Creativity is defined as the ability to invent, have original ideas or create new concepts.

Some argue that people are born with an inclination for creativity, and that it’s an innate characteristic. On the other hand, others believe that creativity is something that anyone can develop, because we all have creative potential.

Whatever the right answer is, the truth is no one—whether born creative or having developed their previously untapped potential—can be permanently inspired and have good ideas à la carte. There are actually methods and exercises to promote and stimulate our creative potential.

Creativity isn’t a talent, it’s a skill that we can learn and improve.

However, we don’t have a mental list of ideas to be served on a platter when ordered.

Instead, what we do have is a list of tips to help when you have to perform creative writing or transcreation assignments!

9 tips to develop
your creative potential

1. Writing should be a habit. It’s not “like riding a bike”, it must be practiced, if possible, daily.
2. Keep up to date about everything that’s going on in the world around us. If we’re not well informed, we will have a harder time keeping our writing relevant and pertinent to the general audience.
3. Some of us may even be born creative—but for most of us creativity is like a muscle; anyone can make it grow by exercising it!
4. Research, collect information, and write it down. Today, we have a wealth of research resources at our disposal: make research your work
5. Do a brainstorming session and write down all the ideas, no matter how unwise they seem early on—there are no wrong ideas!
6. Our brain continues to work during rest and even during sleep. Whether you take a walk, tend the garden, go to the gym, or simply have a cup of tea, watch a movie, or take a nap—this break from work will actually enhance your rational thought process. Remember, ideas need space and time to grow.
7. Ideas are born from the subconscious mind. Keep a well-informed subconscious and do it consciously with regular reading and research, and then try to access those ideas by giving your brain the breaks it needs to process and sort them.
8. Promote inner characteristics such as sensitivity, perception, intuition, imagination, and curiosity.
9. Reading is essential to be a good writer. Read, but do it consciously and attentively. There’s no use in a quick reading, skipping details and not reading between the lines.

Creativity comes from quantity, so read a lot! And since you are at it, why not reading another of our articles to feed your creativity?