There is a secret every professional artist knows that the amateurs don’t: being original is overrated. The most creative minds in the world are not especially creative; they’re just better at rearrangement. In order to do that, they have to be familiar with their influences. They have to study before they steal. Yes, before you become an artist, y

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“The creative process is not about one state,” science historian Steve Johnson explains. “It’s the ability to move between different mental states.”32 Recall from earlier that cycling between moments of solitude and moments of collaboration creates the optimal environment for creativity. It’s a similar idea here. You should cycle between a fly mind

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So what can we learn from Woody Allen? Wake up early. Avoid distractions. Work three to five hours a day and then enjoy the rest of the day. Be as perfectionist as you can, knowing that imperfection will still rule. Have the confidence to be magical and stretch the boundaries of your medium. Combine the tools of the medium itself with the message y

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What most people forget, however, is that Newton worked on his ideas about gravity for nearly twenty years until, in 1687, he published his groundbreaking book, The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Newton isn't the only one to wrestle with a great idea for years. Creative thinking is a process for all of us. In this article... See more