Creativity Tip: Hey Kids, This is Advertising

Budzilla's comment on Tuesday, "Creativity is the art of forgetting your sources," reminded me of a tip I wanted to share with you ... a tip about the time-honored tradition of "stealing" ideas whenever and wherever you can.

As it turns out, I'll have to talk about that later. Right now, I need to share the tidbit I found when I went online to "steal" a Hamburglar image from McDonald's to illustrate my point.

The Happy Meal site includes very small print that says, "Hey kids, this is advertising." I kid you not. I couldn't make this up.

"Hey kids, this is advertising." Yep, I'm lovin' it.

So, just to make sure we're all clear on this: Hey kids, this is advertising. I write for a living. Writing is how I keep the family fed (generally with food that doesn't come with a toy). So if you know anyone who needs an easily amused and rapid writer, please -- keep me in mind.

And here's a tip to go with the rant: You never know where inspiration or ads will come from, so keep those eyes wide open!

Creativity Tip: How Do You Think?

I was in a meeting with a new client recently, and he said, "You don't need to take notes on this."

I laughed. I absolutely need to take notes on this, no matter what "this" is. Taking notes is how I think -- it's the old reporter in me. I observe, I listen, I take notes. If I don't have a pen in my hand or a keyboard at my fingertips, my thought process is impaired.*

Educator, author and creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson tells an interesting "How do you think?" story in his "Do schools kill creativity?" presentation. Robinson shares the tale of Gillian Lynne, the choreographer of "Cats" and other theatrical hits. When she was a child, teachers thought Lynne's constant fidgeting was a sign of illness. A wise doctor determined that she wasn't sick. She was a dancer. Gillian Lynne thinks with movement.

Where and how do you think best? Dancing? Driving? In the shower? Or, do you generate your finest strategic and creative thoughts sitting in a chilly cubicle, unavoidably overhearing someone else's teleconference?

Determine what prompts your best thinking, and embrace it. If you need a pen, grab a pen. If you need to move, move. But while you're doodling and moving, remember: Not everyone thinks the way you think. And I don't just think that. I know it.

*I was once presenting a media training session for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and I dropped my magical pen. I immediately stopped thinking. And talking. Truly. I had no idea what to say next. Fortunately, Jody Summers was presenting with me. She saved the day by instantly handing me her pen, while at the same time diving under the table to pick up mine. Jody understands how I think. And that kind of thoughtful approach makes a world of difference.

Creativity Exercise: Your Attention, Please

I am writing a poem that includes the line, "Now that I have God's attention." I could tell you where the phrase came from, but that's relatively irrelevant. What I want you to do is:

1. Take out a clean piece of paper and a pen or pencil. (There are times when writing is best done by hand.)
2. Write, "Now that I have God's attention" on the first line.
3. Finish the sentence.

I know several of the regular Creative Instigation blog readers either don't believe in God or have serious doubts. That, too, is relatively irrelevant for the sake of this exercise. Pretending is one of the most fun aspects of creativity.

Once you've written your sentence, celebrate: Put the Jan-approved smiley face at the top of your paper, or a big gold star. And if you want to share your line, well, you definitely have our attention!

Creativity Tip: Celebrate Success!

I'm big on birthdays. (Ask any friend who happens to miss mine. It's a dangerous mistake to make. Feel free to mark it down now: April 22.)

I'm also big on celebrating. Everything. It's so easy to focus on the challenges of life, why miss an opportunity to enjoy the good stuff? Celebrating achievements -- big and small -- helps build a successful, happy and productive creative team.

Today, we have two celebrations of note. Steven Popkes, a loyal, wonderful friend and an amazing science fiction writer, made the February cover of Fantasy & Science Fiction. His featured story, "Bread and Circus," is gaining great reviews.

And Michael Pritchett, an award-winning author and all-around great guy, is making friends and fans on a book tour for his acclaimed novel, The Melancholy Fate of Captain Lewis. For those of you in the KC metro area, Michael will be reading from his novel at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at The Writers Place.

As part of the celebration, remember my approach to supporting great writers: Buy early. Buy often.

Friday Fun: What's Another Word for Gaur?

Now, my idea of fun and your idea of fun may vary wildly ... but this is my idea of fun: Go to freerice.com and expand your vocabulary while you help end world hunger.

You play. Someone else eats. It's all good. Bookmark the site and there's no end to how many words you can learn and rice you can earn.

Thanks to Angela Pritchett for the idea!

P.S. A "gaur" is a wild ox. I missed it. I won't miss it again.

Creativity Tip: Listen and Learn

Everywhere you are, there are people you can learn from -- if you're willing to listen.

While I was at Corporate Communications Group, I learned more about writing and business from Cotton Smith than he will ever know.

Cotton is a fascinating man -- a devoted family man, tremendous business success and a nationally lauded Western author. He's an amazing blend of strategy and creativity, a mix I never appreciated -- in others or myself -- until I worked with him.

One day, Cotton stopped me in the hall at CCG and inquired about the strategy behind an ad I had written for one of his clients. I disdainfully flipped my hair and reminded him that I was on the creative staff.

He politely flipped me back, as only Cotton could do. (Think words, not fingers.)

"What's the first thing you do when you sit down to write?" he asked.

"I think about what the client wants to communicate," I said, in a creatively sarcastic tone. "Then I figure out what would grab the audience's attention and start writing. That's creative."

"That's strategic," he firmly corrected me. "You didn't just sit down and put pretty words on paper. You thought it through, strategically. And I need that strategy to sell this copy to the client."

I winced. I listened. I learned. And I explained the strategy for my headline and copy.

Before he walked away, Cotton looked me in the eye and said, "I don't ever again want to hear you say you're not strategic. Am I clear on that?"

He was clear. I am creative. I am strategic. And I am eternally grateful to Cotton, for this lesson and all the others.

Finding a strategic mentor is truly a gift. To discover what you should look for in a strategic mentor, you can learn a lesson from Mike Brown -- check out his checklist on the mikebrownspeaks blog.

Creativity Tip: Size Matters

I can't lose 20 pounds. I know, because I've tried to lose 20 pounds for 20 years.

So, last year, I decided to forget the 20, and just lose 1.5 pounds per month. And an amazing thing happened: I lost weight. Not every month, but most months. I'm thinner now than I've been in years.

I also know that I can't write a book. I don't have time. However, I do have time to write one entry a day for this blog. So here's my guess: At this time next year, I'll have a book on creativity ready to show an agent. A book cobbled together, page by page, on this blog.

1.5 pounds.

1 page.

Size matters.

And, although I never thought you'd hear me say this,

"Small is better."*

Keep that tip in mind as you start work on your 2008 projects (or resolutions). Instead of focusing on one huge final objective, create a small, attainable goal. When you reach it -- and you will -- set the next small, attainable goal. And when you reach that one, keep going.

On the way, let me know what amazing things you're accomplishing, one small step at a time!

*No, I do not mean for everything. It's a new year, but I'm the same old me.