Happy New Year everyone!
As we begin a new year, I'm sure a lot of you are working on your new year's resolutions. Maybe you want to be more healthy. Maybe you want to read more and watch less TV. Maybe you want to surround yourself with more positive people. Many people resolve to be more creative in the new year. This could mean you want to write more, paint more, sing more, dance more. It could mean you want to learn how to sew or start cooking more. It could mean you want to sing karaoke more often or take a poetry writing class. There are a million ways to be creative, but here are five tips on how you can be more creative in 2018.
1. Give yourself the space and tools to create.
Maybe you'll be able to be more productive with your writing if you go to the coffee shop or the library. Maybe you work best on the kitchen table in the midst of chaos. Find out where you are the most creative, and go there. If possible, make a space in your home dedicated to your creativity--whether it's a little corner of the garage you use to paint or a desk in your bedroom you use to write on or an entire room you use to write songs and play instruments. And make sure you have the tools you need. You'll be a lot more likely to paint if you buy yourself some paints and canvases. You'll be a lot more likely to play guitar if you download some tutorial videos about how to play guitar. Find out what you need to be creative, and make it happen.
2. Surround yourself with other creative people.
You will be a lot more likely to create if you are hanging out with other people who create. Going to the bar every weekend might be fun, but you're much more likely to be creative if you go to an open mic night or join a writing group. If your friends are also creating, you will be much more inspired to be creative yourself. Don't live in an area with a lot of people? There are many online groups you can join to discuss writing, music, theatre, film, etc. You just have to look for them.
3. Experience art that inspires you.
Don't you just want to paint more when you go to an art gallery or museum? Aren't you inspired to sing when you go to a concert? Aren't you inspired to write poetry when you read a great book of poems? Make time to experience art. Maybe that's watching a film on Netflix. Maybe that's going to a staged reading of a new play. Maybe that's just listening to one of your favorite albums. You know what inspires you the most.
4. Don't listen to anyone who isn't supportive.
If you're trying to improve your craft, of course listen to your teachers and people giving you feedback. But don't listen to haters. Don't listen to people who tell you you can't sing. If you love to sing, do it! Who cares what anyone else thinks? Don't listen to people who say coloring books aren't real art if you enjoy coloring and it makes you feel creative. This is easier to do if you surround yourself with other creative people and/or people who are going to be supportive.
5. Make time to be creative and do it!
You have to make being creative a priority in your life. The only way you're going to add more creativity to your life is just to do it! And I promise that you won't regret it.
So let's all get out there, make some art, and have a very creative 2018!