Start With a Scrappy Scribble
Coming up with new ideas is tough. How do you even start the creative process with the hope of producing a great idea? One way is to start getting as many small starts to ideas as you can, with what I'm calling Scrappy Scribbles.
Scrappy is defined as being disorganized, untidy, or incomplete. That's what we want these scribbles to be. Take the expectation away that the idea or sketch is going to be perfect. The goal isn't to make a beautiful complete idea, but just any loose scraps as bad as they might seem—moving forward the smallest step using the lowest amount of effort. Find and capture any little burst of thought or inspiration and turn it into a Scrappy Scribble. Plant the smallest seed of an idea that eventually may bloom into something beautiful and lively once you start to water it.
One way to think of it is as if you're in a game of Pictionary with yourself. An idea pops into your head and you have a small amount of time to abstractly share what your idea is with yourself. Show the smallest amount of details you need in order for the idea to be understood. This helps keep the thoughts flowing, not getting too caught up on one. Focus on the main characteristic or style that makes it unique and keep moving.
Start with a Scrappy Scribble.
Creative work to look at
Deaf people can feel the music in their sole
A quote to think about
“All the creativity books in the world aren’t going to help you if you’re unwilling to have lousy, lame, and even dangerously bad ideas.”
- Seth Godin
A podcast to listen to
Another share from the podcast The Long and the Short of It. In this episode, the idea of first attempts is brought up using the term "First Pancake." The thought is that the first pancake isn't usually that great, but the second or third is usually much better. Get through the first pancake, so you can get to the third perfectly cooked one.
