After powering my way through the book How to Get Ideas, by Jack Foster, last weekend, I’ve been paying some more attention to the very question that forms the title of this post. And what I’ve noticed is that my creative ideas are coming to me in the early morning, not long after I’ve gotten out of bed and am actively thinking about little more than taking a shower and eating breakfast.

Yesterday, I decided to pose this question about creativity to my Twitter pals. Their delightful responses follow, in reverse chronological order.

When (where?) are you at your creative best?

DougH @Bryper: Best where: in the car– have taken to leaving podcast comments from the road b/c that’s where my mind is working

DougH @bryper: When/where am I at creative best? Best when: 5 pm when I should be packing to go home…..

GrammarGirl @Bryper: My creative best seems to emerge at libraries and coffee shops. Grammar Girl was “born” at a coffee shop by the beach.

JayBerkowitz @Bryper: I get some great creative ideas on my morning walk with Tyler (my Bichon) the best ideas develop in sleep subconscious.

leehopkins @bryper: what about in the shower or…. in the looo

danyork @bryper: In regular activities, I find some of my most creative times (in terms of idea generation) are when I’m out walking or biking.

comedy4cast @bryper: Usually when I’m trying to concentrate on something else. My mind wanders and…bingo!

wsimoncm @bryper: lounging in a cafe with coffee

teddemop Creative best? occurs in random spurts at unplanned times. Often early AM — sometimes before sleep/sometimes upon awakening.

jackhodgson @Bryper i’ve been thinking about your where/creative question. i don’t know the answer for me, and maybe that’s my problem

jasonalba @bryper - sometimes i’m most creative in the am when I first get up (but not today), sometimes at night when everyone is asleep…

rickmurray @bryper cc’s right… good thinking always comes with a beer in hand next to the bbq. zoning out while playing the guitar is another one.
cc_chapman @bryper: I also find that when I’m cooking I tend to have the creative juices flowing as well

vveerrgg @bryper pure ideas: brainstorming with friends / quiet time thinking or doing something un-related like videogames or motorcycle riding

ChrisCavs @Bryper: driving for more than an hour in my car, hiking in the woods, or people watching in public places

rickmurray @bryper two places — on my bike and in the shower.

steverunner @Bryper: Bryan, I’m at my best usually in the morning…especially during my morning run; I tend to think clearly on the roads.

danieljohnsonjr @bryper: I tend to come up with ideas while driving to and from work, listening to other people’s content

joec0914 @Bryper: Very unpredictable. The “light bulb” will snap on at the weirdest times. Only constant is that you can’t force it.

chipgriffin @bryper: when I’m not trying to be creative and mind is just relaxed and wandering — shower, bed, long drive, beach, etc.

nlaspf @bryper: it used to be during the night but now it’s more in the morning

jmoonah @bryper: at nite, alone, in my basement.

cc_chapman @Bryper: In the shower or while walking in the woods

billdeys @bryper - I’m totally a shower/bathroom kinda thinker.

Bryper Question for everyone: When (where?) are you at your creative best?

jeffpulver @Bryper my daily inspiration for creativity comes from the shower, not work. There is a reason my I’m only in my own office 4-6 days a month *

* This response from Jeff Pulver was actually in response to an earlier, but related, question

Not a bad peek into the minds of some of the digerati.

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