Eight Creative Methods from the Brightest Creative Minds

Creative methods help us bypass our inner critics and enter the liminal magical space between conscious effort and quiet surrender.

Creativity flourishes when we are not trying. When we least expect it and are not forcing it. When our minds are relaxed, quiet and wandering. When we are not consciously working. When we feel like we’re just having fun.

John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles, beautifully captured his dates with creativity: “It’s always in the middle of the night, or you’re half-awake or tired, when your critical faculties are switched off. Every time you try to put your finger on it, it slips away.”

This article explores eight evidence-backed creative methods to help you access that creative zone, each paired with practical examples.

Creative Method #1: Free Write 

Freewriting is a powerful gateway into that effortless, creative zone where effort fades, imagination flows, and we stop trying and start discovering.

Joe Bunting, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and founder of The Write Practice, describes his experience with freewriting in these words: “Fifteen minutes of free writing a day. What I began to notice, was that, almost at random, similar themes were coming up. Themes around exploring creativity, finding your authentic voice, keeping artistic integrity, and how creativity is tied into identity. As I noticed this, ideas began to form in me.”¹

The path to creativity through freewriting is also explored in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity and Mark Levy’s Accidental Genius: Revolutionize Your Thinking Through Private Writing.

Freewriting is a technique that allows your thoughts to flow freely onto the page without concern for grammar, spelling, or structure. In The Artist’s Way, Cameron recommends practicing freewriting daily for at least twelve consecutive weeks, first thing in the morning.

To get the most out of freewriting, set clear boundaries, either in terms of time or length. Cameron suggests filling three pages each morning. Other creatives prefer timed sessions ranging from 5 to 20 minutes.

Freewriting by hand may spark deeper creative insights, while typing is ideal for analyzing ideas and discovering trends.

In Accidental Genius, Mark Levy highlights how writing prompts can support freewriting. Instead of staring at a blank page, prompts provide direction, helping the mind uncover thoughts and solutions that might otherwise remain hidden.

Here are some examples of freewriting prompts:

What did I handle with grace or strength today?

What’s the most meaningful action I can take today?

What insights am I ignoring because it feels uncomfortable?

Creative Method #2: Meditate

Scientific studies indicate that meditation, which involves passively observing one’s thoughts, sensations, and emotions, can help us find more solutions to a given problem.²

Many highly successful individuals have harnessed the creative power of meditation. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio firmly believes that his achievements are directly a result of his meditation practice.³ Other notable figures who regularly meditate include Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Bill Gates, and many more.⁴

Beatles and Steve Jobs harnessed creativity from their meditation retreats in India. Walter Isaacson, the biographer of Steve Jobs, quotes the following:

“If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there’s room to hear more subtle things–that’s when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before.”⁵

Many people struggle with meditation due to a restless mind, impatience, discomfort, difficulty focusing, fear of inner thoughts, or lack of routine.

The good news is that various meditation modalities exist, allowing individuals to find one that suits them.

For example, entrepreneur Kat Norton discovered that Kundalini yoga provided her with meditation benefits while allowing for continuous movement, eliminating the need to sit still, which she found challenging.

Creative Method #3: Use the Hypnagogic State

The moment between sleep and wakefulness, known as hypnagogia, is a wellspring of creativity and sudden clarity.

The renowned engineer and inventor Thomas Edison used a unique technique to tap into his subconscious mind.⁶

He would sit in a chair holding a heavy key or spoon over a metal plate on the floor. His grip loosened as he drifted off to sleep, and the object fell, creating a loud clang that woke him just as he entered the hypnagogic state —a brief, idea-rich phase between wakefulness and sleep. Always prepared, Edison kept a pen and paper nearby to capture fleeting insights before they vanished.

Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and writer Edgar Allan Poe employed similar methods to fuel their creativity.

