Want to rescue yourself from a creativity recession? Try lobbying social media for a bailout. Seriously? Yes.
I’m lucky enough to be in regular contact with creative types who ask me questions and bounce wild ideas off me. They help me stay fresh and push me to approach my work in new ways. Sometimes they say things that are downright crazy and start conversations that last for days.
But creative energy doesn’t always flow so well.
There are times when creative energy wanes and I find myself in a slump. It may be a result of exhaustion, inactivity, or a social interaction gone awry. I may be struggling because I budgeted my time badly and I’m left with little time to mull things over. No matter the cause, the project deadline staring me in the face doesn’t change its expression. It’s time to act.
I need a creativity bailout.
Just like a big business working to secure federal funds, I use lobbyists to make quick work of things. But my lobbyists don’t wine and dine politicians to secure my creativity bailout. They help me quickly leverage the power of social media.
Note: As with any sort of lobbying, you’ll find that value is derived in direct relation to the amount of thought and effort invested. Take the time to get to know my lobbyists and how to use them. They’ll render consistent and continuous value for as long as you need them!
The Big Three: my Social Media lobbyists:
StumbleUpon -
This site uses a ranking system to sort interesting content from all over the web. “Stumble” through random sites your friends liked or pick a topic you’re struggling with from the drop-down menu and click away! I’m usually less than 20 “stumbles” from enough inspiration to get me back on track.
Twitter -
Given the wildly helpful nature and creative smarts of many users on Twitter, I often go there for inspiration. Just tweet a question or search for the topic you’re stuck on to find a quick inspiration bailout. You’ll often run into people who take things to another level by reminding you to drink enough water, believe in yourself, and take joy in life.
Compfight -
This site searches Flickr for images based on licensing, origins, text, and tags. I prefer Compfight to Flickr search because it fits as many thumbnails as possible into a single page where I can quickly scan them. Can’t think of something to write or where to start with your next design? Search for pictures tagged with words related to your struggle. Compfight has proven itself very helpful by quickly finding pictures that inspired me to continue a creative project.
There are many ways to lobby Social Media for creativity bailouts. My “Big Three” are simply the ones that work best for me.
Where do you turn when you’re in a slump and need a creativity bailout?
If you can think of a caption for the “boy and goat” picture in this post, please leave it in a comment and I’ll update with the five best captions (include a link to your site/twitter so I can give you credit!)
Update from the comments:
- 5 Captions for the child & goat picture -
- “Mom said you would tell me about the troll? I don’t think you ate him, I don’t see how he would fit.” -M.E. Bates
- “Lissen kid, you don’t make fun of my beard, I don’t make fun of your scoliosis.” - @Raaawb
- “Livestock dentistry requires knowledge gleaned over many years study and observation.” - D. Mann
- “Ok, I got your goat. Now, what am I going to do with it?” - @Domhain
- “Can you hear me? Wow, my little brother is stuck in there good!” - @SweetDreamer
photo: Qso
I liked your initial theme of going to other people for inspiration.
I’ll find inspiration in a cup of tea with an old friend (or a new, coffee-shop friend, for that matter). I try to keep track of when my creative blocks come, and what gets me unstuck. I’m intrigued by behavioral triggers – we all have them. Knowing yours can provide some interesting insights.
My caption: “Livestock dentistry requires knowledge gleaned over many years study and observation.”
dm
Hey David!
I hope to have tea in a coffee shop with you sometime soon. I think some good conversations would ensue.
I’m very similar in that I pay close attention to “creative blocks” and try my hardest to preempt new ones based on what I learned from previous blocks. It’s hard to get bored when one always has something about himself that can use improvement.
re caption: Do they even have such a thing as livestock dentists? That’s awesome. Immediate memories of reading about George Washington supposedly having animal teeth.
Thanks!
Ha – I have no idea if there’s such a thing as a livestock dentist. I suspect someone here will let us know. Just figured the photo screamed it. Love the GW reference – I thought he had wooden teeth, tho…probably ‘cuz there were no livestock dentists around!
Tea, my treat, anytime.
Ok, I got your goat. Now, what am I going to do with it?
Ahah! That’s one to beat!
“Can you hear me? Wow, my little brother is stuck in there good!”
