Being Creative Means Taking Risks

http://hbr.org/2008/09/how-pixar-fosters-collective-creativity/ar/1

I really like this article in Harvard Business Review entitled "How Pixar Fosters Collective Creativity."

The author, Ed Catmull, wrote: "Pixar is a community in the true sense of the word. We think that lasting relationships matter, and we share some basic beliefs: Talent is rare. Management’s job is not to prevent risk but to build the capability to recover when failures occur. It must be safe to tell the truth."

The creative process of making a movie, he says, involves the creative input of a host of people. It's the sum result of tens of thousands of ideas.

The same holds true in writing a book. When a person reads a book, she isn't consciously aware of the number of ideas and choices make up that book. It's really quite staggering. The selection of each scene, each trait of each character--yes, even each sentence and word--is the result of the author's conscious choice.

Creating a movie, says Catmull, is all about being scared; it's about taking risks. Again, the same holds true in writing books. Will our burst of imagination be understood by the reader? Appreciated? It's the chance we must take.

Ready...Set...Get Playful

Years ago I took a creative writing class. One of the most helpful things that I learned was this: Before starting to write, loosen up...get playful!

Children are naturally creative. Watch them at play. What do they do? They use their imagination. They giggle. They have fun. They play games.

Got writer's block? Before writing, try this: Act like a kid. Get down on the floor with your 4-year-old and have a tickling contest. Play dress-ups with your grandkids. Share knock-knock jokes with your tween.

If you don't happen to have any children around, think of something playful to do. Stand on your head. Call someone up and share a hilarious joke. Play Chopsticks on the piano. Pat your head while rubbing your tummy.

Do something...anything to loosen up. You'll be amazed at how much more creative your writing will be after this exercise of acting like a kid.