My Creative Process

Everyone's creative process is different, but you're reading my blog so obviously you want to hear what mine consists of. Take it with a grain of salt, but feel free to take anything that inspires you.

1) Lists

Lists are my best friend. When I'm presented with an assignment, commission, or project, I grab the nearest notepad and jot things down. The first idea is never the one I actually go with, but it helps me get the wheels turning. Once I have five to ten ideas, I start to flesh them out in more detail. I like to use a mind map for this.

Photo Credit: Focus Blog, 2016

This mind map is only an example and you can create as many branches as you need. Most good ideas will have five to eight branches with sub-branches. I also supplement this mind map with lots of research. Sometimes this stage will take up to two weeks.

2) Election

Usually after a night's sleep I will return to my ideas and pick the most appropriate concept. In this process, I pick something that isn't too complicated to get my points across but also not too simple where I run out of material. Finding that sweet spot can be tricky. But once I re-read the prompts a few times, I can usually identify the right one easily.

3) Drafts

Next comes the draft process. I get to work and really focus in on the idea. I try to immerse myself as much as possible and try to represent the idea as best as I can. The first thirty minutes of any draft can make you hate the idea. But if you push through, you can find the value of it again. If you start to find that the project is falling apart after the thirty to sixty minute mark, you can go back to the mind map and see if the process is demanding one of your other ideas. But hopefully, the draft is working out and you can take it to the next step.

4) Get It Reviewed

In a class or work setting, it's easy to get your work reviewed. If the project is a personal endeavor, I utilize family and friends to pass along advice. I try to find people with backgrounds in that project space to make sure I'm getting an educated and honest opinion. I love my Mom, but she may be a tad biased!

5) Make Revisions and/or Complete the Final

After revisions, you can push it back to reviews.But if revisions are complete, publish the piece!

References

“Why You Should Definitely Use Mind Maps | Focus Blog.” Focus, 15 Mar. 2016, www.mindmeister.com/blog/why-mind-mapping/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2020.

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