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We all have an image of the creative artist or writer who works in chaos. Books and papers stacked so haphazardly they’re in danger of falling or paints or canvas and paintings strewn across tables and floors. Chaos equals creativity…right? The fantasy that disorganization equals creativity. But does it? Does structure destroy your creativity?

There’s this thought that creativity only happens when you’re inspired. So you have to wait until you’re inspired before you can create. While inspiration might be what fuels many artists if they did nothing while waiting for that inspiration, none would come.

I think people confuse artists with those people who walk around and say they are waiting for inspiration but they never, and I mean never, create anything. There might be starts, they might pull out a notebook or put up a blank canvas, but they don’t know what to do at that point. They are struck dumb by the blankness and cannot move because they are waiting for inspiration to dictate the perfect, award-winning piece.

The truth is that while studios might be messy, there is routine and structure in how an artist creates. Going to the studio or desk at the same time, working the same hours, even eating and drinking the same thing is all part of the structure that artists create in order to “find” their inspiration.

While they’re waiting for that inspiration to happen, they’re practicing, drawing, painting, even researching in preparation for their project. That is part of the discipline. The structure that is needed to create art, music, or books.

Don’t reject structure. Embrace it as the framework you need to support your creativity.

We all have an image of the creative artist or writer who works in chaos. Chaos equals creativity...right? The fantasy that disorganization equals creativity. But does it? Does structure destroy your creativity? #creativity #creativeinspiration #creativeframework