

could end.


Lis

ten

Children can definitely come up with great ideas that can be used in

your scenarios or projects.

If you don't have any child, just go to a park and observe how they

talk and play together. You'll be surprised to see how their creativity

can be contagious!


Lis

tenListen to creative

people!

The best way to learn how to play football is certainly to be surrounded

by people who know the game. Learning how to be creative will be

easier if you hang out with creative people!

But how can you achieve that?

Why not join an association of artists! It could be illustrators, painters,

digital artists, comic book creators or even a scrap booking club. The

purpose of the club must be related to something creative.

Your goal is to observe and learn. If you are interested in what people

are doing, they will be more than happy to exchange with you.

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Here are a few samples:

- How did you discover that you had an interest for this form of art?

- Why are you using this particular technique?

- What is your creative process? How do you come up with good

ideas?

- What would you say to someone who wishes to study in your area of

expertise?

- What are the qualities required to be a good artist like you?

No one is using the same recipe when using their creativity!


Lis

ten

You might learn new tricks, new techniques to stimulate your

imagination and come up with fresh ideas more easily!

Don't be afraid to be curious! Even people much younger than you are

can have interesting things to say.

Creativity is contagious. Try to catch it!


Lis

tenListen to music!

Music can be a very stimulating source of inspiration. Listening to your

favorite song can be very exhilarating. For some, it's even a spiritual

experience.

Music can put you in virtually any mood, depending on how you feel.

With not use this powerful tool to let your imagination wonders in

places you've never been before?

Just try to do the following exercises:

- Go in a room with all lights turned off. Turn on your CD player and

listen to your favorite songs. Try to match images with the lyrics.

- Change the lyrics. Find an instrumental version of your songs and

sing whatever you feel like.

- Listen to an album while going to bed at night. If you fall asleep on it,

who knows what you'll be dreaming about.

- Search for new styles, new artists from other countries or in foreign

languages.

I'm sure you already have your own preferences when listening to

music.

You can start form there or just try new things to trigger new sensations

and emotions.


Lis

ten

Very often, when I listen to a song that I like very much, I am able to

visualize this song in an imaginary movie that I have created in my

head.

I can easily say to myself: this piece of music would be perfect for this

particular scene. It would trigger the exact emotion that I would like my

viewers to feel while watching my movie (it's just an example).

If you are able to extract an emotion from a song and translate it into a

visual element from one of your stories, then you are on the right track.

The next time you will listen to a new song, you will have the ability to

transpose this new emotion into something tangible and original.

Your imagination will go wild and all sorts of stories will bounce into

your head, making it a fertile place to create new ideas!


Lis

tenDon’t be afraid of

feedback!

You finally did it. You wrote the best story you could possibly create.

You can't wait to show it to the world! But how would you react if the

"world" didn't like your work? How would you feel if all the comments

you had were bad ones? Would you be depressed? Or would you be

even more motivated to prove them wrong with your next project?

How you handle criticism can make the difference between repeat

failure or finally making it into the big leagues. No matter what you do

in life, there is always someone, somewhere who will hate your work.

If you don't like criticism, then just do nothing... but you won't be doing

much either.

When someone is challenging you by demolishing your creation, just

move one or two steps backwards and look at the whole picture. Are

the bad comments justified? Is the person attacking you simply missed

the whole point of your work or is he only doing this for the sake of

destroying someone else's work?

Maybe your message wasn't clear enough or maybe the truth is that

your creation is really bad and boring!

Whatever the answers are, it doesn't really matter. The goal is to turn

these criticisms into something positive.


Lis

ten

Try to use your imagination to see how you could prevent yourself

from doing the same mistakes in the future. Feedback are essentials

to help you get better.

Positive comments are nice, but they won't push you to become better

and smarter.

If you are able to convert these bad comments into a healthy

motivation, then no one will ever stop you!

You need to get rid of these bad feelings and turn them into a new

challenge that will stimulate your creativity beyond boundaries you

never thought possible!


Exp

erim

en

tUse all your

senses!

