Creative tools you really need – and about your wants

TweetSometimes I get mad when people think they need a certain kind of computer, notebook, coffee or location to do creative work.  I think that’s utter crap.

Let’s look at some popular misconceptions about creativity.  We’ll look at what you need to be creative. The cool part is that you don’t have to spend much money to be creative.

There’s no downside, either.

Creativity doesn’t require an Apple computer

I rarely use Apple computers.  The iMac, MacBook or iPad don’t appeal to me more than any other computers. I know lots of people love Apple computers. They are very popular with the creative, celebrity and social media crowds. They work as well as any computer.  Sometimes they may be the superior tool.

But…

I’m creative. I don’t use Apple computers. I’m not the only one.

You don’t need an iAnything to be creative. You don’t even need a computer or the Internet. As Hugh MacLeod might say, these are creative pillars for you to hide behind and depend on instead of being creative.

Many Apple users are extremely creative and do awesome stuff.  But if you’re waiting for a fancy MacBook to be your creative catalyst, you’ll be disappointed.  It’s just a tool.

Apple computers might be overkill.  Especially when you’re just typing.

Creativity doesn’t require a fancy notebook and pen

I bought a little Moleskine notebook.  It was a cool talisman.

I remember telling someone about my cool Moleskine notebook and that they needed to try one.   After all, it made me feel more creative.

They replied that they used Dollar Store (i.e. cheap) notebooks for their work. I shrugged and moved on.

Then I spilled a glass of water on my half-used Moleskine.  Horrors!

I found another notebook to use, but I was saddened by the loss of the Moleskine.

Weeks later, I found a bunch of cool little imitation Moleskine notebooks that were almost exactly identical except:

• the paper is smoother
• there’s no expandable pocket
• there’s no little “history of Moleskine” artifact that comes in each notebook.

Oh, and Moleskines cost a lost more than the imitation notebooks.  I bought a bunch of the imitations. The cost for 6 of these notebooks? Just a little more than ONE SINGLE MOLESKINE.

They work just as well as the Moleskines.

Where did I find them?  A Dollar Store.

You don’t need a Moleskine notebook to be creative. You need something that’s flexible, portable and available to capture ideas.

Creativity doesn’t require a specific drink, location or dress code

You don’t need a Starbucks drink (I’d write coffee here except that’s an over- simplification)  or to be sitting in a trendy Internet café to be creative. You need sustenance and you benefit from good habits. But you can get those things almost anywhere.

You can write and be creative in many places, like:

• a diner
• a library
• in any waiting room
• while watching our kids play sports
• etc.

I’d say that you don’t need caffeine to be creative, either.  But you wouldn’t believe me and this point isn’t worth arguing.

You don’t need to dress in black to be creative. That’s a social thing, not a creative thing. You need to feel comfortable but you need to decide what that means.  Even if it means wearing a clown suit, makeup, a wig and a red rubber nose.

Creativity doesn’t demand talent, especially not at the start

You don’t even need to be good, especially not at first.  You do  need to spend your time thinking, studying, practicing, and learning.

You don’t need someone to dictate the rules ( stop reading this article right now if you like), the methods and all of the exterior trappings. You need examples, role models and the occasional helping hand.  You can discover the rules while practicing and failing.

You don’t need formal education, a pedigree or a form giving you permission to be creative. You need the will, desire and courage to try.  And continue.

Creativity does need YOU

Above all, you need to remember that WE believe in you, even when you don’t. Because we were you. We still are.  Trying is all important.

Your creative mission

Identify one specific creative illusion or deception that has tricked you (there are plenty of ideas in this post, for starters). Break the mirror. Shift your routine. Use a simpler tool. Try this change for a week.

At the end of the week, reflect. Did dispelling the illusion hurt your work? Was there no significant change? Or… did it improve your creative work?

For bonus points, write a post about this exercise and link back here. We’ll do a link post where we highlight what you had to say.

Image by tkerpe

Related posts:

1. R.I.P. Steve Jobs, Creativity Enabler
2. Short video on ways to stay creative