31 Secrets to Unlocking Your Creativity

Thirty-three of our favorite artists, writers, musicians, designers, and big thinkers share the mysterious rituals and dirty tricks behind their greatest work.

- By Ohni Lisle

Creativity can feel ineffable. Mysterious. Elusive. A "you have it or you don't" type of thing. In reality, it's for everyone. A muscle you need to work like any other. But how? We asked our favorite creative minds to share the rules they return to again and again. The tricks that help them get inspired, stay productive, and translate good ideas into masterworks. Indie film king Jim Jarmusch, comedian Ramy Youssef, and novelist Joyce Carol Oates think you should take a walk. Others say you should trust your gut. Write everything down. Be your most radical self. With this brain trust, we assembled GQ's "Secrets to Unlocking Your Creativity." So open your mind. Find your inner genius. And for the love of God, go for a walk.

1 Just Try

There is no dark art to creating, according to Rick Rubin, the sui generis record producer who wrote a whole book on the subject (The Creative Act: A Way of Being, out now). His advice? Just go for it. "Think of it as play," says Rubin. "Have fun, do iterations. No thought is too small or ridiculous. Build a model in the physical world, not just in your mind's eye. Follow your excitement. If your interest wanes, experiment in a new direction. If you're excited to show it to a friend, it's ready to release into the world."

2 But Don't Try Too Hard

What would Lucy Sante, writer and author of the singular history Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York, have done differently when she was just starting out? "Don't try so hard. Simplicity is your best bet. Outsmarting everyone else is not the point."

3. STEP OUT OF YOUR MIND