You know, from this angle it does look a little like Willie Nelson!
Oh – it’s @MarleyParkMark
What have you goat in your ass? I mean in your nose, little boogie? Ha, just wanted to post something for giggles and wiggly shits.
That sounds a bit like something a feisty little kid would say!
“Grandma, your facial hair problem is way out of control!”
Nice article btw
Thanks Rob. I’ve a feeling this kid wasn’t at the cognitive level to understand family trees, goats, and how they are or aren’t related. =)
Lissen kid, you don’t make fun of my beard, I don’t make fun of your scoliosis.
You win 1 internet!
Definitely agree that bouncing ideas off other people produces better results than trying to do it all alone. Thanks for the site descriptions too.
Caption: “Mom said you would tell me about the troll? I don’t think you ate him, I don’t see how he would fit.”
Of course! Just stuff I find useful.
re: caption; do people even read fairy tales to their kids anymore? I get the feeling that most of today’s kids are well-versed on SpongeBob and would stare at you blankly if you asked them about a troll living under a bridge.
Nice post that made me smile.
Murray
“Does your mommy call you ‘kid’ too?”
I’ve never heard of Compfight, but I love the bailout analogy. Couldn’t agree more – creativity is indeed borrowed.
Apparently a lot of people haven’t heard of it. I’ve found that it seriously makes Flickr a useful site for those looking to pick up some pics for a specific purpose.
Fortunately, we never have to pay interest on it! =)
There is nothing new under the sun. Everything that is old is new again. Creativity is a big’o recycle bin. The concept of bouncing ideas back-n-forth is great, wish we practiced it more in corporate in-house design houses. I like listening to older people talk now, like my dad’s friends, it’s great inspiration. Thanks for the resources, I’ll go see what I can StumbleUpon.
Caption: “That blue plastic thing in your hand looks yummy kid, what you want me to do now, roll-over?”
Hey Alex,
Yes! I’m always saddened to see young “media types” write off thousands of possible mentors by saying “traditional media is dead” and concentrating on social media only. There is SO much to be learned by picking the brains of the more-experienced, the more-talented, and the more-crazy! =)
Good luck with SU. It can be interesting…if a bit of a time-eater.
Goat photo caption:
“Just lookin’ for my Gummy Bear. Hey, how’d it get in your nose?”
MC Link Love
Thanks for the inspiration – personally, I like to take random conversations and make stuff up about them. JK. I like your blog BTW
Thanks, Angella!
The blog is still in its baby stage (from a design point) but it doesn’t distract much, which I like. I’m glad you approve!
I agree, there are occasions when we do get stumped. The creative energy just suddenly isn’t flowing. When it happens to me, I do get a lot of inspiration by chatting up my colleagues and my friends, with lots of coffee in between us. Not only is it fun, but the collective experiences does a lot of magic. On occasions when i do not feel like being social, my best friend is the web. I might not even look up anything, just play games, update my SNS. Sometimes the break from all the thinking can be quiet helpful too. Thanks Seth.
The exercise on caption generating is quiet refreshing.
Caption: “Billy the kid”
… but who is Billy here?
Hi Misty!
Lots of coffee! I typically go more for tea (David Mann is treating!) but it’s the conversations that really make things happen.
I’m sure you’ve noticed…I tend to use Twitter for random conversations quite a bit. =)
Photo made me laugh so much. I’m glad to share it!
Caption: I have 12 teeth, how many do you have in there?
Caption: “It’s all perspective, isn’t it?”
“You can’t kid an old kid, Billy!?”
“Is that really YOU, Billy?!”
“Just a couple’a’ kids!?”
“Hi, Billy! Hey, kid!”
“My daddy told me that kids can’t grow beards ….WOW!?”
Thanks Seth, enjoyed. My offices recently relocated. We got rid of the walls and doors, so we now sit together in a creative, collaborative space. While at times it gets noisy – that is OK, because I believe we’ve never been more inspired than we have the past few months. The creative energy is there.
love the picture – “so that’s why my toys keep disappearing.”
I’m so glad it’s actually working out for you! I don’t think just any company will do as well though because you need a group of adults who know when to talk and when to really focus on something.
