Contributed by Laura Rios.

With many creative endeavors, there are times when we need just a little assistance to get started. Today, I’d like to share a few things that have worked for me. The best part is, most of them can be used no matter with different kinds of creative activities.

To begin with, it starts with preparation. If you’re going to write or work on an art project, start by clearing and organizing your workspace. I like to remove excess clutter from my table or desk and make sure I have the necessary supplies close at hand. This includes having a cup of coffee, tea, or just a water bottle. If I plan to paint, I arrange my brushes, have sketching pencils close at hand, have a palette set up with my paints, a jar or small bucket of water, etc. The lighting must be good, and my chair should be comfortably set. If any sort of needlework project is planned, be sure your materials are handy, scissors are in reach, and so on. Nothing kills the creative mood more than having to run around looking for the right watercolor paper, yarn, the correct size needles, and so on. I might want to write something but realize a little bit of research is in order before I start. These are all examples of preparation, and you will feel better equipped for creativity once some prep is out of the way.

Once you feel prepared, you still might find yourself in need of extra push to get started. This is where prompts can help. I belong to a Facebook watercolor group that offers challenges on a regular basis. If I want to paint but don’t already have a subject in mind, a weekly challenge prompt is just what I need to get started. The topics might include various animals or flowers, or using a specific color. The prompt may be themed for the next upcoming holiday, or even to paint anything we want, but in the style of Van Gogh.

Writers often use prompts as well; something like a single sentence or a specific scenario. My dear friend Google quickly found an article published by Writer’s Digest called “100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers”. Even AI can come to the rescue with a variety of prompts for any creative situation. I tried asking “What should I knit next?” and artificial intelligence was happy to suggest that I “consider versatile, fast and satisfying items like a pair of socks, a cozy beanie, or fingerless mittens to build skills”. Excellent works of all kinds have come about from a simple prompt.

A predicament is a special kind of prompt. If you need something but don’t have it, and you can build it/paint it/crochet it/sew it or whatever, then there you are — your next project! If you want to write and don’t have a topic in mind, you can dream up a predicament or allow any acquaintance to provide one for you. Maybe your bff’s fifteen year old daughter has asked if she can get a rose tattooed on her left breast. Or, your co-worker mentioned at lunch that a neighbor made a pass at her during Saturday’s cookout. Or, there was a sticky moral dilemma/difficult situation/crazy coincidence on any of the television shows you enjoy watching. Change the names, gender, locale or other identifying details, and voila! you have a whole new predicament to get you started on writing your next short story.

The very useful letter P also heads up PRODUCTIVITY. With a little help from preparation, prompts and predicaments, you can be more productive in no time.