Being creative also means listening to what others have to say. You

need to observe, to look around yourself. You need to learn and

assimilate the information your senses are reporting to your brain!

Speaking of senses, you shouldn't rely solely on your vision to become

more creative.

You can experiment with all your senses to find new ideas, to develop

new methods of boosting your imagination.

Tasting new flavors, for example, can stimulate your brain and help it

make new associations!

Eating a new meal can remind you of a past experience that has

nothing to do with the ingredients included in this meal!

Smelling new odors might stimulate your appetite or give you the

impression of being somewhere else. Touching an object with a

strange texture can be a very stimulating experience too.

Whatever method you are using to enliven your creativity, whichever

senses you are choosing to use to trigger some new ideas, don't

rely on one method or one sense to learn new things.


Exp

erim

en

tAll senses are, in a way, connected one to another. You will open

yourself to explore new territories by galvinizing every one of your

senses.

You will explore new sensations that most people never enjoy simply

because they don't take the time to listen to their bodies!

Be open, experiment and become more creative!


Exp

erim

en

tImprovise!

It's funny how two children can be different from one another, even if

they have the same parents and live in the same house! I have two

daughters. The first one loves to play board games by following all

rules carefully... and she really doesn't like to lose!

On the other hand, my second daughter (who's a little bit younger) is

always inventing new rules while playing board games... and she

really doesn't mind losing at all.

As long as the game is fun, she's happy!

Useless to say that they don't play board games together very often!

Two different kids. Two different visions. Two different attitudes.

Next time you play a very well-known board game, try to do the

following:

- Play the game once using the official rules.

- Once you are finished, try to come up with new rules.

- Play this game using the new rules you've just invented.

The bottom line is: be creative!


Exp

erim

en

tYou'll see that it's easier than you think. You will have to use your

imagination to do so and you might even come up with new ideas for

a new board game (and become rich... Or just have fun!).

Don't hesitate to play board games with your kids! They are more likely

to embrace this new concept and play along with you!

You can also start a game using new rules and change them as the

game is progressing! The new guideline could be that every player

has the chance to change one rule once the game is in progress!

Just play games using your own rules once in a while!


Exp

erim

en

tDraw some lines!

One of the first games that I played with a pencil when I was a kid

was drawing some random lines and then make a character out of

them. This simple exercise is a good one if you want to develop your

sense of observation (and your talent for creation).

Just follow these simple steps in order to play this creative game

yourself:

- Take a piece of paper.

- Grab a pencil that can draw lines that aren't too visible (a light color,

if you prefer). This is important otherwise you won't be able to trace

over your lines and discover new shapes.

- Go ahead and draw several lines as quickly as possible without

trying to make any known shapes.

- Take your piece of paper and analyse it! Search for shapes that

could inspire you. Turn your page in every possible angle to make

sure you didn't miss anything.

- Draw a character, an object or anything else using these lines. Just

use your creativity!

You can repeat this simple exercise as many times as you wish.

It will help you develop your sense of observation. You will discover

new shapes, new textures that can be used to create original

characters, objects or places.


Exp

erim

en

tPlay with images!

Images are a very powerful source of inspiration! Just like a movie,

they can take you to imaginary places filled with fun and amazing

creatures. The best part is that you can play with these images to

create new ones very easily.

Search for images on the net. Use flyers or old catalogues. Any images

that you may come across can stimulate your imagination.

Just keep all the images that you find attractive, meaningful or

fascinating. Crop them, combine them together to create new,

original illustrations.

You can do so using a graphic software or simply by playing with glue

and scissors! If you don't want to work on your computer or get all dirty

using glue, just use your imagination to combine your favorite images

in your mind. That should do it.

For example, if you place a baby next to a giant apple that is already

standing on a cloud, you will create a new original picture that will

stimulate your imagination and your creativity.

From these images, you will naturally invent new scenarios, new stories

that could lead to original and usable ideas.


Exp

erim

en

tDon't hesitate to experiment. Mix all kinds of pictures together. It

doesn't matter if it's relevant or not! Try to build the weirdest

environment possible and include unlikely characters or objects in them.

