raquelplankPerhaps you’ve heard of a creativity consultant, but what do creativity consultants do? I have over thirty years of experience working with creatives. Whether they are artists, writers, musicians, or performers, they all need a little help sometimes developing or expanding their new ideas. This is where I come in. I can provide exercises and creative solutions to help push past common creative blocks. Today, I’ll address your questions for a creativity consultant. Please contact me for a consultation if any of these resonate with you.
1. “I often feel stuck creatively. What strategies can I use to overcome creative blocks and boost my creativity?”
Each person I work with is going to have a different creative vision and therefore we will develop a unique approach for each person. However, many creative blocks are caused by overthinking. I created Managing My Muse to be a comprehensive creativity workbook to get you out of your head and unlock your creative potential. The workbook includes exercises for both your body and mind to release stress and let those creative juices flow. There are creative writing prompts and observation exercises to change your perspective and generate fresh ideas. You can get your copy here.
2. “How can I find the right balance between structure and spontaneity to enhance my creative process?”
This is where finding the right creative consultant for you is important. Working as a creative. especially to make a living, does not allow you to only work when inspiration hits. By creating a designated time for creativity, you are providing the structure and framework for your body and mind to know what to do. Another way to look at it, is that you are letting your muse know when and where you will be every day if they want to show up. It doesn’t mean everything you create will be brilliant. However, it does mean that you will get into the routine of creating and it will become easier each day that you practice.
3. “I’m struggling with self-doubt in my creative pursuits. How can I build confidence and trust in my creative abilities?”
My expert advice is to start small. Tackling big projects can be daunting and when they don’t turn out right, we can feel like we’ve wasted our time. Take a moment to create something small that doesn’t take up much time. If you are struggling to write a novel, try to write a short story instead. The small success will help build your confidence in your abilities. As you get comfortable with the small projects, then you can work your way up to bigger ones.
4. “What techniques can I employ to foster a more innovative and creative mindset in my personal and professional life?”
You are the creative director of your life. Often an outside perspective is all that is needed to see and implement innovative solutions to your personal and professional life. This may mean offering specific services to your clients or trying out a new product. In your personal life, you can have brainstorming sessions with your friends or family for idea generation.
5. “I have multiple creative ideas but struggle with focus. How can I prioritize and bring my creative projects to fruition?”
As a person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I am very familiar with having multiple ideas and projects in mind all at the same time. Make a list of all your ideas and then analyze them. Are there any ideas that are related to each other? Are there any projects that you have already started on? Which creative ideas are you most excited about? Consider each idea and rank them. Determine for yourself what creative direction you want to go in and then do the projects that move you in that direction.
6. “In a team setting, how can I encourage and harness the collective creativity of my team members to enhance collaboration and productivity?”
The best work comes from a team where their strengths are highlighted and their weaknesses are downplayed. Ask your team to solve creative problems and share their ideas. Individuals feel confident in their creative work when their ideas are acknowledged and respected. They can provide valuable insight into new ways of solving a problem.
7. “What role does mindfulness play in fostering creativity, and how can I incorporate mindfulness practices into my creative routine?”
Whenever I hear the word “mindfulness” I think of meditation. There is a reason for that. Meditation is an excellent place to start when thinking about mindfulness. Meditation also goes hand in hand with ritual. By establishing a ritual when you are creating, you are able to be present and mindful. Different disciplines may offer differing advice but, I think the sentiment is generally the same. Focusing on breathing and being present in the moment will help you engage creatively with your new projects.
8. “I want to explore new creative mediums. How can I effectively broaden my creative skill set and step out of my comfort zone?”
True creativity is not bound by what we can or can not do. Our limits are only set by what we do not try. This would be another great time to start small. Before investing a ton of money or time into a new medium, try it out on something smaller scale. Your new creative project will take off in no time.
9. “How can I overcome the fear of failure and embrace experimentation as part of the creative process?”
You are going to fail. You are going to fail a ton. If masterpieces were easy, there would be millions of them. The fact is, the more you create, the better your ratio becomes for success. How likely do you think it is that the one and only creation you make will be your masterpiece? Instead, create all of the things. Create hundreds of them. Ninety-nine might have failed but all it takes is that one to be a masterpiece. The best way to get over the fear of failure is to create something where you are trying to fail or create something where you do not care about the outcome.
My personal go-to is junk journaling. Just like it sounds, I take junk and a whole lot of stickers and fill a journal page with whatever I am feeling for that day. By not caring what it looks like, it takes all that pressure of perfection away.
10. “I’m in a creative field, but I feel burned out. What strategies can I use to rejuvenate my passion and maintain a sustainable creative practice?”
Creative people often experience burnout. If at all possible, take some time to rest. Give your body and mind a break from creating. If that is not possible, there are some different ways to reset your brain and get you back in the mood to create again. Working with a creativity consultant will help you get back to creating.
Whatever your unique needs may be, as a creative you have resources available to you. Finding the right people with the right innovative thinking to help you can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. Asking the right questions will help determine a good fit for you and your creative team. I hope this helps you on your unique path and gives you a starting point for questions to ask your creativity consultant.
