Stories are around you
Being more creative is about being more honest and open, and expanding your thoughts and knowledge in finding stories around yourself.
There are stories around you, everywhere. I was reading Austin Kleon "Steal like an Artist" and "Show your work!" stating that stories are around you, all you need to do is look around and you'll find them. I agree with this statement. Everything around you has a story to tell. It can be this water bottle that is meaningful to you. You could have got it from your father who passed away ,or it could have been the first thing you bought when you first got paid. Stories are sensitive sometimes and I have learnt it by writing blogs about my past. It could be a very sentimental thing that you are now opening up to the world.
I wrote a blog about my time when I was in a bad situation. I was writing it and I remembered how it felt; the confusion, the anger, the frustration and the humiliation I experienced. It never goes away, you just find a way to bury it down.
I experienced the bad times again by writing it down and posting it online. Hardly anybody sees it but at least it's a creative work that I am brave enough to publish. I am so glad I have the courage to put myself out there instead of waiting for an opportunity to come towards me. Opportunities don't exist if you don't put yourself in the right place at the right time and that is Showing Your Work. Yes. The truth is you need to work, improve and develop knowledge by reading books and blogs. Reading about peoples lives on the internet and Stealing them by making it in to your own story. Don't copy the whole story but use there story as an example and make it in to something you want to see, read and experience. The book by Austin Kleon " Steal Like an Artist" talks greatly about stealing.
Reading helps you improve- Reading creative books has helped me massively and I am so greatful for it. Moving here has made me realise how far back I am with the language and also the way I see things. So far I've read Austin Kleon's "Steal Like an Artist "and "Show your work!". I found him when I was doing an online course by Tomorrow's Filmmakers. Reading his books has made me realise the ideas have always been developed by from someone. I can give you an example: the way some one is talking about an experience they had in the past. You can write that down or if you have a good memory, remember it and come back home and make it to yours. It can be a favourite scene from a movie and you think it will be good to steal for your film that you are writing.
Be aware of your surroundings. Stories are everywhere. They are all around you, next to you, from your past, in your present or an experience someone has told you about. I saw a group of five old ladies sitting around the table chatting to each other, next to them, there was also another group of six teenagers, sitting around the table on their phones not talking to each other. I came up with a story of how the times have changed and how you should cherish every minute with the ones you love. What I'm trying to show is that you can assume or make up a story judging by what you see. Here you see five old ladies and six teenagers. I made up a story of the group of teenagers reflecting on the old ladies. One day you will lose someone but you still have time to cherish them. Your surroundings have a story, find it.
What is stopping you? I need to have these thousands of people following ? No, all you need is to have the hunger to improve. I have 7 members on my blog right now and I still write. Don't tell yourself no one will read your stories. Post them online, on twitter, Instagram or Reddit. Go to the places where your people are and they will find you stated by Austin Kleon.
Books and Credits
Kleon, A. (2012). Steal like an artist : 10 things nobody told you about being creative. New York: Workman Publishing Company. Available at:
Kleon, A. (2014). Show Your Work! : 10 Ways To Share Your Creativity And Get Discovered. New York,: Workman Publishing Company. Available at:
Edited by Richard C. Hookway