Comments on: Getting in Touch with Creativity – Roger von Oech’s Ball of Whacks http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/ inspiring creative professionals Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:19:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mark McGuinness http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-48620 Mark McGuinness Mon, 28 May 2007 15:05:20 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-48620 Thanks everyone for a fascinating range of examples. As a 'thank you' I've linked to you all in my post <a href="http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/28/and-the-winner-is/" rel="nofollow">announcing the winner.</a> Thanks everyone for a fascinating range of examples. As a ‘thank you’ I’ve linked to you all in my post announcing the winner.

]]> By: Carolyn Manning http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-48019 Carolyn Manning Fri, 25 May 2007 18:18:32 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-48019 Shadows as they change shape throughout the day, birds walking, cats and dogs sleeping next to each other, plants turning to the light source, lightening, any adult animal with its young. I guess just about everything in nature. After all, isn't nature the quintessential creator? Shadows as they change shape throughout the day, birds walking, cats and dogs sleeping next to each other, plants turning to the light source, lightening, any adult animal with its young. I guess just about everything in nature. After all, isn’t nature the quintessential creator?

]]> By: Rosanne http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47990 Rosanne Fri, 25 May 2007 15:24:34 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47990 Water and waves have always been inspirational to me. I do public speaking and when I am looking for ways to reach the audience, I always look for water. There is something about watching even the churn of a slow moving river that gets my creative juices flowing. I find a body of water always calms me down and lets the creativity flow through, like the water. There are so many layers and colours to watch in water. The best though was a time when I had a confidence block. I needed to belt out an opening 10 mins in exactly that time frame and have the audience sitting on the edge of their seats for following presentations, one of which was mine. The conference was in Biarritz in Jan. The huge waves were crashing over bolders and were deafening. I stood on the side of a cliff and prayed no one came by and proceeded to yell my opening 10 mins at the waves. It was just the thing I needed. I nailed the 10 min opener and didn't do bad on the second half either. Water and waves have always been inspirational to me. I do public speaking and when I am looking for ways to reach the audience, I always look for water. There is something about watching even the churn of a slow moving river that gets my creative juices flowing. I find a body of water always calms me down and lets the creativity flow through, like the water. There are so many layers and colours to watch in water. The best though was a time when I had a confidence block. I needed to belt out an opening 10 mins in exactly that time frame and have the audience sitting on the edge of their seats for following presentations, one of which was mine. The conference was in Biarritz in Jan. The huge waves were crashing over bolders and were deafening. I stood on the side of a cliff and prayed no one came by and proceeded to yell my opening 10 mins at the waves. It was just the thing I needed. I nailed the 10 min opener and didn’t do bad on the second half either.

]]> By: Katie Konrath http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47980 Katie Konrath Fri, 25 May 2007 14:20:08 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47980 Science Museums are amazing physical aides to creativity. If I'm trying to think of new ideas, I've found there is nothing better than to surround myself with many different objects that I can touch, examine, and use to make new connections in my head. Going to a Science Museum always helps me! Science Museums are amazing physical aides to creativity. If I’m trying to think of new ideas, I’ve found there is nothing better than to surround myself with many different objects that I can touch, examine, and use to make new connections in my head. Going to a Science Museum always helps me!

]]> By: Nina http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47969 Nina Fri, 25 May 2007 12:00:05 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47969 Mozart: "When I am traveling in a carriage or walking after a good meal or during the nights when I cannot sleep, it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly. ... When I proceed to write down my ideas, I take out the bag of my memory, if I may use that phrase, what has previously been collected." Mozart: “When I am traveling in a carriage or walking after a good meal or during the nights when I cannot sleep, it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly. … When I proceed to write down my ideas, I take out the bag of my memory, if I may use that phrase, what has previously been collected.”

]]> By: Mark McGuinness http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47953 Mark McGuinness Fri, 25 May 2007 09:57:29 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47953 Thanks Nina, nice range of examples. It's amazing how much activities we do when we're NOT writing/painting/whatever have an impact on our creativity when we get down to work. And the 'Brain' sounds cool, I wish I could massage my brain sometimes! Thanks Nina, nice range of examples. It’s amazing how much activities we do when we’re NOT writing/painting/whatever have an impact on our creativity when we get down to work. And the ‘Brain’ sounds cool, I wish I could massage my brain sometimes!

