Move Your Ideas Forward

One unique challenge of creative work is the requirement that you must always be, well, creative.

Whether starting a new project or dealing with a client who wants to see multiple options or concepts, the best are able to ideate at the drop of a hat.

Perhaps the area where this is most commonly noticed (though it happens in every field) is when it comes to writing.

You know, the dreaded “writer’s block.”

Some theories say that there’s no such thing as writer’s block. Writing anything, even nonsensical gibberish, will allow you to eventually push through anything that may block your path. Whether that “advice” is actually helpful to you or not is questionable, but there’s one piece of actionable advice that I’ve found works wonders for me.

When writing a screenplay for a film or novel, it’s very easy to get stuck.

You’re creating characters, a world, and a story, all to communicate some message you have in your head. The advice I heard that’s stuck with me most is: Write the worst possible scene you can think of, then keep writing.

It may sound simple, or silly, but it works.

It’s harder than it sounds to write a truly terrible scene; even casual movie-goers have better taste than they give themselves credit for. But it keeps you going. You build momentum. And throughout the rest of the process, you start thinking of little ideas that make that bad scene better. You, in effect, push through it.

Creativity is no different.

If I need to come up with a video idea, I consume as much as I can. Watching videos, movies, TV, reading, browsing design websites. Inspiration is everywhere. Sometimes it takes awhile for the dots to connect, but if you keep consuming, if you keep your momentum, those dots will connect.

Often when you least expect it.

Keep a notepad handy.