5 Rebel Tips for finding your creative voice
Finding your creative voice can probably be approached in several ways, but a fun way is to become fascinated by who you are, and what things you can do.
Put on your detective hat and get really curious about who you are, and what you can create. Almost as if you look from the outside, so you don’t get involved in mental drama.
Ask small questions
Asking questions like “I wonder what I can come up with” and “How would I do this if it was me” can spark new answers. The subconscious loves a question, and will eventually bring you an answer.
A question like “I wonder what my creative voice would sound like?” is also a fun question.
How about this one: “How can I make this a little more uniquely me?”
The trick to getting answers to questions like these is to pick one question at a time and then ask over and over, then let go.
Just ask yourself the question gently over and over, and wait for an answer.
It works a little like magic.
2. Turn comparison on its head and be rebellious
Comparison is a massive creative block and with social media, it’s having a field day. Be a rebel and say “Look what I’m doing!”, or if you want to invite your Muse along, you can say “Look what we’re doing!”.
This is a particular favorite of mine that I use when I catch my thoughts going down the comparison highway. It’s a way to pull myself back when I say or think to myself “Yes, that’s great what she’s doing, but just look what WE’RE doing!”
3. Stealing like an artist can get you started
It’s normal, as we begin a creative endeavor, to get inspired by others, even copy them. Austin Kleon writes about this in “Steal Like an Artist”
Finding your creative voice is obviously not about stealing or copying, but about getting started. Even if you borrow from someone else, what you create will always come through your lens.
Thoughts like “it’s all been done before, and better” creep into your headspace, and before you know it, you’re not creating anymore, if you even got started.
Creatives don’t like being told what to do, we like our independence. We actually prefer to have our own creative voice, and not copy anyone else.
This article on themarginalian.org about Oliver Sacks on the Three Essential Elements of Creativity is an interesting read on imitation, and how important a role it plays in forming your own creative voice.
At the same time, we’re often deeply insecure from having been told we’re somehow wrong, too sensitive, and often didn’t fit in as kids. So, getting inspired by someone else’s work can be a way of getting started.
4. You get to practice creativity
You get to practice creativity to find out what’s you. Isn’t that a hoot? Thinking is also part of the creative process, but practicing imperfectly. You don’t have to get it right. Freeing, isn’t it?
When you practice over and over, eventually you drown everyone else’s voice out of your head so you can hear your own voice. Kids have no problem creating, they’re not conditioned yet. They just create.
If you want to write, maybe you can write small blog posts. If you illustrate, paint, sew, design, or create art of any kind, notice what you like and what you’re drawn to. Is it lightness, dark, earthy colors, maybe humor, or creating things that have an edge is your thing?
Have a go at different styles and approaches.
5. If you write, write as you tawlk
If you write, write as you tawlk. Forget everything you learned in school ( if you remember anything, I don’t much). Forget all the rules about what is correct. That kind of writing is sooo boring and stiff. And completely without personality. Your personality.
Write how you speak to your friends. Use the same weird, made-up words. Use swear words if that’s how you talk. Write how you would say something out loud. Record yourself if you have to. That’s actually a super great way to train yourself out of the stiff, correct writing you might have been taught and see everywhere.
If you paint, sculpt, build, or create any other work than words, finding your unique creative voice is a mix of creating loads of sh*t, feeling your feelings, listening to your intuition (ALWAYS listen to your intuition), and asking yourself: is this me?
Your creative voice is creative: it’ll change
Your creative voice is likely to change with your mood, and your experience and adapt to whatever project you’re working on. With time and experience, you get better at calling out your own bs too.
So, dear fellow creative: be patient, create, and then create some more. Do it for the process and for the sheer bliss of the moments when flow descends upon you and everything makes sense. That’s what it’s all about. :-)
The best feeling in the world is when you succeed in making something that’s just right. You know it’s there, ‘cause you can feel it.
We want to hear your voice. Do creative work, only you can make. Express your creativity in ways only you can.
I like taking photos.
The photos in this post, and 90% of my website, are mine. I practice, I play, and I’m not worried about getting it right.
Slowly I am learning what kind of photos I like, and my creative photography voice is slowly emerging. Close-ups, imperfect, everyday images, small moments… those are the photos I like.
It’s fun to play.
