Developing Your Creativity

Creative blocks are an intrinsic part of the creative process and though they can be frustrating there is a solution. All Magicians striving to create a new routine or magic effect have come to a point where the ideas fall short of manifestation. In this month’s article I will cover a four step process that has been proven to assist the creative flow to do just that, continue to flow.

I have been through the corkiest creative sessions with Jeff Stone. Imagine two grown men in the latter stages of sleep deprivation rambling passages that would only be comprehensible to a three year child; and throwing cards at each other attempting to catch those cards in our decks like some degenerate ninja warriors. Good times, good times.

Besides the paper cuts we endured and me thinking that it is a fortunate thing that Jeff never touched alcohol in his life; most of our best work was created during those sessions. Though I will be covering some time-tested techniques to assist you in the creative process, it is important to understand that a creative flow cannot be approached in a structured way. What would be the purpose of creativity if there were too many rules, right? These techniques are more guidelines than rules. So with that in mind let the guidelines begin.

The first step in the creative process is the question(s). The greatest events throughout history started with a great question. Many times when I am working on a new effect I use reverse engineering. I usually start by thinking of an effect I would like to see and construct the effect from the end to the beginning.

Take a moment and think about what you would want to see in a magic effect. This is when you want to go outside boundaries of conventional thinking, think of effects that would stand out, that would make a lifelong impression. Jeff and I spend hours messing with strange knick-knacks and objects we pick up from various places. Sometimes the objects spawn an idea; sometimes an idea will spawn the need for an object. The point is to keep in mind that your mind must be “flowing.” Don’t question or criticize any idea that comes to mind; just flow with it.

The second step in the process is preparation. After you come up with your ideas you need to provide a solution that will bring those ideas to life. Preparation is the process of gathering, storing, learning, and exploring different knowledge sets. Knowledge sets are chunks of information that relate to your current idea, problem, or circumstance. However, please note that a seemingly unrelated knowledge set can provide you with the solution that you were looking for.

It is important that you explore knowledge sets outside the conventional information provided in magic. Remember the most unconventional magic was created through an unconventional thought processes. Fill your head with ideas, concepts, and information from books, conventions, attending lectures, and/or developing your own creative think tank. Stone Cold Magic is based on the concept that a work environment must be conducive to a creative thought process.

Some of my greatest ideas came from those creative sessions with Jeff Stone. Creative people gathered in one place can either be the most unproductive state of chaos ever witnessed or an idea factory. Either way the preparation process is in full play.

The third step in the creative process is incubation. Incubation is when your subconscious mind processes the information gathered, store, and conceptualized during the preparation stage. It is important during this stage that you are relaxed. Relaxation is the cornerstone to optimal brain functioning.

All psychologists agree that deep relaxation aids the cognitive process. Incubation stage is when you want to do some unrelated, relaxing, and enjoyable task. Remember the more enjoyable and unrelated the task; the more information will incubate effectively. Relax and enjoy yourself, keep in mind that you have already done all the ground work. Now it is time for you to trust your subconscious processes.

The forth step to this process is illumination. Many of you out there have probably been faced with a problem that consumed you. And the moment you let the problem go, the answer came like a bolt of lightning. That bolt of lightning is illumination. Ideas have often been symbolized as a light bulb, and there is reason for that.

Many people have described an idea hitting them like a light, lightning, and energy. Psychologically we are processing information subconsciously 24 hours a day and many people do not realize that they can consciously direct these subconscious processes. The directive here is the preparation and incubation stages of the creative process. Keep a notepad on you at all times, including near your nightstand because you never know when an idea will strike.

The final and the founding step to the creative process: Verification. Many people question what separates those people who continuously manifest positive outcomes in their life vs. those who continue to struggle through life. The answer is simple: Action. I have had the opportunity to befriend amazing individuals; individuals who faced hardship and struggle throughout their youth to only re-frame those circumstances into powerful motivators.

I once heard the “Luck is nothing more than when opportunity meets preparation.” To further that statement Lincoln stated it best by saying “When the time for action has come, the time for preparation has past.” Verification is truly taking that idea and acting on it. There have been countless times when I was struck by an idea and failed to take action, only find that someone else independently came up with either the same or similar idea and acted upon it.

What was the difference between me and this other person? I failed to act. Verifying an idea is applying it in a routine or demonstrating it in front a live (objective) audience. Please be cautious about making assumptions about your idea. The true test of the idea is applying it directly and reviewing the results. Remember some of the most brilliant ideas needed work then they were first hatched. Have fun with these techniques, and be sure to apply them directly to your magic creating repertoire.

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