Whether you’re a writer, an artist, a graphic designer or any other kind of creative person, it can become incredibly difficult to find some creativity. This is true for everyone, no matter whether being creative is your career choice, or more of a hobby. For me, recent years – especially since I left formal education – have seen my creativity kind of waiver, so what I want to know is:
What do you do to stay creative?
Recently, I found myself getting sick of the sight of my magazine collection, and came to the conclusion that it was time to have a cull, because some of those magazines had been sat, collecting dust, for several years and it was just getting ridiculous. My problem is that I always think it’s quite wasteful, so I started ripping pages out and collating a collection of images, typography etc for collages, like the one I’ve had on my office wall for quite some time:
I’m not really sure how it happened, but I’ve toyed with creative journals for quite some time, but I’ve never really managed to find a real sense of direction with them. However, with the help of the clippings from magazines, pens, paints, crayons, glue and a few creative prompt websites and Pinterest, I have started putting together a Writing Journal (also known as a SMASH book in some circles) with the intention not only to encourage me to write more, but also to get creative in other ways too. I don’t really consider myself to be particularly artistic, but it’s been fun to grab a paint brush and some water colours and just splashing them right across the page. Okay, so I’m not very good, but just the act of doing it has been quite therapeutic.
I’ve never really been very good at keeping journals/diaries of my everyday life – mainly because my life always seems so incredibly dull! But, I’ve been working on this since September, and okay, so I’m not working on it every single day, but I definitely thinking that it’s helping me to tap into that part of my creative psyche that has been neglected for way too long.
Here are a few sneaky peeks at some of the creative things that I have put together, and a few ideas for anyone else who is thinking of starting one (I thoroughly recommend it).
Front Cover
I wanted the front cover to represent who I am, and what I want to achieve out of my journal:
Lists
I’m a big fan of writing lists, and think that my writing journal is a great way of writing ones that reveal things that I love, and am passionate about. I like that I have to really think about what goes on the list – especially in lists like the one below – because sometimes it is really difficult to pick just a few things. But then, that’s half the fun, isn’t it?
New Beginnings
Some people mourn the end of seasons, events etc, but I don’t see it as an “end” but more as a new beginning. That is why I like to create pages for the new seasons, because it forces me to realize what it is about those seasons that I appreciate so much.
As Brits it’s easy to focus on the downsides of the seasons – it’s too hot/cold/wet etc – so it’s nice to focus on the positives.
Saying that, sometimes it is fun to look back on the things that you have done, to see what you have achieved and what has made that period so awesome:
I – of course – also have a section for general writing, within which I answer questions as well as story ideas so that I at least know where they are.
Whether you have a Smash Book, a Writing Journal or an Art Journal, remember that is should always be fun, and personal to you.
Do you have a journal? Does it help with your creativity?