]]> By: Nina http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47776 Nina Thu, 24 May 2007 12:31:53 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47776 I'm a fiction writer. When I exercise, I have more dream sequences and my dreams are more vivid and more weird. I'll remember more of the details. If I don't exercise for a few days, I don't remember my dreams as well, and they're not as interesting. I write down my dreams almost every day and think they feed my creativity, so this is yet another reason to exercise. And I'm sure it makes me more creative in general. I like writing more and feel more creative when the weather is gray and rainy (but I work in a windowless closet). I get a lot of ideas when I'm watching a mediocre or bad movie or play, and get some writing in when sitting through something that hasn't seized my attention. This also works when I'm watching something I've seen many times. I'm more creative when I'm walking or cooking, etc -- when my mind is somewhat distracted by the physical world -- than when I'm just sitting still, trying to be creative. Also, I have an object called 'The Brain ('Brains,' actually).' It's a frosted crystal head by Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien that's remarkably soothing to hold and look at. The box says that it's an anti-stress object, for hand and eye, on the writing desk, on the journey. I've taken it on journeys over the years but keep it in my writing closet. I’m a fiction writer. When I exercise, I have more dream sequences and my dreams are more vivid and more weird. I’ll remember more of the details. If I don’t exercise for a few days, I don’t remember my dreams as well, and they’re not as interesting. I write down my dreams almost every day and think they feed my creativity, so this is yet another reason to exercise. And I’m sure it makes me more creative in general.

I like writing more and feel more creative when the weather is gray and rainy (but I work in a windowless closet).

I get a lot of ideas when I’m watching a mediocre or bad movie or play, and get some writing in when sitting through something that hasn’t seized my attention. This also works when I’m watching something I’ve seen many times. I’m more creative when I’m walking or cooking, etc — when my mind is somewhat distracted by the physical world — than when I’m just sitting still, trying to be creative.

Also, I have an object called ‘The Brain (’Brains,’ actually).’ It’s a frosted crystal head by Swedish glass artist Bertil Vallien that’s remarkably soothing to hold and look at. The box says that it’s an anti-stress object, for hand and eye, on the writing desk, on the journey. I’ve taken it on journeys over the years but keep it in my writing closet.

]]> By: Mark McGuinness http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-47346 Mark McGuinness Tue, 22 May 2007 17:34:05 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-47346 Thanks Ms Blog - well you've got a 50/50 chance so far! Thanks Ms Blog – well you’ve got a 50/50 chance so far!

]]> By: Ms Blog KX http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-46987 Ms Blog KX Mon, 21 May 2007 10:57:10 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-46987 The effect of the physical world on my creativity? Great question & you got me posting all about it. I think the upshot is that the physical world is what I use to create and it is also the creation I am making. I cannot disentangle this dance between the idea and the manifestation. The physical world and the creator: we are one. So I see the Ball of Whacks as being the result of the handling it receives as well as the possibility of more. It's the perpetual idea and the manifestation... then the idea again and the manifestation... Like you say, Mark, it's a physical kaleidoscope. Fingers (and toes) crossed that I'm the lucky random response... I rather fancy one of those balls! The effect of the physical world on my creativity?

Great question & you got me posting all about it.

I think the upshot is that the physical world is what I use to create and it is also the creation I am making. I cannot disentangle this dance between the idea and the manifestation. The physical world and the creator: we are one.

So I see the Ball of Whacks as being the result of the handling it receives as well as the possibility of more. It’s the perpetual idea and the manifestation… then the idea again and the manifestation… Like you say, Mark, it’s a physical kaleidoscope.

Fingers (and toes) crossed that I’m the lucky random response… I rather fancy one of those balls!

]]> By: Mark McGuinness http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/comment-page-1/#comment-46960 Mark McGuinness Mon, 21 May 2007 07:31:25 +0000 http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2007/05/19/getting-in-touch-with-creativity-with-roger-von-oechs-ball-of-whacks/#comment-46960 Susanne - thanks, I hadn't thought about creativity becoming physical drudge, that's an interesting perspective. That's one problem we poets don't have to worry about! Roger - my pleasure. I'm onto sonnets at the moment... Susanne – thanks, I hadn’t thought about creativity becoming physical drudge, that’s an interesting perspective. That’s one problem we poets don’t have to worry about!

Roger – my pleasure. I’m onto sonnets at the moment…

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