Just go crazy and see what comes out of it.

You can't make a mistake. You can't be wrong. It's all about being

creative and wild!


Exp

erim

en

tCombine different

ideas!

Everything has already been done! That is one sentence a creative

person will never say! Why? Simply because you can always combine

old ideas together to create new ones.

I use to create video games. I did everything all by myself: The

design, the images, the coding and even the music.

But there is one game that I was particularly proud of. It was called

"Rock Solid". It was a logical game in which the player had to move a

stone trying to reach the exit. However, all other stones onscreen were

moving in the same direction as the player was, depending on which

direction these stones were marked.

At that time, it was a new concept that I had never seen before.

Probably that someone, somewhere, had already come up with this

idea, but after making some research, I couldn't find a similar concept

on the net. I am still considering this idea as being original.

How did I managed to find a new idea like this one? Simply by

merging the concept of arcade games and the cleverness of puzzle

games together. There are no new elements (or concepts) in this

game.

But mixing these well-known features together is what makes this

game so special and unique (to my eyes, anyway! :))


Exp

erim

en

tIf you want to come up with an original concept, you don't necessarily

need to find the most ingenious or exuberant idea of all time. Mixing

old ideas together can be enough to create something new and fun.

However, it's also the method you will choose to merge these ideas

together to form a new one that will make this new concept interesting.

I could create a sand castle using ice cream. It's a very original and

unique idea, but how long will it last under the sun?

Anyone can combine two ideas together to form a unique concept,

but the result also needs to be coherent and usable.


Exp

erim

en

tPlay with words!

ABCWZWorking on your vocabulary is also another great method to stimulate

your creativity. It can help you find new names for your characters

based on the new words that you've just learned.

Don't be afraid to play games like scrabbles or crossword puzzles.

Discovering and learning is an ongoing process that you should

continue to do for the rest of your life.

If you want to go one step further, study another language. Maybe

you'll find new sounds that could trigger new emotions, new ideas for

one of your project.

Write down every word you find interesting and keep them in a folder.

Once you are ready to write a story or create a character, just take

your notes and play with the words. Modify them, add or remove some

letters to create new words. You can also take common words and

modify only a couple of letters to create something new

(example: car == Kar)!

Don't be afraid to invent new definitions. The more you play with

words, the easier it will be for you to create and build your own

vocabulary.


Exp

erim

en

tTake some calculated

risks!

If you want to succeed in life, you need to take a few risks. You need

to challenge yourself and go beyond what you thought you were

capable of!

However, taking risks also means assuming failure. You can't fail if you

don't take any risk, but you will not succeed either! Does it mean that

you need to try to go for the impossible? Of course not! Taking a

calculated risk can be rewarding enough.

I've been building websites for 10 years now. Most of them, in the first

seven years, ended up being a complete failure. No traffic, no sales,

absolutely no success at all.

Then, one day, I came across this unique web hosting company. They

were offering more than your usual hosting packages at $7 a month,

but they were also much more expensive... around $300 each year!

My problem was that since I was unemployed at that time, I couldn't

really afford such a price for hosting my new site. Still, it was very

tempting. This company was offering nice tools to help me build a

successful website with the possibility of great traffic. I decided to

go for it!

I have now four successful websites that are hosted with this company

and I'm currently planning on building a fifth one.


Exp

erim

en

tI took one calculated risk and it worked.

I did not spend millions of dollars in this adventure, but for me, at this

particular moment in time, it was a little bit risky.

Why will you become more creative if you are taking calculated risks?

Simply because taking a risk means that you are assuming the

consequences related to this risk. Failure is not an option!

To succeed, you must push yourself to find new ideas, new ways to

convert that initial risk into a stable success.

This new source of adrenaline and excitement will stimulate your brain.

Like I said earlier, you don't need to take some huge risks to have

success, but if you never try to do something a little more hazardous,

more perilous, then you won't challenge yourself to become even

better at what you are doing.

