Human creativity is driven by recombination, where existing elements are mixed and combined to create something new.
To foster your own creativity, try breaking down something you love to its fundamental elements and understand why you appreciate it.
Establishing a consistent writing routine can help with productivity.
Deep dives
The importance of recombination in human creativity
Human creativity is driven by recombination, where existing elements are mixed and combined to create something new. Our brains are not equipped to imagine completely novel creations, but rather excel at recombining existing ideas and elements. This process is fundamental to how we create and is an important aspect of human creativity.
The value of breaking down what you love and rebuilding it
To foster your own creativity, try breaking down something you love to its fundamental elements and understand why you appreciate it. Once you have this foundational understanding, use it to recreate and reinvent it in your own unique way. By analyzing and reconstructing what you love, you can develop your own creative ideas and create something that is truly your own.
Maintaining a consistent writing routine
Establishing a consistent writing routine can help with productivity. This involves dedicating specific time slots for writing and sticking to them. For example, dividing the day into two separate writing sessions, focusing on shorter, more efficient periods of work, and organizing tasks to ensure effective use of time can enhance productivity and efficiency as a writer.
Finding passion and fulfillment in the creative process
Discovering and pursuing a creative passion can be a transformative experience. Rather than solely focusing on the end goal, learning to enjoy and find fulfillment in the journey itself is vital. Embracing the process and finding joy in each step, even during less favorite aspects, can lead to a more satisfying and sustainable creative career.
Navigating the balance between originality and familiarity
In creative endeavors, finding a balance between originality and familiarity is key. While being mindful of derivative works, it is important to remember that recombination is a natural part of human creativity. Building upon existing concepts and ideas can lead to unique and innovative creations. However, focusing solely on surprising readers can compromise the integrity of the story and should be approached with caution.
Brandon Sanderson is my favourite author of all time. He writes incredible fantasy books, including Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, and wrote the final 3 books of The Wheel of Time. Brandon's output is legendary - he writes books almost faster than we can read them, and he teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. I recorded this episode with Brandon as a live stream during the 2020 lockdown, and because it was one of my favourites I wanted to share it with you again as a bonus episode.
In the conversation, we discuss how he kept going when his writing wasn’t being read, the question of originality and how we can make the stuff we need to do (work) more fun. Enjoy!
📚Check out my New York Times Bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity! Amazon Website
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