The Importance of Rules

Kairiru Island, Papua New Guinea 2015

Boredom is the father of creativity! It might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. Boredom can be a powerful catalyst for creativity.

Recently, I listened to an interview with Neil Gaiman. In that conversation, he mentioned how he writes his best novels. His recipe is simple: he sits before a blank page and permits himself not to write. However, if he doesn’t write, he can’t use the internet, phone, or other distractions. According to him, the best strategy is to go to a remote and boring place, ideally one that is uncomfortable. Eventually, he gets bored and starts to write. Nobody reads the first draft but him. Then, he types up the first edited version on his computer.

What can we learn from his experience?

Permitting oneself not to create removes the anxiety of feeling like you must create. Additionally, the elimination of distractions helps to spark creativity.

It turns out that I am already applying most of these techniques in one form or another. For example, I always carry my camera with me. I dedicate a specific time during the day to photography. During this period, the camera hangs around my neck. I don’t use my phone, I don’t bring friends along, and I minimize any distractions while trying to get the vibe of a place or immerse myself in the photography project I am working on.

NOTE TO SELF: Remind yourself that creativity thrives in limitation, and using boredom to spark it is a powerful technique. Do it more often!