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Collected techniques that I have used for defeating creative blocks and summoning a muse.
1/ Pacing
Low-effort and good for pumping blood to your head. I find that Any activity which increases blood flow has a creative payoff on the other side.
Stack pacing with swearing for a quick gear change for triggering insight (hat tip to @EricRWeinstein)
Low-effort and good for pumping blood to your head. I find that Any activity which increases blood flow has a creative payoff on the other side.
Stack pacing with swearing for a quick gear change for triggering insight (hat tip to @EricRWeinstein)
2/ Enter the hypnagogic state
Salvador Dali frequently tapped into the technique of creating during the “fluid space between wake and sleep”.
He would hold a spoon whilst falling asleep, then wake up when the spoon hit the floor
→ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dream-factory/201502/how-dream-salvador-dali
Salvador Dali frequently tapped into the technique of creating during the “fluid space between wake and sleep”.
He would hold a spoon whilst falling asleep, then wake up when the spoon hit the floor
→ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dream-factory/201502/how-dream-salvador-dali
2a/ This allowed him to enter the hyper-associative state of consciousness to unlock answers to creative problems.
3/ Pirsig’s Brick
This is the nuclear option for breaking through a creative wall.
In Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, he recalls a student in his writing class who was creatively blocked after setting herself the task of writing about the USA.
This is the nuclear option for breaking through a creative wall.
In Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, he recalls a student in his writing class who was creatively blocked after setting herself the task of writing about the USA.
3a/ She returned to Pirsig, upset that she couldn’t think of anything to write. He suggested to narrow the topic down to Bozeman, Montana.
She returned later once again, annoyed that she was still blocked. He suggested zooming in on the main street in Bozeman.
She returned later once again, annoyed that she was still blocked. He suggested zooming in on the main street in Bozeman.
3b/ Once again she returned upset that she couldn’t think of anything to say about one street in Bozeman. Pirsig was losing patience, “You’re not looking!”
"Narrow it downto thefront of onebuilding on the main street... TheOperaHouse. Start with the upperleft-handbrick."
"Narrow it downto thefront of onebuilding on the main street... TheOperaHouse. Start with the upperleft-handbrick."
3c/ She returned the next day with a puzzled look and 5,000 word essay.
I believe this technique of zooming in works across all creative endeavours.
I believe this technique of zooming in works across all creative endeavours.
4/ Change the medium
I have no time for anyone trying to put a process around creative work. Flow states do not live inside a linear creative process.
You need the freedom to leap ahead, retreat, move back to paper when you’re struggling on screen and vice versa.
I have no time for anyone trying to put a process around creative work. Flow states do not live inside a linear creative process.
You need the freedom to leap ahead, retreat, move back to paper when you’re struggling on screen and vice versa.
5/ Work backwards from magic
Ask what the problem you’re working on would look like if it worked like magic, ie completely free from the bounds of reality.
Then make your solution as close to magic as possible.
Ask what the problem you’re working on would look like if it worked like magic, ie completely free from the bounds of reality.
Then make your solution as close to magic as possible.
6/ Outsource to your unconscious
Thomas Edison kept a notebook and pen by his bedside. He believed “Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”
Similar to Dali, he outsourced problems and questions to dream states and often utilised the answers he got back.
Thomas Edison kept a notebook and pen by his bedside. He believed “Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.”
Similar to Dali, he outsourced problems and questions to dream states and often utilised the answers he got back.
