The "Ideas Issue" of The Atlantic is Out
I'm always looking for new articles and bits of inspiration about the creative mind. I'm kind of a self help junkie for creativity as a way to overcome writer's block.
It's funny, the way I used to understand it, writer's block was what happened when you casually and freely sat down to create your next work, and...nothing came. For whatever reason, the corner you'd written yourself into seemed impossible to escape.
But, for me, and I think for most people, writer's block is what happens before you even sit down at the desk. It's the fear that if you take that chance and sit down at the computer, nothing will come, or what will come will not be worth the time spent. If that's the case, why not spend the time wading through episodes of "Breaking Bad" or chomping on popcorn at a mediocre movie, or playing Farm Hero's Saga?
The way I combat it is to keep creativity on my brain in tiny segments, to consume ideas as much as I can, and the most recent issue of The Atlantic is full of terrific bits of inspiration and techniques. It's the "Idea Issue", and features articles on the power of a creative partnership, insights on where creativity comes from in the mind, and 6 creative solutions to "thorny" problems.
There's also an interesting article on the trend of killing off mother's in children's media. Sure this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but the writer's thoughts on the recent addition of the "fun" father figure in films like Despicable Me, and Wreck It Ralph are worth reading.
It's funny, the way I used to understand it, writer's block was what happened when you casually and freely sat down to create your next work, and...nothing came. For whatever reason, the corner you'd written yourself into seemed impossible to escape.
But, for me, and I think for most people, writer's block is what happens before you even sit down at the desk. It's the fear that if you take that chance and sit down at the computer, nothing will come, or what will come will not be worth the time spent. If that's the case, why not spend the time wading through episodes of "Breaking Bad" or chomping on popcorn at a mediocre movie, or playing Farm Hero's Saga?
The way I combat it is to keep creativity on my brain in tiny segments, to consume ideas as much as I can, and the most recent issue of The Atlantic is full of terrific bits of inspiration and techniques. It's the "Idea Issue", and features articles on the power of a creative partnership, insights on where creativity comes from in the mind, and 6 creative solutions to "thorny" problems.
There's also an interesting article on the trend of killing off mother's in children's media. Sure this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but the writer's thoughts on the recent addition of the "fun" father figure in films like Despicable Me, and Wreck It Ralph are worth reading.