Putting it all together

THE PRINCIPLE

Having a plan for the entire creative process improves your chance of success

It’s time for you to go into action with your creative project or product. You’ve read all the techniques but sometimes it’s still difficult to figure out how to put it all together. In this section I present a roadmap you can apply to any project.

I suggest that you get a new notebook or open a new document on your computer to record your answers and your ideas as you go through the process.

How long each step takes depends on how well formed the idea is already, how big a project it is, how much or little you will need the input and support of others, and so on. It’s best not to rush it but also not to get hung up on any one step. If there are gaps that you know you’ll be able to fill in later, move on and keep the momentum going.

I’ve illustrated each step with examples from one of my goals – creating an outstanding website to accompany this book. When you go to the site (www.CreativityNowOnline.com) you’ll be able to judge for yourself whether or not I’ve achieved what I set out to do.

STEP ONE: Describe the dream

Start with a general description of what you want to create. No need to get specific at this point, and don’t worry yet about limitations. Aim high! You can always scale back later if you need to, but start with a dream that fires your imagination.

My dream is to create a website that gives visitors the inspiration and tools to bring their creative projects into the world. I’d also like it to reflect my own creativity.

Now describe your dream for your project. If you’re not sure yet of what it is, go back to Part 1 and use the methods you think would help you the most.

STEP TWO: Describe what elements would make the project as good as you hope it will be

Brainstorm what your project will require in order to fulfil its potential. Let’s say you want to write a book that will enchant and delight both children and adults. That might require creating a gripping story that keeps readers eager to find out what happens next, and a protagonist with whom children can identify but whom adults find interesting as well.

You may already have some elements of your project in mind, but I’m asking you to step into the shoes of your target audience and use their desires and needs as a starting point.

In my example, for the inspirational aspect of the website I believe visitors will want some role models – people who have overcome obstacles to create something wonderful, whether large or small. They would also appreciate some encouragement during the difficult stages. And they might be happy if the site could somehow help them get recognition for their creative achievements.

Make a list of what your target audience probably wants from the kind of project you are creating. If you’re not sure, find some targets and ask them. You can also use many of the tools in the ‘Originating’ part to help you.

STEP THREE: Get specific about the features of your project.

Having described in general terms what you hope to give your target audience, now it’s time to get specific. Generate as many ideas as possible for how you could provide those features. You can use the brainstorming methods in the ‘Originating’ part to help you. Write down even the crazy ideas, save the judging for the next step.

Going back to the example of the novel, you might brainstorm the kinds of protagonists, whether animal, human or alien, that might enchant readers. You might also generate fascinating settings, such as Atlantis, strange other worlds in another universe, or just an ordinary household but seen in new ways. To involve the readers more it could be an ebook or a regular book related to an online game.

Some of my ideas for the website are: video interviews with highly creative people all over the world, revealing their process and advice; guided visualisations to put visitors in touch with their own strength and determination; a hotline they can call if they’re discouraged, answered by the Dalai Lama, who will gently encourage them (I told you we’re not censoring ourselves at this stage!); a part of the site where visitors can ask questions, share ideas and celebrate their achievements.

Generate as many ideas for your project as possible. I recommend doing this in short sessions spread out over several days or even several weeks. You may also want to get colleagues and friends involved – the more ideas the better.

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STEP FOUR: Narrow down the options

In this phase we start to get more realistic and jettison the ideas that aren’t going to work.

First to go in the winnowing should be any ideas that you now see wouldn’t actually be relevant or useful.

Next consider which ideas seem impossible, but don’t dismiss them until you have brainstormed whether you can come up with possible versions. For instance, while I concede that the Dalai Lama isn’t going to be staffing my hotline, it gave me the idea of having a series of short recordings from his speeches or interviews that would be triggered when a site visitor clicks on the panic button.

If you’re tempted to dismiss some things because they would be too expensive, think about whether there might be a way to do something similar more cheaply. I may not be able to travel the world doing interviews (especially as in my dream I was going first class all the way) but I should be able to record them via video phone calls.

As with the previous step, give yourself plenty of time. When you’re done you’ll have a solid list of ideas, but they probably won’t have much shape yet.

STEP FIVE: Build your framework and your plan

Now it’s time to see how you can put together your ideas to construct the foundation or skeleton of your project. Begin by considering which ideas might be combined or connected. This is where some of the methods in this ‘Applying’ part, such as making a mind map of the various parts of the project, will help.

In the case of my website, I can see that the ideas I generated fall into several categories: inspirational, educational and experiential (chances for visitors to share their creativity at the site). I also know I want the site to look creative so I want to go beyond the usual Wordpress template format.

Construct a plan of action with a rough timeline. You can use the action map format you saw earlier or a flow chart or any method you find useful. I do recommend having a printout handy rather than keeping everything only on your computer. Allow from 25 per cent to 50 per cent more time than you think it will take. Research has shown that most people underestimate by that margin and my own experience unfortunately confirms it.

I am allocating one month for the new website design, two months to generate the core content and one month for my web designer to implement the design and add the content. Even allowing slippage of 25 per cent, the site will be ready quite a while before the book is released, which is important. If we can get the publisher’s sales reps to look at an impressive working site then that might increase their enthusiasm for the book when they talk to book shop managers.

If it’s a complex project you can create an action map for each of its smaller chunks. For instance, if you plan to self-publish a book you can break the process down into writing, self-publishing and marketing. Each of these would have their own plans with many smaller steps.

You may not yet be sure how to accomplish some of the tasks. For those, repeat the steps you’ve already followed for the project as a whole. If you need to raise money to fund your self-publishing venture, for instance, you could start with the dream amount, then consider the more practical version, and brainstorm ways to get it (perhaps asking friends and family for an investment, crowdfunding or selling some of your things on eBay). Then you’d pick the best option and plan how and when to do it.

STEP SIX: Do it!

This is the implementation step. Too many creative people start the process here instead of taking the time to think and plan. Often their efforts are unfocused and chaotic. That makes implementation more difficult, they get discouraged and they abandon what could have been good projects.

Most creative people don’t know about the implementation strategies and tools you’ve encountered in this ‘Applying’ part. Any time you are unsure of how to do something or find unexpected obstacles blocking your progress, check this part and you’ll find a way forward.

It’s useful to be aware that somewhere around the middle of implementing a project most people experience what Seth Godin calls ‘the dip’. That is, a point at which you’ve devoted a lot of time and energy to your project but you’re still a long way from the end and you feel depleted. This is when you may be tempted to give up. Usually that would be a mistake. If possible, take a short break and get back to work.

If your inner critic gets too loud, return to the ‘Dreaming’ part and review how to convert the critic to a constructive inner guide. It may be necessary to repeat that process several times as you implement your project.

For a large project don’t forget to celebrate the milestones as well as the final result; that will also help take you through to completion.

STEP SEVEN: Evaluate and improve

You’re done!

Actually….you’re never done.

When you’ve sent your brainchild into the world you’ll get feedback, both positive and negative. Hearing the latter can be painful but also useful. Eliminate any criticism that isn’t constructive and use the rest either to improve the current project or apply the lessons to your next one.

When you’ve done all these, congratulate yourself. In the meantime, of course, you will have had several, or maybe several dozen, new ideas, so soon it’ll be time to start the process all over again. That’s why I end this section with one reminder to apply to all the steps: enjoy the journey.

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