Creativity is a process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts. It can also be new associations between existing ideas or concepts. The root word comes from Latin and means to have grown.

Some say it is a trait we are born with and others say it can be taught with the application of simple techniques. I have over the years, as I have been teaching creative writing, become more aware that everyone has the trait of creativity when trying to tap into their inner author, that part of them that has a desire to be a writer.

It starts with identifying the area(s) you are attracted to write about. It can then be fine tuned by looking more closely at what you are attracted to concerning those areas. Make a list and rate them on a scale from 1-10. 1 being least interested to 10 being most interested. By doing this, the top area of interest will become apparent to you. Now you will have a place to start. Knowing will help you concentrate your creative energy on the topic of your choice which always makes it more fun. Your inner author will always respond to having more fun.

9 Ways to encourage your inner author are:
1. Establish a purpose and make an intention to explore it
2. Build basic skills by doing a series of exercises that expand your ability
3. Stimulate and reward your curiosity and exploration
4. Build inner motivation
5. Encourage confidence and willingness to take risks
6. Provide opportunities for choice and discovery
7. Learn techniques and strategies for facilitating creative performance
8. Provide a balance for yourself so your effort will be supported
9. Provide a creativity friendly, imagination stimulating environment for yourself.

Now see if you can apply these 9 ways and increase your creativity at the same time:

Take a topic from the area you are most interested in writing about and see if you can explain that topic in a new way. Pretend you are trying to explain it to someone who is seeing or hearing about the topic for the first time. Then take the same topic and explain it in another way. Apply the starting definition at the beginning of the article in as many ways as you can think of to write about the topic. Be sure you keep it fun.

You will discover that the more ways you can describe the topic, the more fun it becomes and the more ideas you will generate for explaining the topic. It can become a game and will increase your ability to write in a more creative way.

And now I invite you to join me for a series of writing exercises to help you discover your areas of interest in writing as well as increasing your creativity. You may access these exercises by visiting http://www.freecreativewritingstrategies.com