Creative Process

While I have a love for designing magazines, a self-paced project is a massive undertaking. In order to engage with my methods (academic and practice-based research along with creative nonfiction writing and copyediting), I had to practice a lot of self-discipline. At first it was hard to feel creative and motivated while beginning a busy semester. It was apparent to the Arts Scholars faculty that most of us were feeling this way, so we had a day in CPSA250 that focused on project management. The discussions we had and resources we were given were really helpful. The one that resonated with me the most was the Harvard Business Review's strategy of "timeboxing." By creating large "bursts" (Heather's words) of time devoted to our project rather than chipping away at it between classes, I was able to get my juices flowing. This is a tactic that TA Belle also encouraged us to use. Author Zao-Sanders states that "placing constraints on the amount of time you spend on a given task can therefore be an effective way to improve your efficiency," and I definitely found this to be true. I was able to avoid writer's block by devoting specific times to writing, and by creating an environment that was conducive to my productivity.

“How Timeboxing Works and Why It Will Make You More Productive.” The Harvard

Business Review. Zao Sanders, Marc. December 12, 2018. https://hbr.org/2018/12/

how-timeboxing-works-and-why-it-will-make-you-more-productive.