Laurel Snyder's BIG secret about creativity
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 04:47PM 
Laurel Snyder's books are unique because she not only really and truly understands kids, but has a quality of imagination that is rare anywhere. In her novels, children root out mysteries, find magical treasures, and get entangled in perilous adventures. There is something deliciously old-fashioned about her work as she pulls us back into that beautiful micro-community of childhood and helps us remember the fun, the sadness, and the drama of it all. We are both huge fans of Laurel's books and are honored to have her as our guest blogger.
Laurel Snyder is the author of three novels for kids, Any Which Wall, Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains, and Penny Dreadful (fall, 2010). Her picture books include Inside the Slidy Diner and Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher. She also writes poems and makes up lots of silly songs, but her best creations so far are Mose (who is four and a half) and Lew (who is three). Laurel lives in Atlanta, and online at laurelsnyder.com
A Spilling Ink Guest Post by, Laurel Snyder
Are you ready? I am going to tell you a BIG secret about creativity…
It isn’t as creative as you think!
Shhh . . . don’t tell anyone else! If everyone knew this, EVERYONE would be writing books all day long, and there wouldn’t be anyone to tear the tickets at the movie theater, or make you grilled cheese sandwiches (though I suppose some very creative people make very wonderful sandwiches).
But really, it’s true—creativity is less creative than a lot of people imagine.
What do I mean by that? I mean that creativity works best when it has limitations. I mean that ideas don’t just zoom through the universe and slam into your head from out of nowhere. Ideas come from the world around you—from memories and experiences, from the things in your room, conversations you overhear, memories . . . I mean that creativity has to begin with something concrete.
Like, if I ask you to stare at a blank sheet of paper and “write something good and creative” what happens? You sit there awhile and scratch your head. Then, eventually, you look around your room, or out the window, or you think back over your day, or maybe books you’ve read, and find yourself a place to start. We all do that!
So for me, the best way to begin being creative is to set very rigid rules for myself. Like, if I want to write a poem I’ll think, “This poem should have 2 animals, a scientist, a kitchen appliance, and a body of water in it.”
Then I write a really sloppy first draft of my poem, and what usually happens is that creativity gets to work in the spaces between those things. Creativity wanders along to connect those things. Creativity is what I find when I see how those things bump up against each other.
Then, creativity happens again in revision. Because once I see that first draft, I might have a clear idea of the best possible version of the poem. I might strip things away. I might take out one of the animals, and swap the kitchen appliance for a garden tool. I might ditch everything but the very best line, and start all over. Because once I see what I’m working with, creativity shows me how far I can take it! Creativity teaches me what I didn’t know I could imagine.
And that’s what writing is for me. That what creativity is . . . having rules and limits that let me go wild in the spaces between.
If you don't believe me, or you’d do believe me, but you'd like an exercise to try, here’s something you might have fun with. Take out that blank piece of paper, and hang it on the wall with a piece of tape. Stare at it for a minute. Then take another piece of paper, and draw a tiny little house in the center of the page. When you're done, hang it up on your wall beside the fist (blank) page. Then walk away from them both.
But each time you pass by the two pieces of paper, I want you to think about them. I want you to imagine what might be on them. And I bet, at the end of a few hours, the blank page will still be pretty blank, but you will know exactly who (or what) lives inside that little house . . .
P.S. This little video is very old, but I love it, and Scratchy just came out in paperback...
Thank you, Laurel! For a chance to win a copy of Spilling Ink, please leave a comment below - What are your secrets about getting creative? We'd LOVE to hear! Two winners will be chosen at random on May 9, 2010. Good luck! xo Anne & Ellen
Reader Comments (24)
Great post, Laurel! And so true. I suppose I do think of creativity as boundless, but tapping into it and developing a creative practice require limits, which may be why I too enjoy making up "rules" for my poetry. Thanks for sharing!
Great post. I wish I could find creativity in my revisions. I have the idea, and then I get it out and get stuck in the revising. Maybe I just need to practice it more. :D For me, I think paint swatches or random photos are great to stir creativity. Paint swatches always have interesting word combinations on them so you can either write about the color or choose the one or two words and go from there. Overheard snippets of conversation are also good springboards for me. I always love to see what inspires someone or triggers their creativity. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much for this friendly post about creativity, Laurel. I been writing for years and years, but I love what you said about making rigid rules for yourself that give you the joy of going wild in the spaces between. It does work that way. Another way to get the creative juices flowing is taking a walk. That's my favorite one. I feel more alive then and story narrative immediately kicks in.
I'm going to go look for your books now, and draw a tiny house in the center of a blank piece of paper and see who or what pops out! Then I'll take it for a walk. Thanks Anne And Ellen for having Laurel as a guest.
Sometimes I just tear many slips of papers and write words on them and put them in a little fish bowl that I keep on my desk. Then, I create a story using 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the words as setting, props, characters, etc. You would be amazed at the great stuff you can come up with in this haphazard fashion. Othertimes, I use this method but apply it to a particular character or story. A bit more challenging, but still, I almost always find satisfying results, and in the end, had forced myself outside of the box.
my rule?? write every day. the daily stuff. the boring stuff. the mundane. the hard, deep stuff. then I reread...turning it over and inside out nd see what is lurking in-between. Reminds me of how we approach Torah. The Midrash talks about how we can view it either as black written on white...or look at the white spaces that are upon the black. In every crevice is a story yearning to be told.
