✨ Or Why I Keep Emailing Myself Weird Ideas
As writers, we often find ourselves bombarded with a multitude of story ideas, some fleeting, others persistent. But how do we discern which ones are worth pursuing? Enter Creative Mindsetting (CM): a mindset and method to evaluate and cultivate ideas into compelling narratives, an idea I've thought up of recent times. Of course you could call it "the creative process" but my approach is a little less structured and more organic.
Some people keep a journal. Some have Notion dashboards. Me? I send myself emails.
They happen pretty randomly, when the day’s noise finally quiets down and I’ve got half a brain left to think about stories, I’ll tap out a quick message to myself. It’s never fancy. No formatting. No plan. Just something like:
*“Okay, idea dump:
Woman inherits lighthouse but doesn’t know the ghost is real.
Hitman has to babysit a dog.
Something with mirrors??
What if time travel is actually controlled by smell?”*
Sure, it’s messy, random, and sometimes downright bizarre. But it works. And more often than not, by the time I’ve finished rambling through the email, something has clicked into place. One idea feels stickier than the others. One has that little spark. The rest? Eh. Maybe next time.
Lately, I’ve started calling this little habit of mine Creative Mindsetting.
It’s not a system. It’s not even a strategy, really. It’s more like giving myself a nudge. A mental shift into that half-daydreamy, curious space where ideas get to stretch their legs a bit. Sometimes it’s just about clearing the junk drawer of my brain so something new can bubble up.
What makes an idea “a goer”? I wish I could give you a checklist. But it’s more gut than science. It’s the one you keep thinking about when you’re doing the dishes. The one that starts talking back. The one you already kind of see, even if it’s blurry.
And Creative Mindsetting helps me spot it, not by evaluating, but by letting the ideas breathe. It's not a filter. It's a mood. A moment. A little corner of the day where I can say: Hey brain, whatcha got for me today?
So if you're anything like me, full of chaotic ideas, unsure what’s worth chasing, try it. Fire off a note to yourself. Ramble. Don’t judge. Don’t list. Just let it flow.
You’ll know the one when it lands.
💡 Final Thoughts
Creative Mindsetting is about more than just evaluating ideas; it's about cultivating a proactive and intentional approach to your creative process. By systematically sifting through your ideas and nurturing the promising ones, you can transform fleeting thoughts into compelling stories.
Remember, not every idea will make the cut, and that's okay. The key is to remain open, curious, and committed to your creative growth.
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Want to explore more of these creative rituals? I’ve got a few other mind-bendy tricks up my sleeve. Let me know if you’re into it.
Until then, keep writing, keep wondering.
Des Brady/Writer. Story-whisperer. Emailer of many bad ideas (and the occasional good one).
