Three Unique Ways To Get Your Creativity Flowing

COVID and quarantine are taking their toll on creative types of people (like me) who are just finding it harder to generate enough inspiration to do anything. But with vaccines as our metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel, things may start to get easier. Regardless, we creative types could use a little reinvigoration and care to help get us back into the creative work we love so much. Here are three fun ways to get your creativity flowing again.

1. Consume Lots And Lots Of Media

Give yourself a break from trying to create content by consuming copious amounts of other people’s stuff. Movies, television shows, fanfiction, and books are all tried and true options for trying to jumpstart your creativity. There might be certain pieces of media that you return to time and time again, but if you just can’t seem to conjure up even a little sparkle of imagination, it may be time to look for something new. This past year has been particularly draining, so it’s okay if your go-to genres or mediums aren’t working. So, try accessing what you love and your creativity in different ways. 

For example, if you always watch rom coms to help you write romantic scenes, try watching a YouTube video that unpacks how a famously romantic painting came to be. You could also try branching out of the romance genre by watching a Western or a Sci-Fi movie and look to see how love (either romantic or platonic) is presented in another genre. You’d be amazed at what you can find in other genres and mediums of art, so be sure to take the time to utilize all of the content that is out there. Listen to friends’ recommendations or explore websites that offer a variety of content and topics like The Daily Fandom to help you find something new.

2. Try A New Angle

While it’s challenging to find the inspiration to start something new, it can be even harder to find the drive to return to an abandoned project. Finding enough creativity to work on an old project might require finding some new tricks. If picking up where you left off seems like too much of a Herculean feat, consider approaching the project from an entirely new angle.

For example, if you’re trying to write a short story and you just can’t figure out why you started writing it in the first place, try changing the perspective. If it’s written from a third-person perspective, change it to first-person or vice versa. You can also try writing from a different character’s perspective and see how that changes the trajectory of the story. If you’re working on a piece of visual art, try drastically changing one element of your work. For example, consider roughly sketching out your piece using completely different colors, change the focal point of the work, or change your subject. See how these changes affect your approach to your art and the overall message. You’d be surprised at the variety of things that can spark your creativity!

It’s possible that you will not like the edits you make to your work. But sometimes, you need to create something bad before you can create something good. You might even find that your dislike of your new creation will give you a little confidence boost to tell you that you were heading in the right direction the whole time. On the other hand, it’s also just as likely that you’ll love the changes you make or that they’ll inspire your creativity to go in a completely different direction that you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. Regardless, trying it from a different angle will incentivize you to pick up the pen or the paintbrush again to see what can happen.

3. Create An Eportfolio

Get your creativity flowing again by creating an eportfolio for your completed work! Revisiting your old work can help you remember why you enjoy creating so much. Also, creating an eportfolio forces you to think about your work differently. For example, you’ll have to figure out how you want to categorize your work. If you’re a writer, you’ll need to pick out art and fun fonts to decorate your website. You’ll also need to figure out how you want to sort and highlight your work. If you’re a visual artist, you’ll have to decide how to communicate the meaning of your art in a digital format, which can be tricky to do depending on what kind of art you create.

Think of it as a digital gallery, and have fun with it! When creating your eportfolio, remember to pick quality over quantity. While it may be tempting to dump all of your work onto a website, try only to pick what best communicates you and what you love to do. Also, don’t fill your website with super long explanations of every detail of your creative work. You might want to have a short description explaining the significance and context behind your work, but anything more than a little blurb will probably be too much. Let your creativity (whether visual or verbal) do most of the talking!

Some great domains for your eportfolio would be websites like Google Sites or Portfoliobox. But if you think a standard website wouldn’t showcase your creativity the right way, use social media as your eportfolio! For example, Instagram is an excellent platform for visual artists who want to show off their work and/or commission work. Also, it can be easier to generate a following and foster engagement with audiences on a platform like Instagram that revolves around liking and commenting.

If you’re interested in looking at examples, some great Instagram pages would be @corwinprescott (NSFW photography), @k_scrimshaw (digital art), or @lindablacker (photography). Websites like Google Sites, Porfoliobox, or WordPress all have walkthroughs that will give you tips on how to create an awesome eportfolio. Your eportfolio will help you find inspiration again, and it will even help you show off your creativity to potential employers or friends. Have fun creating your eportfolio, and remember to design it with intention and care. It’s all about showcasing you!

Finding Your Groove Again

It can be tough to navigate your way out of a creative block. But remember to be patient with yourself and try engaging with your creativity in a new way. Everyone needs some help reviving their creative juices every once in a while, so remember that you’re not alone! Be open to trying something new. You never know what might spark your creativity!