What if we could make ourselves more creative? We discussed this question in a previous post and came to the conclusion that we can do just that. We then went in depth on the first step, which is to practice. Today, I want to talk about the second step: see the world.
Seeing the world does not necessarily mean traveling. We don’t need to do this in order to be creative. It’s more about developing the mindset that we can find stories and adventures—we can see the world—no matter where we are. But it can be helpful to not stay in the same {home} office space to do that.
Here are four inspirational tips you can use to start seeing the world creatively today:
1. Work from Somewhere Different
I don’t know about you, but after a few weeks of staring at the same wall, I find myself getting stir-crazy. It can be difficult to come up with new ideas if all I’m feeding my brain is that little stretch of wall above my computer screen.
This can especially plague the freelancers who work from home. We’re at home all the time—we live there! Do we really have to work there too? Not always!
Working from somewhere different can be as simple as going to the library. Not only is there free wifi (usually), but there are also plenty of different spaces to work from, and it’s generally quiet while still providing us with story subjects. And, think of all the free resources we’re surrounded by! In fact, the whole experience is free, so we can’t really make excuses for not going there.
My favorite place to work from, however, is a coffee shop. I mean, there’s coffee, so I shouldn’t have to say more, but I will for the sake of the minority who doesn’t like it. The best part is the work environment. I work best with a little background noise (growing up with five younger siblings I find it difficult to concentrate if things are too quiet), and coffee shops provide that and more with bustle, music, and interesting people and conversations. Look at it as collecting more story ideas (which we’ll discuss more in just a sec). Coffee shops are designed to be worked in—and you don’t even need the coffee to utilize it. (Although it definitely adds to the experience…)
2. Take a Road Trip
We can’t always do this. But when we are able, we should take this opportunity and run with it (or drive).
Whether it’s visiting one of our local state parks on a Saturday or heading across the country to check New Mexico off our list, we need to get out there and explore the world. I promise it helps creativity. If nothing else, it rests our brains and gets us out of our normal groove, which is important for keeping things fresh.
Being somewhere different provides many new experiences to add to our writing stock. We do need to write what we know. Although this is extremely important, it’s not at all limiting, as we discussed in a two-part series on this subject.
When we literally see more of the world, we can keep writing what we know while expanding our ability to do so.
3. Find Adventure in the Everyday
Creativity is a mindset. It comes so easily to children; they see the world no matter where they are. Remember thinking the floor was lava? Imagining your backyard was five different countries with nearly-impossible-to-conquer mountain ranges, ridiculously vast cliffs, and enemy animals around every corner? (I don’t know if your backyard was this exciting, but mine certainly was!)
Unfortunately, we often lose this mindset as we age. We tend to outgrow our creativity and struggle with it more as adults. Instead of being able to see the world, we can’t see beyond our own computer screens, backyards, and hometowns.
While this is sad, it doesn’t have to be permanent. We may not see magma avalanches in our backyards anymore (at least I hope not!), but we can still access that colorful thought process with a little practice and incorporate those experiences into our writing.
The key is to be intentional about it. Decide that you will discover something interesting on your next trip to the grocery store. (If it’s Walmart, you shouldn’t have any trouble with that.) Look at normal activities like this as opportunities to creatifyyour life!
A little story
An example of adventure-finding comes from my own experience. I was at a wedding reception where they served beet burgers. Yes, you read that oxymoron right: beet burgers. Burgers made out of beets. They were actually purple.
Although I was curious what they would taste like, the experience of eating one was overall disappointing. Despite the fact that we were all hungry, we had trouble getting them down (if you can imagine the texture…), and most of us couldn’t finish them. (The property owner’s chickens even refused to eat the leftovers, we later learned!)
Disappointing as that burger imposter was, the story has remained one we’ve laughed about numerous times since, and it has been fun to share it with people who ask things like, “What is the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?” or “What is the most unusual wedding you’ve been to?” It fits both categories.
As minor and funny as the experience was, it provides a lesson on developing a creative mindset. I approached the situation with curiosity and made a point to notice and remember what the experience felt like because it was new, unusual, and funny, and because I could use it later. I share this to make my point: our lives don’t have to be exotic to provide us with plenty of ammo for our creative arsenals. We don’t have to leave our hometowns to see the world, to live adventurously.
And hey, maybe you’ll experience a beet burger someday (although I sincerely hope not)!
4. Find the Story in Every Experience
Finding the adventure in the everyday is an internal mindset where we focus on our interpretation of our experiences. Now we’re going to expand and develop an external mindset of finding the story in every experience.
Every experience offers story opportunities to writers. We just have to know where—and how—to look for them.
At the grocery store, look around. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells. Notice things that are different, wrong, out of place, or unordinary, and ask yourself why they are that way. Notice who else is present. Who are they? Why are they here? What do they need? Let your imagination run wild. See the world around you.
Creativity isn’t just about coming up with new ideas. It’s looking at the world in new ways. It’s finding the adventure in the ordinary, the story in the mundane. When we can do that, we’ve got a creative mind that won’t run dry because life is always happening all around us. We just need to know how to look.
Life is only as ordinary as we make it.
What inspires your creativity? Share your tips in the comments below!
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