A great list of 12 ways to be creative, from Gaping Void, complete with some great cartoons.
I liked number 10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props. I agree with that.
I don't even use MS Word to do my writing, I use SimpleText (and now TextEdit). I find the features in advanced word-processors distracting. In fact, I work in Geneva font too, anything else distracts me (especially fonts with serifs). The barer the environment, the more focused I can be. (Not say I is very creative or talented lah.) The only time I need power tools is when I deal with photos and even then, it is just for resizing.
This site is pretty much updateable with just a web browser and an internet connection. Maybe a text editor, at most. I like it that way.
Excerpt:
So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:
1. Ignore everybody.
The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you. When I first started with the biz card format, people thought I was nuts. Why wasn't I trying to do something more easy for markets to digest i.e. cutey-pie greeting cards or whatever?
2. Creativity is its own reward.
You never really reach your goals. By the time you get near to fulfilling them your criteria has already changed. Which is why by the time the world recognizes your genius, it won't seem very real.
3. Put the hours in.
Doing anything worthwhile takes forever. 90% of what seperates successful people and failed people is time, effort and stamina.
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain.
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
Nobody can tell you if what you're doing is good, meaningful or worthwhile. The more compelling the path, the more lonely it is.
