Now, the following list was originially based around writing. As an author I am starting to follow this list, this “Program”, as the original author entitled it, but it could work for pretty much any creative endeavour. It could work equally as well for any project, in fact.

When working on his novel ‘Tropic of Cancer’, Henry Miller devised and followed these pointers, which propelled his writing.

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to ‘Black Spring.’
3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
​4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!​
5. When you can’t create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
​7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
​8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
​9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.​
​10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
​11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

There are two points that really jump out at me. Firstly, number 10. I have a notebook (paper-based, naturally) which contains all these ideas for future books. Having such a notebook, I find is a good practice. If I make a note of ideas, then further ideas seem to appear. It is almost as if you’re signalling to your unconscious that these ideas won’t be wasted, so send some more. They’re being stored for future use. Can I prove that? Nope, but creativitiy isn’t an exact science. However, I need to focus on what I am currently writing.

Secondly, number 11. It has taken way too many years to realise that I write at my best in the morning. I always say to anyone who will isten that you need to find that time where you work best (no matter what it is) and build your schedule around that. Now when I was younger, I would certainly say I was more of a night-owl and worked best when everyone else was asleep. But times change, I changed, and I need to do the writing in the morning. Same for a lot of tasks that require a little creativity. My afternoons are better for more mundane, process-heavy tasks.

I hope you enjoy this post and can use it it in some way to fuel your creativity. If you would like to receive more of this type of posts, why not pop your email in the box below? No spam guaranteed.