[stylist] stylist] 10 Ways To Keep Your Mental Prime

[Brad Dunsé]

Sorry about the subject line spam mark earlier, it's really not :)

Brad


On 2/2/2012  06:53 PM Brad Dunsé said...
> From the organization which I'm taking the freelance B2B class.
>
>
>As freelance writers, we've got to shake things 
>up regularly and keep our minds fresh so we can pen inspired copy.
>
>One of the best ways to do this is to practice "spontaneous creativity.”
>
>It goes beyond just good sense ­ it's also a 
>physical necessity, unless you don't mind your brain deteriorating.
>
>Let me tell you a story to illustrate my point. 
>It's about the time I was outsmarted by a couple of 8-year-olds.
>
>At the time, I was 15. I'd been attending a 
>leadership seminar with other sophomores from 
>around the state. Most of the instruction 
>centered on how to be successful in life.
>
>In one of the presentations, they had us do a 
>brainstorming exercise. I can't remember what we 
>had to brainstorm, but I came up with a list of about five solid ideas.
>
>Then the presenters brought two 8-year-olds out 
>on stage. They had them do the same 
>brainstorming exercise. Right there, in front of 
>everybody and with absolutely zero hesitation, 
>those two kids started spouting off all kinds of 
>ideas. Between them, they came up with well over 50 solutions!
>
>This demonstrated to us high schoolers how 
>quickly we lose our ability to think outside the box.
>
>I remember being supremely annoyed. At only 15, 
>I was apparently past my mental peak.
>
>Unfortunately, that's the case for a lot of us. 
>It's a fact that brain cells deteriorate with 
>age and thought patterns grow methodical.
>
>Thank heavens, there's a remedy. All it takes is 
>constant stimulation to the creative side of your brain.
>
>It's not hard work either. The key is to be 
>consistent. Below, I've listed 10 ways to 
>consistently practice original thought and get 
>your creative juices flowing. Doing so should 
>help you lay some of those beneficial neural 
>pathways I've been talking about all week.
>    * Read as much as possible about everything 
> possible. After all, information sparks creative connections.
>    * Hang out with smart people. Intelligent discussions exercise your brain.
>    * Give yourself a time limit to figure out 
> problems and pick a number so you'll know how 
> many solutions/possibilities you should come up 
> with. I've heard that some top copywriters will 
> come up with 100 different possible headlines. 
> I wonder if they make themselves do this in a limited amount of time.
>    * Keep yourself physically fit. Getting 
> enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy 
> food have a considerable impact on your mental powers.
>    * Join an improv comedy class.
>    * Don't judge ideas as they come to you. 
> Everything represents possibility. Wait and censor later.
>    * Practice your storytelling skills, and 
> craft impromptu, random stories. Use these prompts to outline your story:
>
>"Once upon a time”
>"And every day”
>"Until one day”
>"And because of that”
>"Until finally”
>"And ever since then”
>    * Skim the dictionary, find a word at 
> random, and write a headline using that word. 
> Restrictions force you to think creatively.
>    * Gather details about your dilemma before 
> you start thinking. In the writing world, this 
> means do your research about the product or topic you're writing about.
>    * Listen to Bach. A lot of folks swear his music sparks creativity.
>
>Aim to do at least one of these things every day 
>for a minimum of ten minutes a day.
>
>Another way to spark creativity is by enrolling 
>in an educational program. I can think of no 
>better than 
><http://www.the-golden-thread.com/em/lt.php?c=697&m=675&nl=5&s=fb7ba06de480c665a929eba1085125d2&lid=6786&l=-http--www.awaionline.com/twl/ct4/>AWAI's 
>Accelerated Program Live Companion Series. It 
>works very simply but is wildly effective. You 
>learn the core lessons of copywriting, including 
>when to stick to a formula and when to think 
>outside the box. You learn from experts who've 
>had success doing exactly that. And you have a 
>great time along the way (I had a blast when I took it).
>
><http://www.the-golden-thread.com/em/lt.php?c=697&m=675&nl=5&s=fb7ba06de480c665a929eba1085125d2&lid=6786&l=-http--www.awaionline.com/twl/ct4/>Find 
>out how soon you can start.
>
>And one more thing, one more way to look for 
>creativity-prompting ideas is by "surfing” 
>Facebook. It's true! 
><http://www.the-golden-thread.com/em/lt.php?c=697&m=675&nl=5&s=fb7ba06de480c665a929eba1085125d2&lid=6787&l=-http--www.awaionline.com/2012/02/6-ways-to-make-facebook-an-idea-generator/>Read 
>about it here.
>
>To your success,
>
>Mindy Tyson McHorse
>Freelance Copywriter and AWAI Wall of Fame Member
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
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Brad Dunsé

"Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox." --Proverbs

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