Researchers at MIT discovered that harnessing the hypnagogic state for creative insights can boost creativity by 43% to 78%. To modernize this approach, they developed the Dormio device, a modern version of Dalí and Edison’s key-and-metal-plate technique.⁷

Dormio is a glove-like device with sensors that detect when the user falls asleep. When the system detects that the user is drifting into a deep sleep, it plays audio cues to guide the dreams in the desired direction. Upon waking, the user is prompted to share their thoughts verbally, which are recorded for later review.

Here is one key takeaway for tapping into the creative power of the hypnagogic state without using any devices. Creative insights often emerge as you fall asleep or wake up. Keep your smartphone nearby to take notes or leave a voice note before they fade. Here is one more tip. Innovation is more likely to flow when we are tired rather than fully alert and focused. Let your mind wander when you feel exhausted and capture your thoughts.

Creative Method #4: Go On Vacation   

Going on vacation boosts creativity by relaxing the mind, allowing it to wander freely, break from routine, and absorb fresh experiences that spark new ideas.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery, found that the most profound creative insights often emerge in beautiful natural settings during deep relaxation.

In his research, Mihaly interviewed numerous individuals, including John Reed, a prominent American businessman best known for his leadership at Citibank, later renamed Citigroup.

At the height of his career, Reed developed a habit of writing long letters to himself, exploring the bank’s challenges and potential solutions. Through these letters, Reed created a bold new vision that led his company to success.

Like many other creative thinkers studied by Csikszentmihalyi, Reed experienced his most significant breakthroughs far from the pressures of the office, on a beautiful beach.

In her book Quantum Success, Christy Whitman, a celebrity coach and best-selling author, shares that her million-dollar creative idea arrived not at a desk but during a vacation foot massage with the ocean waves in the distance.

If ocean waves and foot massages seem out of reach, try walking or engaging in an activity that brings you joy. Relaxation clears the mind when you least expect it. That’s often when the best ideas surface.

Likewise, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songwriter and filmmaker behind an award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, says the idea for his musical came during a much-needed vacation.⁸

Kat Norton, whose startup reached seven figures in under two years, says her most effective strategies emerged when she paused. “Slowing down is where magic happens.“

Creative Method #5: Leave Space for Creativity

Creativity thrives in a playful, not a “getting things done” mindset. We need ample time and mental space to tap into our creative potential by entering and staying in a playful state of mind.

Entrepreneur Kat Norton, who built her business into a multimillion-dollar success in just two years, reveals one of her creativity methods. Everyone is creative says Kat. We need time and space to let creativity flourish.⁹

“Most people think they aren’t creative, but the truth is, they haven’t given themselves enough time or space for creativity to emerge,” Kat explains. “It usually takes me two to three hours to enter a state of creative flow. That’s when the ideas for viral content and million-dollar businesses start pouring in.”

She challenges others to reflect: “When was the last time you sat with one idea and brainstormed for at least three hours?”

Author Paul Graham explores a similar approach in his essay “Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule.” ¹⁰ He emphasizes the importance of separating “right-brain” analytical and “left-brain” creative work. Manager Days focus on structured tasks that require focused attention, while Maker Days allow uninterrupted time for creative work.

In her book The Writer’s Process, Anne Janzer explores the same concept. Janzer refers to the creative process as the “muse” and the analytical process as the “scribe.”

Many brilliant creators embrace this approach. Former U.S. President Obama sets aside “big chunks of time during the day” solely for thinking.

Bill Gates is famous for his dedicated Think Weeks.

Similarly, Spanx founder Sarah Blakely reserves one day each week exclusively for creative reflection and ideation.

Good news for busy people: creativity requires less time than execution. One dedicated creative day per week is enough to generate ideas, leaving the rest of the week to bring them to life.

Creative Method #6: Don’t Break the Chain

Like any practice, the more often we enter a playful, creative mindset, the more effortlessly we can access it, and the more powerful our creative work becomes.

