I have a large distaste for the term, “quality over quantity” when someone refers to developing creativity. Then again, I also don’t care for the phrase when someone’s making disparaging comments against bulk clubs. Avoiding the linguistics of the phrase (and the social implications beyond this particular example) for the moment, let’s take a look at why developing a subjective skill is a full-time pursuit.
I read a blog post quite a while back (I think it was from Copyblogger – if anyone wants to correct me or send a link to the post, that would be awesome) titled something to the effect of, “Make Your Muse Your Bitch.” In it, the author went on to promote the idea that inspiration and creativity are controllable subjects, and rather than waiting for either to occur, one must be proactive and actively force creativity, be it through art, writing, acting or whatever creative area in which one wants to excel.
“Oh, horsefeathers!” I said. ”You have to wait for inspiration to strike!” But still, I tried it. Day in and day out, I wrote more and more until the ideas were pouring out of my head almost faster than I could write them down. And I noticed that I was returning to old subjects more, making complete thoughts and arguments better than I had in the past. What had I been afraid of?
As much as we’ve been lead to believe otherwise, creativity can be learned. Developing tangential thoughts, isolating core purposes, coming up with a new take on an old topic and having an original thought are not exclusive to any sort of “creative elite.” And yet many people are afraid to blog, make music, engage in intellectual discourse or do any sort of activity deemed as being even slightly creative because they feel that they lack this trait.
I hate to break it to you, but it’s all subjective anyhow.
Unlike, say, being an expert, there are no set criteria for what makes someone “creative.” Much in the same way as art (an output of creativity, another highly subjective field) cannot be objectively assessed, whether something is or isn’t creative is in the mind of the assessor. So if you feel that you have to work on your creativity, do it! Write daily blog posts, take lots of pictures, draw all the time or do whatever you have to do to constantly improve and refine your craft.
Creativity isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something that you make happen.
