A Child
We’re going to take a little different twist with the Idea Sparkler this week. Instead of showing you something others have done, I’ll be asking you a question to help spark an idea for the project you’re working on. We’ll see how it goes.
Jonathan Malm helps people uncover creative options for their life and their church. He’s the author of Created for More, a 30-day devotional to help you develop a more creative mind. You’ll find him in San Antonio, Texas, roasting his own coffee beans and enjoying life with his Argentine wife, Carolina.
Consume
I know a girl who leaves a DNA trail in every car she gets into. Yep, she plucks a hair from her head and leaves it in the car in case she gets murdered. She might be a little obsessed with Crime Scene Investigation shows.
Hang Out With Failure
Today’s creative draino – hang out with failure. There’s a mystical power in failure. You might say success is made of failure. If no one failed, there would be no success. Success requires risk of failure.
Community Pool: Camron Ware
One question. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learn about creativity? Camron Ware answers: “There isn’t really anything new. Each idea is just modified.”
My Current Block
We all go through creative blocks (even those of us who blog about getting through them). My current block has to do with writing. I’m working on writing a book. I have so many ideas. So many quotes. So many stories. But when it comes to putting them together, I’m stuck.
Encourage Someone’s Dream
Sometimes encouragement is all you need to get your creative juices flowing again. But asking for encouragement rarely yields the desired results. After the awkward chuckles, if someone does encourage you, it’s hard to take the encouragement seriously. What a dilemma!
Priorities
Dreams are expensive. Getting inspired often doesn’t come cheap. When creativity involves travel or education, people can get scared off. The resources just don’t seem to be there.
Dance Your Butt Off
Creative block? That’s nothing a few hours at the club can’t cure. But if you’re like me, the club might not be able to handle your moves. That’s when I start dancing with myself.
Community Pool: Blaine Hogan
One question. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learn about creativity? Blaine Hogan answers: “Those who produce the most meaningful work have found a way to defeat resistance. They’ve found a way to overcome fear.”
Befriend Someone Scary
This is a real conversation I had. Guy: My friend Foodstamp can hook you up with a cell phone for $20, one time fee. You just can only make calls, you can’t receive them.” Me: Um, that sounds illegal. Guy: No way. Not if you don’t get caught.