By Ngva on June 24, 2024
Introduction
Being creative is as much as a skill as it is a gift. Here are some strategies I have found helpful in cultivating creativity as a habit. and "HACKING" IT when my creative juices are running low.
Main Content
Back in the day i used to think that creativity was a gift that only a few people were born with. I identified as being creative, long before it was cool to create "content" (whole other story trust me) and long before generated word salads were considered bringing "value" and that these individuals were considered creative. If you can't tell, I've got time today. All jokes aside, I've come to realize that creativity is as much a habit, as it is a talent. If not more so. Let me explain. I am currently not in the most inspired state of mind, but I am writing this blog post. Why? Because I want to reignite my love for writing and I know that the only way to do that is to write. I have to write, even when I don't feel like it. And that's the thing about creativity. We only like to create when we are inspired. If we are inspired we feel as if we have the best chance of creating something amazing. But the truth is, creativity is a muscle. And like any muscle, it needs to be exercised. And like any muscle that goes un used it will atrophy. So how do we cultivate creativity as a habit? Here are some strategies I have found helpful. Step 1: Create a routine I know, I know. I like to make beats. I like to write. I am not inspired. So how do I make so many beats and wroite so many songs? I have a hack in my routine. I remove any expectations and completely focus on the process. I don't care if the beat is good. I want it to be amazing of course, but I'm human and I am noit always amazing. And I gotta tell you, I have made some pretty bad beats. But I have also made some pretty good ones. And the Ones I like the most are often from the batch of beats that I make when I am not inspired. And for reasons that is 60 percent of the time.
- Make/Curate your own unique sample library. I have a folder on every computer called Sample Library. it has evolved over the years and so has the organization. An organized sample library is a creative's best friend. I have a folder for Drums and I put any packs I buy or download in them. I have a folder for melodies a folder for mixed melodic and perciusion where I store Compoisition based samples and packs. I typically organize by type of sound or composition and then by composer or pack creator or sound source. Like composition -> composer -> pack name -> youtube/tracklib etc.
- The Sound Design folder I have a folder for sound design. This can be filled with original sompositions or loops that I have made. Or samples that I have manipulated to make my own. I call this folder the encyclopedia of chops. you can be surprised by how much you learn from your past self. (One of the reasons I am writing this blog post)
Conclusion
It's really a 1 step process.
But you can please by all means make it how ever many steps that makes you happy.
I beleive that we are all creative in your own way. And as long as we dont constantly compare ourselves to others, we can find our own unique voice.