On Creativity and Imagination

Last week I listened to Grayson Perry (Turner Prize winner) on Radio 4 about creativity and imagination. (I’m not sure if the programme is still available online). With several guests, Perry discussed ‘what does it mean to be creative?’

Here are a few bullet points on some really great insights:

• Perry has a concrete beam in his studio, engraved with ‘creativity is mistakes’

• Being creative is about ‘feeding yourself’ – looking, looking, looking at the world around you; listening, listening, listening; a constant process – it is about storing away ideas.

• Technology has helped ‘creatives’ escape the linear process of working – cut and paste, starting at the end, muddling up the structure.

• Difficult for writers is ‘letting go’ – I agree with this one. I have only recently let a few people read the first chapter of my novel.

• Creative types need reassurance from the outside.

• Perry said ‘imagination is a curse’ as you’re constantly thinking of new situations. An idea comes into your head as a ‘golden glow’ impression (the romantic, perfect version) but then in reality it has spiky detail.

• A fashion designer talked about what he looks for in students and I thought it also applies to writers too – an ability to investigate in a new, novel, structural way. You need to create an environment with discipline, styles, encouragement. ‘Love and boundaries.’

• Autobiographical writing – take self forward and not to look back and write but to go forward and make new discoveries. Pretend to be someone else. Writing is a journey of exploration NOT the old saying of ‘write what you know.’

• Prime quality – ‘be relaxed.’