Isn’t it great to be able to finish something and have a real, live human you trust right there to give you feedback? I can’t seem to get enough of it. =)
I know I’m “supposed” to use photos that relate to the content, but this one made me laugh. I’m glad you liked it!
“For some reason I thought you’d be cooler from this angle”
Ya ya I ‘m an old goat but I’m still not giving you back that square thing you call juice box. No cardboard has ever tasted that good. Like a gusher I stole one time! IT IS GONE ALREADY…SEE NOT THERE. IF YOU STICK AROUND A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, I’ll SHOW IT TO YOU IN A DIFFERENT FORM FROM THE OTHER END! You’ll love it. Hey ya, from one kid to another, you getta ina my facea and I head butta you ina you crazy looking a facea.
I will install video comments if you promise to come back and say that in a video. I think it might really take off on youtube. =)
I never need a creativity bailout.
You have kids, you’d better not need one! =)
Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time for all my ideas yet. I know that someday I’ll have to deal with this problem since it isn’t that I have tons of ideas, but rather lack of time 8=) Once I get the time issue carved out the idea well will need some priming.
Thanks for the idea about Compfight. I’ll need to check that out since I find that the hardest part about blog posts is finding a suitable image. I sometimes delay posting an article because I don’t have the time to hunt for an image that fits and isn’t restricted. Lately I’ve decided to post without and add pictures in later if I can find some.
As for the goat picture:
“But mom, that saying is about horses, not goats!”
I can’t stand the idea of posting without a photo. I suppose I’m convinced that my words won’t stand up well on their own.
Sometimes I find photos like the one above and I can’t stop laughing at it so I include it…even though it really didn’t have anything to do with the post.
Need to keep the fun flowing!
You’ll need to refresh me on the saying you refer to in the caption. =(
I shall now head over to spam your blog with a comment. =)
Hey Seth – was reading through my feeds this morning and pleasantly surprised that you linked to me.
Strangely enough, I actually consider myself a non-creative type of person…I didn’t grow up laboring over my journals or feeling the need to write and that goat above probably has more artistic talent than I do.
When it does hit my creativity seems to come in bursts and I can easily go for months without any quality ideas. So thanks for this much needed bailout!
Goat caption: “Hey Ma, when did you grow a beard?”
I was never a doodler either. I walked into my first college writing class and saw a room filled with people who had filled hundreds of notebooks with words and doodled around the margins.
I didn't belong.
However, I can write on occasion and I've found a few things to get me started when I'm out of thoughts.
Compfight can be a lot of fun for random ideas. Just throw in some keywords and see what happens.
Best!
I was never a doodler either. I walked into my first college writing class and saw a room filled with people who had filled hundreds of notebooks with words and doodled around the margins.
I didn't belong.
However, I can write on occasion and I've found a few things to get me started when I'm out of thoughts.
Compfight can be a lot of fun for random ideas. Just throw in some keywords and see what happens.
Best!
I was never a doodler either. I walked into my first college writing class and saw a room filled with people who had filled hundreds of notebooks with words and doodled around the margins.
I didn't belong.
However, I can write on occasion and I've found a few things to get me started when I'm out of thoughts.
Compfight can be a lot of fun for random ideas. Just throw in some keywords and see what happens.
Best!
I was never a doodler either. I walked into my first college writing class and saw a room filled with people who had filled hundreds of notebooks with words and doodled around the margins.
I didn't belong.
However, I can write on occasion and I've found a few things to get me started when I'm out of thoughts.
Compfight can be a lot of fun for random ideas. Just throw in some keywords and see what happens.
Best!
Wild ideas eh? I'm hoping that's wild ideas as in “fantastic wild ideas with insightful and genius sprinkled on top like choc chip” and not the “slightly lunatic and semi moronic wild ideas no ones gives a toss about” version
!
When Im in a slump I usually resort to Beer personally and a healthy dose of it followed by some nice whiskey. I know I know, that sounds a bit mental but to hell with, I'm Irish I'm allowed to wallow in a semi coherent state, I find that it takes my mind of the daily grind and lets me get creative.
Website wise I like http://ffffound.com/, and then I just stumble for mad stuff to see whats out there.
Caption:
Boy: “Your a goat aren't you?”
Goat: “Woof”