Random start: The best way to start the creative process
In creative work, the most difficult part is knowing where to start. Many are terrified writing the first line of song, or painting the first stroke on a canvas. The inability to start immediately or even decide on a topic causes so much frustration. My 7-year-old granddaughter used to come to my study room complaining “I don’t know what to paint!I don't have an inspiration.” After a few minutes, she would give up. So, I created for her an “Inspiration Generator” box. She only needed to blind-pick a card that would tell her what to paint. As of now, she has finished lots of impressive creations! I would liken it to skydiving for the first time. If you stand on the plane’s door for too long, your mind would go back and forth between going ahead and chickening out. But if the instructor kicked you out of the plane as soon as you stood in the doorway, you’d be enjoying the exhilaration right away. Just skip the overthinking. Roger Von Oech is the author of A Whack on the Side of the