Web Page: The Creative Process
Web Page: Demystifying the Creative Process
406
A Guide to Creating
With your planning (pages 355–362) and research (pages 363–404) complete, you are ready to create something new. Expect a few twists and turns along the way, and don’t worry about getting it right the first time.
Checking Your Readiness
If you’re fully prepared for the task at hand, you’ll be able to comfortably answer “yes” to these questions:
- Have I asked the right questions about my topic?
- Have I completed my planning and filled in a planning sheet?
- Have I carried out the necessary research?
- Do I understand my topic well?
Getting Started
Often, the hardest part of creating is beginning. Writers fear the blank screen; artists, the blank canvas. Here are a few tips for overcoming this natural anxiety:
- Follow your schedule. Use your planning sheet to guide your work. It will list your tasks, when they need to be completed, and who is responsible for what.
- Be prepared. Gather all the necessary equipment and materials before tackling each task.
- Find a good spot to work. Choose a quiet place without distractions. Turn off your cell phone.
- Reserve plenty of time to complete each task. Avoid the anxiety of deadline pressure by reserving blocks of time devoted solely to your work.
- Make adjustments as needed. Be adaptable, and change your schedule if certain tasks take longer than expected.
- Start small. The creation you envision may take a long time to complete. But just accomplishing part of it (to start) will put you in a creative mind-set.
- Form a meaningful whole. You goal is to develop a complete first draft or design so that you have something to work with and improve upon.
Your Turn Passion for your work helps ensure a quality end product. What are you passionate about? What could you create by tapping into that passion?