When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to import the vast range of research and knowledge that has been accumulated in these fields ? most of it is to be found in the field of Business and Management.
For example, Writer's Block is intimately related to Organizational Culture ? the same principles that prevent people from generating ideas in the corporate workplace are also responsible for Writer's Block - evaluation apprehension in its many forms. Another example, the principles that prevent screenwriters from getting their work successful commercialised are the same as those that prevent organisation's successfully implementing innovation ? lack of access to decision makers and so on.
Consequently, the following is one area of Creativity and Innovation Management that can assist screenwriters.
Incremental Productivity
Whilst radical innovation is glamorised, the true hero is incremental innovation. In other words: sustained, smaller changes. Whilst a few radical innovations are the result of giant leaps, the vast majority result from incremental changes applied over long periods. This principle can be applied in a number of ways:
a) Rather than wait for the "big idea," the chances of hitting on the "big idea" increase when writers engage in not so dynamic projects, develop their competencies, identify and solve problems in a regular and sustained way. We know this to be true because screenwriters tend to come up with their best ideas WHILST they are working on a project.
b) Artists often tinker with various concepts for long periods resulting in work that grows in distance, novelty and diversity from the original idea. That is until new knowledge causes the artist to leap onto a new concept, which is radically different from the original idea and grows further away in terms of distance, diversity and novelty ? it increases in radical nature. In other words, radical leaps are a product of incremental activity.
c) We often use the term "think outside of the box." But what does it actually mean? Some of the most successful ideas have resulted from small changes that were originally just outside of the box. Take the low cost airline model of South West Airlines and EasyJet ? the only difference between the standard and their models is essentially price. They took the small notion of price and pushed it outside the box where it seemed impossible ? London to Spain for $30 was thinking outside the box at one time. Again, radical ideas result from small changes.
d) In the field of drama and improvisation, actors have found that the best ideas result from not trying to be original but being UNORIGINAL.
These are other topics are covered in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity and Innovation and the various Story Structure Templates and other products available at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com/
Chicago limo Skokie ..Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
(excerpted from the "How to Use a Journal" audio series... Read More
Are you ready to abandon your short stories? Before you... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More
Ever wondered how the most successful children's book writers get... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
It is certainly true that we don't get a second... Read More
Writing leads to reading. Therefore, it's only fair to supply... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
I just finished to read a book. A story for... Read More
Welcome to the zany ideas of a productive writer. My... Read More
You've decided to write your very own Newsletter to promote... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
How long should your chapters be?I can't resist... I have... Read More
Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin.Writing requires the... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
User documentation is all too often written by programmers for... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
Ah, the age-old writer's debate--to outline or not to outline?Outlines... Read More
Many of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies require writing.... Read More
When the writing bug hits you, get out your pencil,... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
A writer writes. Bet you've heard that one... Read More
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More
What do people expect when they join a writing group?The... Read More
Sometimes there is confusion about the exact meaning of the... Read More
I owe the completion and success of my book to... Read More
Balance your life ... Read More
Be careful when you write.Words you use, sentences you phrase... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
Has the thought run across you mind that you might... Read More
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More
As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24th 1947 in Rio... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
Writing |