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8.5.2011 | Will Holburn

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In his new book, The Accidental Creative, author Todd Henry describes creative work as a “create on demand” world: “You go to work each day tasked with (1) inventing brilliant solutions that (2) meet specific objectives by (3) defined deadlines. If you do this successfully you get to keep your job. If you don’t, you get to work on your résumé. The moment you exchange your creative efforts for money, you enter a world where you will have to be brilliant at a moment’s notice.”

That’s a lot of pressure. Many creative talents find success in established routines that provide consistent results. Others try new perspectives depending on the task at hand. Just about everyone runs into creative blocks from time to time. Here are a few places I’ve personally found to be effective in eliciting creative insights:

1. Browse at the local bookstore

For me, there is no better place to find ideas and inspiration. Forget looking online. You need to stumble upon new and interesting thoughts you can touch and feel. Perusing books is the greatest research to solving any creative problem. Walk among the books, and see what surprises you. I bring along a notebook, and often take photos of covers, titles and quotes with my cell phone camera.

2. See a movie

Good movies inspire you to think about issues beyond those uncovered in the film itself. The last movie I saw led to a long discussion about remakes, and how they are resold in a different time (the movie featured trailers for Straw Dogs and Footloose; I get the massive marketing potential of the new Footloose, but what possible reason could there be for a new Straw Dogs? Perhaps Hollywood should produce new versions of Jaws and Deliverance while they’re at it). The point is that movies open your mind and imagination on so many levels. And sitting in a theater is the best way to augment the experience.

3. Walk… especially somewhere you’ve never been

There is not much inspiration found in repetition. Getting up and stepping away from the creative problem often works miracles. Besides, life is happening away from your desk. Sometimes you need to be part of it.

4. Listen to people around the workplace

The departments at a lot of agencies are too segregated. I talk to everyone—accounting, creative, reception. Ideas come to light in discussion, and often require a different perspective. The people with whom you work make life interesting. Collaborate with them. The best ideas start with conversation.

5. Watch what’s happening in popular culture, and investigate

As creative talent, our job is to talk to our audiences on an emotional level with an idea based on a human truth that everyone knows. Using material that is out there in popular culture is a great way to make this happen. Writer Carl Hiaasen said, “I wait for the headlines to inspire me.” He professes the oddness of everyday South Florida events provides him with all the material he needs to write his novels. Make the world your medium.

Where do you gather inspiration and look for ideas?