Chances are that you won't use your full potential to achieved your

goal of creating a successful and original project if you avoid risk at

all cost!


Act

ionDo absolutely

nothing!

No matter where you go, you're always surrounded by images, colors,

sounds, odors or textures. Your senses are working day and night,

even when you sleep!

But do you ever take the time to sit down, relax and... do nothing? And

when I say nothing, I really mean nothing! No television, no books, no

video games... just sit down and turn all cerebral activities down

(except breathing... of course!).

Just close your eyes, make sure that you are in a calm environment

and think about nothing. I know that it's a difficult exercise. I mean,

we're always thinking about something.

But just give it a shot. Maybe you'll be able to have a few seconds of

complete silence. Not only from your environment, but from yourself

as well.

It may seem like a weird exercise, but there are many good reasons

to do so:

- You will ear noises that you normally don't.

- You will feel things in your body that you usually don't take the time

to feel. It could be your heartbeat or something more painful!


Act

ion

- If you take the time to stop all your activities, you might see an

everyday object in a different angle (you know, like something that

needs to be cleaned!)

This simple action of doing nothing just gives you the opportunity to

rediscover yourself and your environment for the very first time. You

might discover a new sensation, a new feeling, something to help you

stimulate your senses and start a new creative process.

Some people are more creative when being surrounded by images,

music or other stimulating elements. Others prefer to be in a quiet

room without being surrounded by any objects or individuals that could

be a source of distraction.

This simple exercise can help you determine which of the scenarios

above does apply to you!


Act

ionForget about

routines!

We all have our daily routines. It could be reading the newspaper or

drinking a big glass of orange juice in the morning. Routines are

comforting and reassuring.

They make us feel secure and safe.

Without them, some of us are disoriented and confused. Failing to

embrace our daily routines can make us mad or even angry.

But how about changing one of your daily routine?

Changing a comforting and reassuring routine into an exhilarating and

refreshing experience can be very nice way to enliven your creativity.

Who knows, it could become so energizing that you could simply get

rid of some of your daily routines!

Since you are exploring new territories, you are more likely to come

up with new ideas.

Imagine a simple routine like taking the bus. Every day, you are

probably meeting various individuals... the same people, day after

day. Now is it possible for you to take another bus to go to work?

Or just take the one that is a little bit earlier? If so, you will probably

meet new people, see new faces and maybe talk to some of them!


Act

ion

Changing your daily routines will force you to take a look at the world

from another angle. Things that you didn't see anymore are now

becoming new experiences that are enlightening your imagination!

I know that routines are essentials to help us feel more secure, more

protected from the unknown! But they won't give you this enjoyment

and excitement that a new experience will!

This new rush of adrenaline, even if it's based on a small and

meaningless action, can become quite addictive!

Go ahead and try it!


Act

ionDon’t hesitate to

take notes!

I have noticed recently that most of the time, I was getting new ideas

while I was doing a specific action. But since this action couldn't be

performed at home, I was forgetting about these new ideas very

quickly.

This is a good example of why you should always carry a notebook

(or a small computer device, as you wish!) to write down ideas as

they are bouncing into your head.

You never know when a good idea is gonna strike.

Being prepared will help you remember every little details about this

new idea.

Also, if you really like to draw, you can also sketch some characters

or any other objects while you are waiting somewhere for something.

You can use this spared time to be more productive.

Don't worry! I know how you might feel! You probably don't see

yourself carrying some pencils and pieces of paper everywhere.

You probably can't picture yourself waiting in line for the bus with all

your notes flying everywhere because of the strong winds.

I can't really blame you for this because I don't see myself doing

so either!


Act

ion

This is one easy tip that I have trouble dealing with.

However, I know one thing: I have lost many great ideas simply

because I thought that I would be able to remember every little details

once I would go home.

But later on, my mind was completely empty. I wasn't able to remember

some critical parts of my new idea, making it barely usable.

That's why it's important to always carry something to write down

your ideas as they are appearing. Even if you don't think that this new

idea can be useful, you might find something else more relevant based

on this new concept!

Don't hesitate to take notes, lots of them.