Excellent post Laurel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about creativity and especially the cool writing exercise. One thing similar I've done (but for art) is to take a sketch I've done and hang it up and stare at it for a day, month, however long it takes before I know what I want to do with it. I've never tried it with writing, but it sounds like it would be a great way to get your mind working on a story. I'm going to try it with a sketch of a character that I'm trying to find a story for.
I used to set up rules when I did artwork, and recently have been trying to get back to it. My art was better and more fun back then, although it didn't work for illustration. I want to see if I can make it better, fun, and work for kid's book illustration, too.
My secrets for being creative? Not sure if I have any secrets, except to keep trying things and exploring ideas I have, especially anything that's weird and wacky and makes me laugh. Hopefully if I'm passionate about it or having fun with it, other people will enjoy it too.
Thanks for the great post, Laurel! And thanks, Anne and Ellen, for the giveaway! I myself find desperation is a great motivator--some of my most creative endeavours have been brought into being through intense pressure. "Mama, I need a Harpy Eagle costume for the play tomorrow."
I loved your post, Laurel. Especially: That what creativity is . . . having rules and limits that let me go wild in the spaces between. I spend most of my days writing picture book manuscripts and agree that ideas are EVERYWHERE. I might write twenty beginnings one day and pick out my favorites. Then the next day i go back and my old favorites suddenly sound horrible and a burst of new ones come to me. There's no end to it--which is a good thing! I like the way you use "limits". I look forward to reading your books and seeing what you come up with next.
For some reason I'm not able to include my URL in the space provided so it's: www.wendywaxblog.com or www.wendywax.com
I'm looking forward to reading Laurel's new books! :) e
Adorable video advertisement! Unique approach demonstrating creativity. Your suggestions are worthwhile. I suppose setting boundaries or concrete elements provides a focus which allows for greater strength in story too. Thanks for the advice!
Thanks for the post Laurel. I have now hung two pieces of paper by my desk and am hoping the one with house will fill up with inspiration while the blank one just mocks me!
A first grader came up with this one at school today: turn a song into a story. :)
One creativity jump-start that inspires me sometimes is reading the newspaper. I save articles that spark my 'what-if?' brain button. When several such articles seem to have a connection, I can't wait to put them together into a story!
SUCH a good post! I love that idea of picking out the items and then building a story around them- I have never tried that but I think I just might. I actually don't usually have much luck with writing prompts or exercises- but I like the idea of a really concrete one with boundaries. When I stall creatively, I take a shower or fold laundry or brush the dog- generally the most UNcreative of tasks. My mind starts to wander... and gets creative all on its own. It really doesn't like it when I TELL it to get creative :)
I get my creativity in my dreams....seriously I dream like crazy!
My favorite way to get creative is to take a walk or just sit on the porch. There's something about getting closer to nature and having time to think that gets ideas flowing. Thanks for sposoring the giveaway. I look forward to reading this book & Laurel's others. She sounds like my kind of author.
What a great way to approach a blank page. I'll have to try it with my students.
My tip, one that I recently shared at Casey McCormick's Literary Rambles blog, is to use a timer and try to write without stopping. For details, see the post at:
http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/2010/04/tip-tuesday-33.html
And I'd love to win a copy of SPILLED INK!
Carmela
TeachingAuthors
I think sometimes I get creative when I give myself time to just think and think without writing anything--letting my thoughts wander and spill over each other. And other times (maybe more often?) I get creative when I don't think (deliberately) at all, but just start wiritng and don;t let myself stop--just keep typing until a productive train of thought or creative path emerges. (And sometimes neither works. Then I take a break!)
My secret is to relax. If I am stressed out, I can't let my mind wander. That is when I can be creative.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I like to talk to people - run my 'crazy' ideas by them, and see what they think. Oftentimes, they'll say something that will spark me even further.... I have a few favorite creative people I work with and we love to bounce ideas off each other.
p.s. thanks for the giveaway please enter me
clariline98 at yahoo dot com
Fantastic post! So true! I watch and listen to my kids a lot. They show a lot of creativity in their speech and play. I get ideas from them. I love keeping my list of Writing Territories, too (Atwell). I show my students how that list of territories can turn into memoirs, short stories, poetry...
creativity is a combination of past, present & future-
I agree that it rarely is complete during the 1st attempt/draft -like a good soup, needs to simmer and have more spice added to create the perfect dish
great post!
karla-teacher6th
Keeping eyes and ears open is a great way to stay creative. So many unique things happen any given day -- a creative person simply recognizes opportunities for creativity when they come. It's all how you look at things. I'm still learning the art of watchfulness and have a long way to go!
- AZ
Hello I just recently bought your book and I have to say everything that I've read so far has helped me. I am one of those people that has to have everything done the right way the first time. I keep correcting it and can't seem to just leave it alone till the end. Is there a certain thing I can do I was wondering?
Hi, S.M. , I'm a bit of a perfectionist myself . Here's what I do - I allow myself to get the beginning "just so" - because I have to, but once I've passed the first chapter I make myself keep moving forward. When I begin writing every day, I allow myself to edit for a short period of time, (say a half hour to an hour) and then I move on to new writing. That way I give myself a chance to improve on what I've done the day before, but don't get stuck in one place. (Okay, sometimes I do, but then I move on again.) Some people give themselves goals for the day - a certain number of words or a page or a chapter. You might try that to see if it helps you move forward. Or give yourself a set period of time as a "no-edit" zone, like say half an hour where you will write and NOT edit, critique, or rewrite. Hope one of these ideas helps you! -Anne