The 6 Step Creative Process: Revised

The original creative process as follows:

1. This is awesome
2. This is tricky
3. This is crap
4. I am crap
5. This might be ok
6. This is awesome

How many of you have seen this funny list? It’s only funny because it’s incredibly accurate in the way we describe our process- no matter what we are working on.

Instead, I’ve come to believe the creative process is actually comprised of 6R words that are much more helpful and a little less humorous:

RECEIVE. REALIZE. REVISE. REST. RISE. REVEAL.

Receive: Respond to something in a specific way. This portion of the process is when you find inspiration in anything that gives you the desire to change, create, or invent something new.

Realize: Become fully aware of (something) as a fact; Understand clearly. When you’re in this part of the creative process, you are filled with hope and can see how the final product will look.

Revise: To look over again in order to correct or improve. This is the messy middle where the end goal starts to seem blurry and the entire project begins to feel like a bad idea.

Rest: Cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. In my opinion, this would be the most important part of the creative process. So many people stop at “Revise” due to frustration or anger. So many beautiful things have fallen flat because people gave up at “Revise” and forgot to rest.

Rise: Find the strength or ability to respond adequately to (a challenging situation); Be restored to life; Succeed in not being limited or constrained (by a restrictive environment or situation). Rest allows you to rise. Rise up to that task and step up to your work with a fresh mind. Trust me when I say, you’ll see your challenges in such a different life after you given your mind a chance to rest. You’ll be able to finish the project I’m almost guaranteeing it.

Reveal: Cause or allow (something) to be seen; Make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others. You’re finally at the end and you have that feeling of content satisfaction that you accomplished something creative. Now it’s time to share your work.

The 6R Process is applicable to all aspects of art, business, and faith. 

Classrooms are filled with students learning from masters in their craft. Auditoriums are filled with business owners listening to entrepreneurs who own massive companies. Churches are full of everyday people listening to testimonies by believers.

Therefore, it’s the process that connects all of us. The stories of other people keep us moving forward. Sharing which stage of the 6R Process you’re in, is an inspiring way for others to move from one stage to the next.

So which stage of the process are you in?

Hand|Art. Head|Business. Heart|Belief.

If you enjoyed this post you may like The Creativity Equation, where I talk about what it takes to be creative.