Creativity and Limitations

I have found that limitations are VERY important to the creative process. Back when I was teaching elementary homeschool choir for Kay's Music Studio, I would ask the children for their favorite Bible stories and fairy tales. After collecting answers from everyone, we would vote on which two to mix for our next play, which would take place the following spring. The first year we did this, they chose Rapunzel and the Nativity. At first, I had no idea how to put both ideas into the same story, but eventually, these restrictions helped me brainstorm some seriously fun plays that the children loved learning and performing. Fast forward a few years, and I tried writing a play without the restrictions. It was miserable. It was too cut and dried, and I never was really satisfied with it, especially when we performed it.

I also used to own some creative writing books that followed the same idea. When I first read the prompts, I would think, "No way! I can't write a story within those parameters!" However, I gave them my best shot, and was pleasantly surprised with some of the results. The books were called The 3AM Epiphany, and The 4AM Breakthrough. Wish I still had them on my shelf.

So when you sit down to work on your creative endeavors, don't be afraid to come up with a few boundaries here or there. You never know how that might open new pathways in your brain, leading to fun and unique products!

Stretch your thinking muscles, and let me know: How would YOU mix Rapunzel and the Nativity story? Let me know, and I'll tell you how I ended up doing it in the comments below.