You will be able to remember all the things you might come up with on

any giving day and this will also be a good exercise to help you

improve your memory!


Act

ionMake lists for

everything!

Making lists is a great way to organize yourself! It can give you a good

indication of what you have to do or who you should spend some time

with.

You can make a list for virtually every subject or things you wish to

remember. It's such a simple thing to do when you want to make sure

that you won't forget anything.

But have you ever created a list just for the fun of it? Just for the

purpose of discovering things that you might not be aware of? If you

never did so, why not try it now?

Try to do one of the following:

- Create a list of all the friends you ever had in your entire life. Chances

are that you forgot about some of them already! You might remember

some old friends that could

inspire you in the creation process of a new character.

- Do another one about places you went! Once again, this could be the

starting point for new ideas based on experiences you had before.

- Finally, create a list of your best and worst moments in life. It doesn't

matter if it was a good experience or not! If you felt intense emotions,

then this moment should be on your list. This is a great way to imagine

new situations if you wish to write a good story based on real

experiences.


Act

ion

These lists are not meant to help you achieved an action later on (like

a grocery list). This is simply a new tool to stimulate your memory and

help you take some elements of your life as the starting point of your

creation process.

The only danger while using this method could be to write a story a

little bit too close to your personal life. Don't use these elements to

write a biography.

Just use them to help you trigger some new ideas.

You just remember that your first "best friend" was really annoying?

Maybe you could create a character filled with some of his irritating

behaviours!

Did you travel to a foreign country some years ago? You've just

recalled that you didn't really like this particular part of the world?

Maybe it could be the starting point of your new novel (with that

irritating character!).

The possibilities are endless. Making lists will help you remember

things you have forgotten over the years...


Act

ionGive yourself

deadlines!

The definition of procrastination is "delaying an action to a later time".

You can easily figure out that this behaviour is probably the worst

enemy of creativity!

One simple tip to help you become more creative (and productive)

would be to give yourself realistic deadlines. Some people are working

better and faster under pressure. Others are simply freezing when the

level of stress is too high! You just need to find the perfect balance that

fits with your personality.

If you set up realistic goals, then your chances to move forward will be

greater. Even if you don't achieve all of your objectives, just giving

yourself a realistic deadline will help you get more organized and

productive. It will force you to take some actions and spend your time

more efficiently.

Here are a few tips to help you set up realistic goals:

- Make a list of things you have to do. It's easier to set up a schedule

when you know where you're going and what you have to do!

- Try to figure out the most important things to do (or the ones that

should be done first). It might even help you eliminate some things

you thought were important!

- Evaluate the time you think it might take to do these tasks, then

multiply this time by three. Now you have your deadline!


Act

ion

Why should you multiply the time you evaluated by three? Here are

a few reasons:

- You probably forgot stuff that you must do within your task. You will

discover them while working on your project.

- You probably will have to start all over from the beginning a few

tasks for various reasons.

- Something you didn't expect is most likely to happen. That's

Murphy's law!

To set up realistic deadlines, you must always add more time to make

sure that you won't face any unsuspected surprises.

Like I said earlier, some people are really enliven by deadlines and

are often more creative working with them. The additional pressure

and adrenaline that comes with the application of this new challenge

is creating a stimulating environment, enough to help you become

more creative and productive... hopefully!

However, if you choose to set up new deadlines, just make sure that

you are not sacrificing quality. It's better to work beyond your deadline

if your product will benefit from it than meeting your objectives and

create something less valuable.

One quality product will help you make a name for yourself. Creating

several average/conventional products won't do any good!

You should always put quality first, no matter what.


Act

ionDream!

Dreams are fascinating. They can transport you to imaginary worlds

or give you the opportunity to meet unusual characters! Dreams can

help you make things you've always wanted to do or do things you

never thought possible. They can even scare you to death!

It's not clear how many dreams one unique individual can make each

night. Some say it's over 10, others are pretending that we can make

100 different dreams in an 8 hour period! One thing is sure, you are

usually forgetting most of these dreams once you wake up. But

sometimes, our most intense dreams will hunt us for a couple of days

or weeks... or even for a lifetime.

