How to Add a Dash of Creativity to Your Articles – Mentoring Monday
Writing an article doesn’t just mean translating your thoughts into words.
You have to capture the interest of your readers and get them to keep on reading.
To get your message across, you have to capture your reader’s attention, have a firm grasp of what their interests are, and pique their curiosity.
The main ingredient in baking up an article is a large dose of creativity.
While some people are naturally creative, others have to work harder at it. Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writer’s block and just can‚Äôt seem to get their creative juices flowing.
Putting words into images in the readers mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. Similes and metaphors help a lot, but the way an article is built, word by word, sentence by sentence, then paragraph by paragraph into a whole article develops the essence of the article.
So what can you do when nothing comes to mind? There is no surefire way to get that “perfect” idea but there are easy ways to get your creative juices flowing.
1) Always keep a diary or a journal with you. New ideas can be triggered by anything you hear, see, or smell. Your senses are your radar for finding great ideas.
Write all your ideas in a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas. This is not stealing or plagiarizing.  Ideas can come from anywhere; it’s the development of the idea that makes it unique.
2) Relax and take time to sort things out. A jumbled mind can’t create any space for new ideas. You need to have a clear mind if you wish to have your creativity running at full speed. I seem to get my best ideas on the days I don’t work. I get my best ideas when I’m away from the computer and having fun with my kids.
Get rid of any obstacles that may be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused.
Try to relax every time that you can and think about your experiences and interactions with others. Your experiences are what shape your mindset and your opinions which could be reflected on your writings. Try to discover yourself, find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what ticks you off. You can use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas, with this you can grow creatively.
3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativeness. Your home office  can be a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed. Creativity comes from being in a good state of mind and a messed up workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive in firing up your creative flow.
Surround your working place with objects that makes you happy and relaxed. You may put up pictures, or scents, objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativeness cranking. A clean and well organized workplace also rids of distractions and unwanted hindrances. With a pleasant home office, you can work in peace and not notice the time pass by.
4) Set the mood. Setting the mood requires you to just go with the moment or to induce your self to feeling what makes your mind works best. Finding out what makes you tick could help you find ways to get your creative juices flowing. Set the pace and tempo for your mood and everything else will follow.
There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use alcohol, a little sip of wine to stir up the imagination. Some prefer mood music while others let the lighting of the environment create the mood.
When I sit down to write, I turn off the bright light in my office, and light a few candles instead. I instantly feel more relaxed.
5) Go on a getaway and just do something unlike crazy. Letting yourself go and have fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Take an adventure or a solemn hike. Whatever it is that is unusual from your daily routine can take the rut out of your schedule. In no time at all, your creativeness will make use of that experience and get your imagination to go on overdrive.
