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Creativity as a job, do you lose motivation?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! photo credit: torres21 In December, I read with interest Ann Patchett’s article in The Washington Post about her New Year’s resolution. A friend told her if she worked on a novel (or any other creative project) for at least an [...]

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• The Institute for Emerging Issues is sponsoring its 25th annual forum in 2010. February's event will, as their Web site says, "come full circle as we attempt to enhance creative thinking and embrace new ideas -- the very creativity that is needed for true innovation." The forum is billing itself as a place that "will push you to think in new and interesting ways." What a fantastic challenge. The registration opens Dec. 1 for the February 8 and 9 event at the Raleigh Convention Center. #
• Take a yardstick to business creativity? An Innovation Index, a measure for an important driver of an economy's growth has been developed by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts (Nesta) in Britain. The index will consider the impact of new skills training, copyright, organizational changes, new brands and product design, effectively taking stock in "creativity in the economy." According to an article in the Financial Times, "innovation is driving faster productivity growth in the UK than in other large European states." A pilot for 2009, according to the article, the index should be expanding its scope and methods in the upcoming year. That's an index that should interesting to watch for those in business and creative fields. #
• According to a New York Times article by Randy Kennedy, a major survey confirms that many creative types have been hit hard by the recession. While some disciplines fared better than others, the study considered the responses from creative types, such as architects, musicians, painters and writers. Many respondents have inadequate health care, as well as holding down more than one job. The article, worth reading even though it may simply confirm what you know from anecdotal evidence, provides a look at the recession-like lives artists may lead when the country is not in a recession. #
• The competition is on...selling people on Detroit as a creative place. It will be interesting to watch as the city tries to build an image as a creative place for a 18- to 34-year-old demographic. (Unfortunately, I age out of their needs!) Voting begins Monday, Nov. 23, on a number of Time Warner sites and will be advertised in many of their print products. Time Warner's Assignment Detroit as five advertising agencies competing to win and to entice folks to Detroit. #
• As a busy, creative mom, I have a stack of notebooks I grab and carry throughout my day. Sometimes there is a glimmer of an idea, but I don't want to miss writing or sketching it. Far from doing a daily journal, my notebooks sometimes prod me into thinking. Sometimes the notebook glares at me or pinches me, prodding me to be creative. While I might also be able to compile my ideas in my smart phone, if necessary, there is a joy in the writing that gets my creativity going, albeit briefly, before my next action. Besides carrying a notebook around, there is a nice list of "Ten Steps for Boosting Creativity" that I ran across on a corporate site that deals with capturing business innovation. Click around the site to see it's a great starting point and its ideas can help support business innovation and creative thoughts. (Even though I'm more of a Mozart fan for creativity and this list suggests Bach. Which composer do you recommend?) I particularly like the jpb.com idea of exercising my brain, which seems slightly easier than exercising my body. (Less movement involved on most days, except when I need to take the old brain for "walkies.") What's on your list of 10 ways to increase your creativity? (Feel free to share one or all ten...or feel free to suggest a composer you prefer for creative thought.) #