A great way to remember a dream could be to have a pencil and a

piece of paper near your bed. As soon as you wake up, write down

everything you remember.

Even if some parts are missing, don't hesitate to write down everything

that you can remember. Who knows, maybe later on that same day,

just because you took the time to write down a few notes in the

morning, other elements of your dream might come alive in your brain.

Who knows what you could remember.

Dreams aren't exclusive to sleep.


Act

ion

You can also dream about something while you're awake, as long as

you're not doing something that could harm someone (like driving!).

If you're unable to remember most of your dreams, just read some

testimonials on the internet. They can be a very good source of

inspiration!

Some people like to find hidden messages in their dreams. Something

that could explain why they had this particular dream. That's also

an exercise that you could try, but that's not mandatory to stimulate

your imagination.

The lack of structure and logic is the reason that dreams are so

special! If all dreams could be explained, then there wouldn't be any

magic left. Dreams would only become the extension of your real life...

and currently, that's really not what you're looking for!

Once you are finished, take the time to read what you've just wrote.

Don't try to find an amazing idea or a solid storyline behind your

dreams.

The goal is to be immersed in a fertile and imaginative environment,

to find original ideas that could lead to new innovative stories or

characters.

If you come up with a dream that could be turn into a bestseller, than

good for you! Jump on this occasion and write about this particular

dream! But honestly, that is unlikely to happened!

A dream could be described as a long brainstorming session directed

by you, but a long brainstorming session that you don't control! Just

take the good parts and start from there!


Act

ionReward yourself!

$One of the common mistakes most parents do while raising a child is

to use negative sentences. Don't walk in the middle of the street! Don't

run around a pool! Don't talk in the classroom! What do kids really

understand when we use such negative words?

You're not sure what I'm talking about?

Here are a few sentences using negatives words. Notice that each

instruction can be told in a different manner:

- Don't push your sister (the kid will hear the words: push + sister).

Why not say: Be nice to your sister!

- Don't talk too loud (the kid will hear the words: talk + loud).

Why not say: Be quiet!

- Don't eat on the couch! (the kid will hear the words: eat + couch).

Why not say: Eat at the table!

I think you understand what I mean now. It's useless to tell a kid what

NOT TO do.

Here are two simple reasons to avoid using negative words:

1. Most negative words like "don't", "not" or "no" aren't always heard

or understand by kids.


Act

ion

For a kid, "you should eat your lunch" or "you shouldn't eat your lunch"

aren't really different from one another. They both mean the same

action: "eat your lunch"!

2. You're only telling them what they shouldn't do. You are not giving

them an alternative. If you say, "walk slower" rather than "don't run",

you are giving an immediate solution to your kid.

Using the same logic, don't hesitate to reward yourself when you do a

good job. Your brain will have a tendency to remove all the bad things

associated with failure. All the positive actions you did previously are

printed into your memory.

Just like kids who needs to have an immediate solution to their

inadequate behaviour, you need to have some kind of pleasure

associated with creativity. You need to turn it into a pleasant exercise.

The reward doesn't have to be expensive. It can be a piece of

chocolate that you eat after several hours of hard work or a book you

bought after working hard for a whole week. Just go with a reasonable

and enjoyable reward.

If you really want this technique to be effective, don't be tempted to

cheat on yourself... It's useless! If you don't deserve this reward, then

don't take it.

Otherwise, you will miss the whole point of this exercise...

... and the entire e-book!


Conclusion

Creativity is not a tangible thing. That’s why you need to use as many tips

as possible from this e-book if you want to push the limits of your imagination.

It won’t be easy, be the reward will be great.

The more you will read, learn, talk, observe, listen, think, imagine, experiment

and take some action, the more creative you mind will become. It’s easier to

create if your head is filled with a library of 100 000 words! Creation is always

based on things we already are aware of.

Enjoy your journey into your own mind and be wild... just create!

to help you draw cute illustrations in minutes!

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