Lifehacker once shared a productivity method called Don’t Break the Chain, attributing it to Jerry Seinfeld from an interview in the 1990s. Though Seinfeld later denied endorsing the idea, the technique gained popularity.¹¹

The key to improving at anything is consistent daily practice. Start with a large, year-long wall calendar and mark each successful day of practice with a big red X. As the chain of Xs grows, your only goal is to keep it going without breaking the chain.

While often seen as a productivity tactic, Don’t Break the Chain is also valuable for fostering creativity.

This method keeps creative ideas in constant motion by promoting consistency, incubation, and momentum. When we have an unfinished project, our mind continues to process it in the background, constantly seeking relevant information.¹²

Many creative geniuses embraced this creativity method. Pablo Picasso painted every day until he died. Writer James Clear credited his daily writing streak with the success of his blog.¹³

Having a measurable goal brings this practice to an entirely new level. Many writers set daily word count goals. Ernest Hemingway, for example, aimed for 500 to 1,000 words per day.¹⁴

How can a busy person balancing family, work, and a side hustle stick to this method? Some days will be more productive than others. For some people, progress only happens on weekends.

Here’s a simple tweak. Use weeks as links in your chain, not individual days. Set clear, measurable goals for each week to maintain momentum without the pressure of daily consistency.

Creative Method #7: Plant a Lot of Seeds

Creativity often begins with divergent thinking, where multiple and diverse ideas flow freely and abundantly, unrestricted by feasibility or limitations.

This divergent thinking phase involves brainstorming, exploring, and challenging conventional thinking. The more ideas generated, the greater the chance of finding a breakthrough.

Melanie Perkins, the CEO of Canva, famously said, “Plant a lot of seeds and hopefully one will grow.”

Creativity thrives on abundance, much like nature. Just as trees release countless seeds, and only a few will take root and flourish, creative minds generate numerous ideas, knowing that only a select few will succeed. Creativity is rooted in experimentation, iteration, and adaptation.

With multiple ideas on the table, it’s time for convergent thinking: testing, selecting, and sharpening what has potential. At this stage, ideas can begin to take shape as practical solutions.

Their innovative success was not about waiting for perfect conditions but about persistence, learning, and relentless experimentation. Thomas Edison conducted nearly 3,000 failed experiments before discovering the bamboo filament that made the lightbulb commercially viable. James Dyson developed over 5,000 prototypes before creating the dual cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner.¹⁵

In his early interview with Corbett Barr, James Clear explained how he managed to become a full-time blogger in just six months. “Starting with a blog is pretty much like starting anything new. You are trying to figure out what works, and you try as much as possible. This is what I did for the first six months or so. I just tried to get out there and see what would work. I tried to be in as many places as possible and tried as many things as possible. Once you figure out something that works, do more of that”. ¹⁶

Want to take this creativity method even further? Measure everything.

Paul, a former CTO of the Huffington Post, shares a key ingredient for success: “We measure everything, try a ton of stuff, pull out the stuff that works, and then take it even further.“¹⁷

Creative Method #8: Create an Information Hub

Systematically gathering and structuring information that matters fuels creativity by revealing trends and unlocking new perspectives.

Tiago Forte, author of Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential, takes the idea of personal knowledge management even further.

Forte explains that we all need a system to “carry out the ideas from inception to completion,” enabling us to shift from consuming to creating.

Don’t save everything, suggests Forte. Capture only ideas and information that resonate. Focus on relevance over quantity. Layer your notes by highlighting key points and refining them over time. Use your notes to turn knowledge into creative action.

Bestselling author James Clear described how he came up with his publication ideas:

“I think you need to have a central holding ground where you just put all the ideas in your life whether it’s from a conversation or a book. For me, that’s Evernote. Whenever I come across an interesting idea, I dump it into there. Then, I’ll go through and try to find ideas that are on the same topic.  I pull those ideas and put them into the same note. Then an article starts to take shape loosely. I can see which holes are there and what things I need to research a little bit more“.¹⁸

From Richard Branson to Sarah Blakely and Taylor Swift, many high achievers credit note-taking as a key component of their success. Long before smartphones, Blakely carried a notebook everywhere to capture ideas as they came. Today, with powerful digital note-taking apps, we have even more tools to accumulate fleeting thoughts and turn them into creative breakthroughs.

