A couple of questions regarding creativity

[Hey Joe]

I've been putting together a little document for our friend Larenxis, and have been in the grips of a creative process. This has got me thinking about a couple of aspects of creativity which could bear good discussion fruit.

My first question is about the time of day in relation to optimum creative juice efficiency. Recent studies have suggested those who work in the night generally are more creative, and thus creative people tend to be late risers. I don't contest that, but what I want to know is if any people on here find their juices flowing early in the morning. Are you writing heart-wrenching sonnets at 7AM? Are you adept at wielding the paintbrush while chowing down on cereal?

My second question is an interesting one. Do you get 'creative shy'?

What this means, is can you do your thing if there are any other people in the room? Do you seize up when people enter the room, and do you usher them out of the room before you get back to work? Are you one of those people who can write erotica in a public library? Personally, I get a bit of that when I'm writing fiction but I can write articles in a newsroom no worries.

DISCUSS

 

[arcainia]

I'm not gonna add any suprising fact to your post. I find myself to be most creative at night, and I seem to be generally more motivated to draw during that time. Also I dont really like it when people constantly look over my shoulder to see what I'm doing. So yeah, I will most likely stop untill they go away. If people are in the room doing whatever it is they need to do, which doesn't involve me, then it doesn't bother me that much and I continue doing my thing.

 

[Lord George]

I find I get hit by creative ideas and thoughts later at night, though I can get inspired in the morning, though I'd say that's more relative to the fact I go for a run through a nice forest which helps with creativity. I don't think I've ever got creative shy, I can write poetry and stories in most places, but I don't take much notice of people at the best of times anyway.

 

[hypothetical fact]

I am most creative during the day because that is when I can walk outside and enjoy nature, not to mention it is the time of day when I can see.
I also can't write with other people around, it feels like they are judging.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Right then.
I find it easiest to come up with new ideas at lunch time. Usually it's a good time to chuck ideas back and forth between colleagues/friends in a relaxed environment. As for actually working, it has to be at night. There's just fewer distractions to deal with and it's very easy to get into 'that place' where the only thing I'm thinking about is the job in hand.
Quite regularly I sit down to work in the evening then find the sunrise disturbing my concentration, it also gives me time to piss around on internet forums in the daytime...

In the mornings I cannot be creative, I have to go out on my bike and work out the angry.


As for creative timidity, it depends greatly on who enters the room. People I'm working with or artistic friends no problem, they seem to have an instinct for when is and isn't a good time to interrupt. They also tend to know what they want to talk about.

On the other hand, clients, non artistic friends, family members, randoms and graphic designers tend to mess things up righteously. Usually they have no idea what they want or what they are doing. Clients in particular do this, they don't want anything, they just want to be nosey and to see if you're working on 'their' project. Thank feck for the internet and eMail.
I also live in fear of the question "Did you do that yourself?"
Usually asked by someone who has no good reason to be in my studio or who I invited in by mistake. It's the stupidest question ever, why would the piles of drawing in an illustrator's studio be by anyone else?
These things don't make me timid as such, just annoyed, I don't want the person to see what I'm doing because I'll have to explain it, I don't want to explain it, I just want them to leave so I can get back to work...

...and Graphic Designers are just nuts.

 

[Xvito]

I'm usually a little shy, but that depends what it's about...

 

[Dechef]

As for the first question,
I'm definitely a late-riser. A very late riser at the moment.
Don't really prefer night or day, as long as it's a good long while after waking up.
As for the second question,
I do get "creative shy", yes.
I find it very annoying when people go into my room when I'm working on something.
Disrupts my concentration.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Oh yeah. I'm creative shy like a mofo. I reckon my family thinks I'm watching porn when I'm writing, because I immediately close the window as soon as anyone comes in.

I find I get hit by creativity as soon as I have no way to let it out, like late at night, or in the middle of a car journey with no materials.
My brain is an asshole. Erm, figuratively.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Ideas are like dog crap. Every once in a while I step in one, usually just walking about, and then find them impossible to shake off.

 

[Sketchy]

I'm generally not creative, apart from I usually know how to improve things (or at least I think I know). I have been known to shows signs of creativity every once in a while.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Creativity cannot be predicted, not measured. It comes when it will, and acts as it must.

That;s my experience. I've written some truly excellent pieces (in my humble opinion) during the beginning, middle and end of the day, when sober, when drunk, when angry, sad, tired or any other emotion. I really hate to say this, but creativity is really just a matter of luck and experimentation. If you can't write sober, have a beer. Still having problems? Play a new song. And never rely on one thing to get you through.


Bah, incoherent. Sorry.

 

[Spacelord]

Actually I find that I do more with my day if I wake up early. And that includes my creative outlets.

As for creative shyness: yes, I have that pretty bad. I don't think most people even know what I'm up to in the garage... Imagine their surprise when I finally come out with a steampunk-inspired 50 FOOT MECHANICAL SPIDER HAHAHAHA

 

[Combined]

My creative time seems to be somewhere between 7AM and 3PM. No later, no earlier. No matter what I do, I can't change this. Oh, well.

As for the question regarding "creative shyness", I can't do anything if anyone is in the room. It bugs me. Bodies, however, do not disturb me.

 

[Guvnorium]

I write parodys for fun. (No one here was interested, the thread sank into annonymity. ) Either way, the one people have said is my best was my first one, which happens to have been written at two in the morning. (Entitled I wish I were a Canadian.) None of my others have come close. Also, when writing I found myself unable to continue if someone interupted me and asked me what I was doing. So I guess I'm creative shy.

 

[Cahlee]

I find I work my best at about 2-4am! I'm so tired usually that all my inhibitions are left at the door, I'm not second guessing myself.

Also, I ONLY do it on my own, I dont like to be judged >.>..... <.<

 

[zen5887]

Not sure about when I'm most creative but I don't think I'm creatively shy.

I have a class at uni where you write music so there will be at least 10 other people in the room. Having said that I've made better stuff when I'm alone

 

[Pointsman]

I can usually get myself into the mood at most times of the day except in the middle of it. As long as the hour feels like it's just mine and no one else's. But those hours at noon are just too connected with all the boring stuff you've done during them for all your life. I might explore the guitar with a friend in the room but I wouldn't write.

 

[Daymo]

Lunch is my most creative time. I'm not feeling drowsy from just waking up and not getting tired from it being late.

As for the second part, I can not work creativly with other people around. I always think my ideas start out stupid so I don't want others seeing them when I first come up with them.