Here’s a list of 10 creativity tools to use in your quest to be more creative. Some or none might work.
No one can teach you to be creative. Being creative is always about what works for you. Following a course can help a bit. But if you are following courses in creativity all the time you are missing out.
You are Your own Medicine
Something we say a lot at Jelly Trumpet. You and only you can do the creative thing! So, record what works, what doesn’t and collect tools like these.
Sometimes they’ll work and sometimes not so build a big tool chest that you can dip into when needed.
One: Put to other uses
I’ve had this idea but it doesn’t work the way I want it to.
What other use could you put the idea to?
Can you use the idea in a different place, for a different character? For a different medium?
Two: Adapt
I have a problem or I need to adapt an idea.
What else is like this?
What does this idea suggest?
Is this an idea from the past I can adapt into something new?
Three: Modify
I have an idea / project that worked.
What new twist can I put on it?
Can I change the audience, the platform, the media for more impact?
If I changed one element of this project / idea what would it be and what could it achieve?
Four: Magnify
What can I add to make this idea bigger, go further?
Should I add more time, more budget, do more frequently?
How big can I make this idea?
Should I exaggerate to create an absurd effect?
Five: Minify
What can I take away the idea still be valid or even quicker?
Smaller, narrower, lighter; what can I streamline or split?
Should I understate or be less frequent?
Six: Substitute
What element could I substitute for a possible greater return?
Who else could I use?
Should I substitute another tone of voice, another idea?
Seven: Rearrange
Is the sequence of the project working?
What if I changed around this element with that one?
What if this came from another place?
Eight: Reverse
Can I reverse the idea, start from the end instead?
If this idea was done in reverse would it make something new?
What if I transposed the outcome from positive to negative, would I do anything differently?
Nine: Combine
What if I combined this idea with this? With someone else’s?
If I blended this idea what would be produced?
Can I make an alloy of ideas?
What instead of one voice it was an ensemble.
If I combined multiple content types what would we end up with?
Ten: What if…?
I keep saying it. These are the two best and most powerful words for creativity. It’s free association.
The nine ideas preceding are very formal (and they work, if you use them enough they’ll become automatic). But this is the big one because you can go anywhere.
Combine this with a quota. Start with five what if’s? Work your way up to many more (I go to 100 sometimes, it’s very exciting to find stuff you never would have come up with.
Add the above to your other tools so you have a pick and mix to delve into when you need it.
Happy creating,
About Jelly Trumpet
We’re a podcast all about creativity. Every episode is aimed at stimulating your imagination and making you laugh with silly, surreal bits & bobs.