There's A Girrafe On My Unicycle: Can Blogging Enhance Creativity?
Henry Gee
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 14:57 UTC
Clare Dudman is going to be gestating engendering hosting a session at the conference on the interaction between blogging and creativity, with uncertain assistance from me. Poincaré talked about ideas like gas molecules colliding in the room of his mind; Einstein talked about dreams; and Archimedes was in his bath when it hit him…that flash of light, that lightbulb going on, that great insight – that EUREKA MOMENT when two apparently unrelated ideas come together. What did all these fine gentlemen have in common? That’s right — none of them had a blog. Think what insights they’d have come up with had they been members of the blogosphere. But wait - can blogging really -fix concerete gnomes remove unwanted body hair be a useful catalyst for creativity?
Using a few examples from our own experiences as a springboard, we intend this to lead to a workshop/discussion on how blogging can help us create. Please bring along some of your own experiences of how blogging has opened creative doors that might otherwise have remained shut. Girrafes and unicycles not supplied.
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It’s a good question, Henry, and if I’d been going to the conference I think I’d have been in that discussion with you, as Clare kindly asked me too.
When I’m not writing science books or blogging hereabouts, for the last 14 years I have been giving large companies consultancy on creativity. Now admittedly, of itself this is no great recommendation. After all, the dreaded Brain Gym try to tell people how to be more creative. However, I like to think my approach is more scientific, like.
My simple answer to the question is yes and no. Well, simpleish. I don’t think of itself blogging does do anything for your personal creativity – you’d be better off going on a walk with Heidi – but getting other minds involved in a problem (especially non-experts) is a good ways to open up some new directions, and a good blog is a way to do this.
P.S. Why am I not going to the conference? I’d love to put faces (and raise drinks glasses) to many of the excellent folk I’ve met through NN, but I’m afraid over my many years at BA I got very cynical about the value of conferences (airlines rather like conferences a.k.a. jollies in exotic locations), and when I started to work for myself, where every day away from the desk is a day unpaid, I started to think they probably aren’t a good use of time. I’m sure this one will be great, but I can’t justify attending.
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Well it is on a Saturday, Brian, but maybe you work weekends.
Henry, I am delighted to read that you and Clare are leading this workshop. Perhaps I am unique among Nature Network users in knowing you both in person. I can therefore say with great confidence that it will be an extremely interesting workshop and I look forward to it very much.
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No, I try not to work at weekends, but that’s to spend time with my family (as they say in all the best political
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… and, to be honest (someone once told me this means you’re lying, but I’m not) I hadn’t noticed it was on a Saturday, I just assumed it would be a weekday!
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@ Maxine – thank you, I am
touchedflattered. Who knows what will happen? Could be a lot of fun.@ Brian – I don’t think of itself blogging does do anything for your personal creativity – you’d be better off going on a walk with Heidi. You’re probably right. I do wish you would emerge from your hermitage and come along. We’d all love to have your perspective, as an expert on the creative process, as it were.
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I too have missed out on various meetings, opportunities etc by a general refusal to go on weekend meetings, as it is the only chance to spend time with my family. I don’t like the way that work is increasingly (?) geared up to eat into one’s life outside it, especially when you have family commitments (emotional and practical).
I made this point in the forum when the date for this meeting was being decided. I lost. I think venue availability had a lot to do with it.
As I like Nature Network and blogging, and the people I have met online here, and as the meeting is relatively local to me, I have decided to make an exception on this occasion. It would be lovely if you would also make an exception, Brian, but I am the first to sympathise if you don’t.
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Just like to echo Henry’s comments. Please come along, Brian, if you can. I’d love to meet you. And thank you Maxine – very much.
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Okay, okay, you’ve all persuaded me! Although I will probably be on potato peeling duty for an eternity as revenge, I have blocked off 30 August and now only have to seek the permission of the boss.
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Oooh, ‘e didn’t need much persuasion, did ’e, Jules?
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I belong to the Crackerjack (CRACKERJACK!) generation, Henry. It doesn’t take much more than a cabbage and a Crackerjack (CRACKERJACK!!) pencil to persuade us.
(Apologies to non-UK residents/those under 30. This refers to a popular UK kids’ TV show
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