I’ve found writing a book is an incredible journey that requires a balance between structure and creative genius. It can be challenging to sit down and write an entire book, and this process can stimulate your creativity and help you develop your ideas.
How often have you thought to yourself, “I’m not a creative genius?” Have you marveled at the creativity of young children playing, wondering where on earth they come up with these crazy ideas?
Creativity doesn’t disappear completely as we get older; we simply don’t exercise it quite as much as we did as youngsters. Traditional classroom schooling also doesn’t place a priority on creativity because teachers are so focused on teaching the curriculum and scoring tests. If you want to spur your creative juices once again, write a book.
Of course, before you start writing, prepare an outline and know what topic you’ll write about. If you’re an expert in a particular field, it makes sense to write about your expertise so your business will grow. But even if you want to test the waters with a fictional novel, approach writing a book with a plan.
Here are just a few ways you can unlock your hidden creative genius by writing a book:
Use the brain dump method to empty your mind of too many ideas.
Experts have proven that multitasking diminishes productivity, so instead of trying to write your book while all these other ideas are swimming around, take a journal and just start writing everything down. And I mean EVERYTHING, including calling the dog groomer for an appointment to calling the pharmacy for a refill. Whatever is taking up space in your brain should be on that paper.
Now that you’ve released these thoughts onto paper, focus solely on writing your book. You’ll discover the writing process is easier when you’re able to focus on just one task instead of one hundred.
Embrace the idea of learning something new every day.
The best books are those that are well researched, so embrace that research phase to spur your creativity. Discover new facts, new resources, or new theories. Carry this idea over into your personal life and mix up your daily routines to try new things. Explore your surroundings, take the long way home from the gym, or explore a new town you randomly choose from a map. Your brain will thank you for making it work differently, simply because you mixed things up.
Writing itself is a creative genius problem-solving process.
When was the last time you made a pros/cons list to help you make a decision? Or a to-do list to track your daily tasks? Or mind mapping to illustrate the growth of your business? These are simple examples of how writing is used to solve problems. Writing out the details of our problem allows us to clarify exactly what has to happen when and it’s then easier to see connections and solutions to these problems.
One of the most fascinating aspects of writing a book is the challenge of writing a story that captures readers’ attention from the very first sentence. This requires your imagination to run wild and come up with captivating ways to introduce your main character or hook your reader into the story.
As you work through your book, your creative genius will continue to be stimulated by the challenge of writing dialogue that feels natural and real. Writing dialogue requires you to think deeply about your story and the characters, so that you can create conversations that are engaging and captivating for readers.
Practice makes perfect.
Even if you’re not aiming for perfection, this old adage holds true. The more you write, the easier the process becomes. Writing content for your audience will become easier because you have the practice and you’ve done the research to know what your audience is seeking.
Writing a book is also a great exercise for keeping your mind active and healthy. The process of writing forces you to be engaged with your thoughts and ideas, which can help keep your mind focused and sharp.
Pop the creative genius cork to release other ideas.
So often we get stuck with one idea and it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. Release that one big idea into a book…then pay attention to other creative ideas that surface afterward. There’s a subconscious reason why you can’t move past your book idea and focus on other things; it’s your brain’s way of telling you to follow through and see where it takes you. When your book is complete and you have some time to relax is often when you’ll get your next inspiration.
Throughout the process of writing a book, your imagination is constantly challenged. You will need to develop new ideas that will carry your story forward. This process allows you to tap into your inner thoughts and come up with unique concepts that are truly your own.
As you write, your creative genius is stimulated by the act of putting words down on paper and seeing them come to life. You will be able to experiment with language and try out new ways of expressing yourself. Writing a book forces you to be creative to make your book compelling and interesting.
Creativity is hidden inside each of us. The process of accessing that creativity and using it to create a business you love will be unique for every person but promises to yield great rewards.
Ultimately, writing a book stimulates creativity because it is a constant challenge to develop new ideas and bring them to life. It requires you to think deeply about the story you want to tell, and to express yourself in a way that is both interesting and compelling. So if you are looking for a way to spark your creativity and challenge your imagination, there is no better way than to start writing a book.
Pat Iyer’s writing career began in 1980 with the publication of her first article and in 1986 with the release of her first coauthored book.