References

1. The blog post “How Free Writing Helps You Find Your True Creative Voice” on The Write Practice, written by James Prescott—a writer, blogger, and podcaster—explores how free writing can help uncover one’s authentic creative voice.
2. The ScienceDaily article “Meditation Makes You More Creative, Study Suggests” presents research from Leiden University showing that meditation can significantly enhance creative thinking.
3. The article “Billionaire investor Ray Dalio credits all his success to meditation“ on Fortune, written by Alexa Mikhail, discusses how Dalio attributes his achievements to his daily meditation practice.
4. The CEO Today article “11 A‑Listers Who Meditate: Discover the Celebrity Secret to Success and Serenity,” highlights how high-profile figures use meditation.
5. The Inc. article “How Steve Jobs Trained His Own Brain,” written by Geoffrey James explores how Jobs pioneered the use of Zen mindfulness meditation.
6. The article “Boost Your Creativity by Accessing Hypnagogic States” on Think Learn Succeed, authored by Clarissa Elfino, explains that hypnagogia, the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, can spark bursts of creativity and enhance problem-solving abilities.
7. In the MIT News article “That moment when you’re nodding off is a sweet spot for creativity,” Anne Trafton explains how Dormio, a device developed at MIT, detects the transition into sleep and delivers targeted audio cues to influence dream content and enhance creativity.
8. The Inc. article “Lin-Manuel Miranda Got the Idea for ‘Hamilton’ on Vacation: Why Relaxation Is the Secret Ingredient for Breakthrough Ideas,” written by Jessica Stillman, reveals how Miranda conceived an award-winning Broadway musical while unwinding on his first vacation.
9. Reference: Kat Norton (aka @miss.optimize) Instagram post.
10. In his classic essay “Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule,” Paul Graham distinguishes between the maker’s schedule, which requires uninterrupted blocks of time for deep creative work, and the manager’s schedule, which is broken into segments suited for meetings and coordination.
11. In the Lifehacker article “Jerry Seinfeld’s Productivity Secret,” Gina Trapani explains how Seinfeld encouraged aspiring comedians to build daily habits of writing jokes by marking a large wall calendar with a red “X” each day they wrote.
12. The Psychology Today article “Zeigarnik Effect” explores the concept and offers practical suggestions for leveraging it.
13. The James Clear article “My 2013 Annual Review” reflects on his year-long progress and highlights his disciplined daily writing habit.
14. The article “Daily Word Count of 10 Famous Authors,” written by Maury Rogow, reveals that legendary writers like Hemingway, King, Christie, Rowling, and Murakami maintained prolific and consistent daily writing habits ranging from fixed quotas between 500 and 2,000 words a day.
15. The Forbes article “It’s Not Failure That Sets You Back—It’s Failing to Risk More of It,” written by Margie Warrell, reveals that embracing and learning from failure leads to growth and long-term success.
16. Early in his career, best-selling author James Clear gave an interview to Corbett Barr of Think Traffic called “6 Months to Full-Time Blogger? James Clear Did It”, where he shared that he experimented with many approaches to discover what worked. One commenter later reflected, “Mind-blowing to see that just about 6.5 years later, James Clear is now a New York Times best-selling author.”
17. The Business Insider article “Seven Secrets That Led to Huffington Post’s $315,000,000 Success” reveals how the co-founders leveraged viral content, technical savvy, SEO-optimized headlines, and data-driven analytics to propel HuffPost from a blog into a digital media powerhouse.
18. The Medium article “How Writing for One Hour a Day Can Improve the Quality of Your Life,” written by Srinivas Rao, shares insights from his own experience as well as perspectives from James Clear and Steven Kotler on the powerful benefits of maintaining a consistent daily writing practice.