by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: March 05, 2009

Creativity is something which each of us possesses to one extent or another. Yes, there are those who have it in abundance and to whom it comes naturally and there are equally those who have to strive to find it within the deepest recesses of their mind and soul. The good news for the latter group, however, is that there are ways in which we can maximise the likelihood of our finding our creative streak and utilising it to the best of our abilities.

The first tip I would offer for setting about unlocking our creative potential is very simply to be more observant of what is going on around us as we go about the business of conducting our day to day lives. Try to take note of unusual events or occurrences which we witness in this respect or perhaps unusual places or people we encounter. By learning to appreciate same, we are broadening the horizons of our experience and perhaps developing new perceptions.

As we later consider these events or occurrences, try to think of them by applying the maxim, "What if?" What if they had occurred in a slightly different fashion? What if someone had reacted in a slightly different way? What if we had reacted in a slightly different way or perhaps involved ourselves in something going on around us? These processes help to stimulate the mind and get the creative juices flowing.

It is also possible to assist in stimulating our creativity by visiting a place which we find inspiring. This may be a beautiful countryside destination, it may be a historic building, it may even be a busy bar or restaurant where we can observe those around us and imagine what their lives are away from that place and what their normal day to day activities consist of. This latter example is a fantastic way in which to stimulate our creation of interesting characters which we may wish to include in a piece of fiction writing.

It is possible also to unlock our own creativity by looking at examples of same by others. This is perhaps best achieved by reading novels and considering how we would perhaps have caused events to unfold in a different fashion from which the author did. This is an example of us practising creativity and may also serve to give us ideas for our own piece of fiction writing.

I believe therefore that it is entirely possible for anyone to unlock their own creativity by practising all or some of the above techniques and hopefully in so doing find a whole new world of dreams and experiences.

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