by Mara Ramirez
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Does the internet really stifle creativity? I’m sure that a lot of people would tell you that it does if you were to ask them. But is that really the case? Some people believe that the internet has ruined creativity, especially in children and young adults as they just use it to watch movies and play games. Because of this, they now very rarely do any activities that could cultivate their creativity, such as drawing and writing stories. Instead, they are stuck to their screens simply scrolling through their social media profiles.
However, it isn’t always true that the internet is stifling people’s creativity. From searching for shako from yesgamers thus gaining huge bonuses to life, mana, and skills, in the online game Diablo II Resurrected, to watching Ted Talks online that inspire you; there are many ways that it can actually promote creative thinking, and can also provide a lot of inspiration that you can use in your next creative project.
So, are you interested in using the internet to your benefit this way? Here are a few of the various ways that the internet could actually help you become even more creative!
Follow Creative Blogs
First of all, the best thing you can do is start looking for some creative blogs to follow. There are hundreds of thousands of bloggers out there, all of whom have their very own niche and focus. Some creative bloggers might write mainly about creative writing and storytelling while others might blog about drawing and producing zines. No matter what your hobbies are, I’m sure there will be a blogger out there who you can follow for great inspiration and tips. You will also discover hundreds of DIY bloggers who can give you some great advice about getting creative with DIY crafts and similar projects.
Some great and fun online tools exist as well. The random name generator is a good example. If you want a name for your creative writing from other places and time periods, it can be a helpful tool and a lot of fun.
Watch Creative YouTubers
It’s not just bloggers who you can follow. If you head to youtube.com, you will find that there are also hundreds of YouTubers who regularly post new videos about a number of creative topics. In fact, you might prefer to watch a creative YouTube channel than read a blog as you can do a project along with the YouTuber. That way, your hobby doesn’t have to be quite as solitary! One of the best things about watching YouTube channels, though, is that you will be able to see some quite difficult creative tasks, like knitting or crocheting, done right in front of you. So, you can copy the YouTuber and don’t have to worry about making too many mistakes yourself. There are also lots of videos dedicated to common creative mistakes in various hobbies, so if you do make an error in your project, you can always head to YouTube to find out how to correct it.
Start Watching Ted Talks
If you enjoy watching YouTube channels, then you might want to tune into some Ted Talks as well. These are talks by various experts from a range of fields and industries. The majority of them are related to science and political and social issues, but there is also a great selection of talks all about creative fields. If you are ever in need of any inspiration, it’s worth watching a few to get your creative juices flowing as well. These videos and talks have all been created in order to try and make people more curious and inspired, so I’m sure that they will help you to think of a really cool new project to carry out in your spare time. Whether you are interested in writing a novel or just want to try to improve your artworks, I’m sure that you will find a Ted Talk to inspire you or help you along with the process.
Start A Blog
Of course, you don’t have to watch and read material that other people have made. Why not make some of your own material? Not only will this help others, but you might find that setting out your own ideas in a blog of your own can actually help new ideas and inspiration come to you a lot more than before. After all, the best advice there is to beating writer’s block or a similar block in inspiration is just to push through it. Once you start doing anything to push through the block, you will find that inspiration is really quick to come to you, and you can get on with being creative again. Not only that, though, but blogging is also a great way to get to know fellow bloggers who write about the same kinds of things as you. You’ll then have a lot more people to bounce ideas off.
Take An E-Course
If none of the above seems to make any difference with your inspiration and creativity, you might want to sign up to an e-course. There are hundreds of e-courses, all based on different subjects. For instance, you might want to take part in a novel-writing course that will take you through everything you need to know about writing your very first novel. There are also online courses that you can take to improve your art skills, photography, and poetry writing. These courses come aimed at various skill sets and levels, so you will be able to find one to suit where you are at the minute.
Join A Webinar
If you don’t want to commit to a long-term e-course, there is another option that you can do online. You just need to join a webinar instead! Webinars won’t have any book-based or self-study parts to them. All you need to do is join the webinar at the scheduled time and then you can join in the discussion with everyone else who is taking part. Again, there are hundreds of webinars all dedicated to creative topics, from writing, painting, drawing, and photography. The best thing about joining one is that you get to be part of a big discussion and will be able to e-meet lots of like-minded people to yourself.
Stream Movies And TV Shows
If you need some new inspiration, you might want to sign up to i3Broadband.com so that you can get some super fast broadband to stream TV shows and movies on. There can be times when a lack of inspiration and writer’s block is so difficult to deal with that you can’t seem to shift it no matter what happens. Don’t beat yourself up about this - it happens to even the best creatives! The best thing you can do in this kind of situation is to simply relax and take your mind off your creative pursuits for a little while. And there is no better way to do that than by watching one of your favorite TV shows or movies. In fact, you might even find some creativity here. By exposing yourself to different forms of storytelling and different genres, you will find that you start be influenced by them in your own work. So, you never know, by watching a TV show, you might actually find that inspiration you’ve been looking for all along!
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Learn How To Code
Why not use the internet to learn a completely new skill? I’ve already mentioned that the internet is a great place for finding e-courses and webinars, but there is one skill that you will need to do a lot more self-study for if you are ever going to use it properly. And that skill is coding. Even though coding is strongly associated with IT and tech as it is all about learning the languages that are used to control computers, it is still actually a really creative activity. Once you can code, you can do a lot of creative projects on your computer. For instance, you could start to make your own computer game. Once you get good with coding, you will be able to make your own websites, apps, and software as well. Even though these tasks are based in IT, they are still creative, and people with a background in the arts will be able to thrive doing them.
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Find Others To Collaborate With
One of the best things about the internet is that it makes the world a much smaller place. Thanks to the likes of message boards and social media, it is now easier than ever to find people who share the same passions and interests as you. And this is a fantastic benefit for creatives, as it gives them the chance to meet fellow creatives who they can share ideas with and collaborate on projects. Collaboration is a great way to feel inspired and to put all of your skills and talents together with those from a fellow creative and to create something truly great.
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Play Some Games
I’ve already mentioned that watching movies and TV shows is a great way to clear your mind, but did you also know that playing computer games can help you do this as well? When you are playing, you can clear your mind and forget about all the usual frustration that comes with a total lack of creative inspiration. You never know, you might gain some from the game!
As you can see, the internet is a great place to turn to for creative inspiration!