Writing tip 26 - Embrace constraints and set limits

Embrace Constraints

If you are not in the habit of seeking out TED Talks, I'd recommend that you do so.

In a talk called "Embrace the Shake" Artist, Phil Hansen, talks about how an unexpected limitation, and what he calls 'thinking inside the box', ultimately freed up his creativity.

 

Sometimes having unlimited choices is not the best for creativity. Imposing constraints on the project might encourage the artist into experimental or problem-solving mode, so that s/he is forced to create within that self-imposed set of rules. The rules provide walls to push against. No form, no freedom.

It's worth considering. If nothing else listen to the talk by clicking on the "Embrace the Shake" link here, or above. Hansen has made some fascinating art by embracing his limitation.

Set limits

Slightly different, but there are a couple of things I want to mention here.

The first I learned when I was researching and writing up my PhD thesis. That is to set limits around the size and scope of the project. You probably have enough ideas for several books. If you stick to one idea at a time, it will help you to keep control of your project.

Another way of setting limits is to try imposing time limits on daily writing. Set yourself an hour, five hours, or half an hour of regular writing time (or any other number that contains the writing as your time allows) and work within the constraints of that limitation.

Writing Prompt

Choose and impose a strict limitation on a small (or large) writing project as an experiment to see how this changes things.