How To Start An Idea Collection File To Create Better Projects

So, you want to start a new creative project, but you’re not sure what to do.

You know you’ve had great ideas in the past, but you can’t remember them at the moment.

This is the perfect reason to start an “idea collection file” or book or binder or what have you.

The point is to write down those great ideas so that you have a place for them to go back later. This way you can spark your creativity with your own ideas and not have to go hunting or ‘researching’ to come up with something to get you going.

Literally Anything

If it interests you enough to capture your imagination in some way or another than it qualifies as worthy of your Idea Collection File (ICF).

So, whenever you chance upon quotes, pictures, and other snippets on the internet, driving along the highway, listen to a podcast or radio, flipping through a magazine or in a conversation etc. make sure get it into your ICF.

At the very least, make a note of it with pen and a scrap piece of paper or a text note on your phone.

Then make sure it gets into your idea collection file when you get a chance.

Be The Collector

Any collector recognizes they need a place to store the things they collect.

You as an idea collectors are no different.

Probably the biggest tip to make your idea collection file relevant and valuable is having just ONE place for all your files.

If it’s a physical scrapbook, shoe box, folder on your lap top, a cloud storage file it doesn’t matter. All the ideas must be in ONE place.

You can have a temporary place – like the scrap paper or note on your phone – as discussed above. Just get those ideas back to your ICF ASAP.

Not Every Idea Will Do

You won‘t utilize every idea you capture and not every idea you capture will be good.

It’s unrealistic and kinda fascist to think so. If you’re as hard on yourself as so many artists are, think in terms of pragmatism and not perfectionism. 🙂

It’s a good idea to cast a wide net and accumulate as many as a variety of ideas as you can.

Don’t judge the ideas at the time you find them. That will come later.

If you find something interesting and it makes you curious to explore it, then it’s worthy of the ICF.

Creating The Creations

A comprehensive creation strategy is vital to take your ideas from your idea collection file and turn them into something of real value for yourself and the world.

To do this, it’s best to have some idea of where you’d like the project to end up.

That doesn’t mean it will be anything like you first envisioned.

However, I have heard creative types and noticed something about my own creative process too.

When an artist/writer has an end in mind when beginning a project, it makes the process flow better and the outcome tends to be stronger than when there is no goal in mind.

So, that brings me to the 3 most important questions you can ask yourself (or anyone) when looking to start a creative project.

***This works with problem solving too.***

The 3 Most Important Questions

#1 – What is the GOAL? —> What do you want to accomplish with this project?

#2 – What is the biggest OBSTACLE? —> What’s getting in the way of accomplishing this?

#3 – What’s most important to you? —> What do you value the most when it comes to a project like this?

Quick Examples…

#1 What is the Goal? —> If you’re writing a story, you’ll beat writers block by having a very strong ending in mind.

Having an overall theme for your story BEFORE you start is vital.

In fact, if you’re a writer who is or wants to sell your manuscripts to production companies, you’ll have a tough time selling your writing based on characters alone. Individual battles are one thing, but if the world you create has clearly defined rules and challenges you will know your audience. If you know your audience you can sell to them.

The same is true with visual arts like painting, collage and sculpting and such. If you have an idea of what you want your work to look like at the end you won’t get so bogged down during the process.

Having an overall theme that you want to explore helps to define the outcome. And just like writing, if you have a strong theme, you will have a defined audience. And when you know your audience you can sell to them.

#2 What is the Biggest Obstacle you face to getting this project finished? —> This can go 2 ways. Either internal or external obstacles.

If it’s internal, it will be a type of resistance based on fear. This is extremely common among all artists of any kind. Including entrepreneurs. When life is more predictable – say working at a law office as an accountant or assistant – you know you have a pay check and there is not much variation in the work. There may be resistance to boredom, but not creation.

With the artist, there is always a step into the unknown. With each new project and all the way along, it’s mostly blind and unknowable until you make a decision and commit. Then respond to the outcome and repeat.

This is an inner battle that is ongoing.

NEXT…

If it’s an external obstacle then it must be identified specifically. Name it so it can be dealt with.

For example, if it’s money you need to finish a project how much and what specifically is it for? Exactly how necessary are the things you need to buy? Can you borrow or make something that will do even if it’s not perfect?

Is there a time limit to finishing this project? If so, define that and get specific about how much time the process of each step of your project really needs. Can you skip a step or two and still have a similar result?

These are the type of questions to ask when you’re examining the biggest obstacles to finishing your project.

#3 What is most important to you? —>

This has everything thing to do with your values. Why do you create or write in the first place?

Whatever the answer is make that a top priority. Make that the thing that leads the answers to all the other questions you have to making your current project the best it can be.