Dance is one of the many things we think of that creative sorts do, likewise with art, music, poetry, fiction, sculptures, or the like. But creativity is more than that. It is, to quote Rick Rubin, “to bring something into existence that wasn’t there before.” and also to lend newness to something that does exist already.

And that seemingly elusive thing called creativity doesn’t always come in grand leaps or jazz hands. Sometimes it begins with a whisper – just a shimmer of an idea. At other times, it’s like a flash-dance-style rock show that takes up the whole arena!

I have written about creativity many times before, and this time I am approaching it from a different angle – looking at different aspects of creativity, kind of magical doorways, or dance movements. I love dance, I love writing about creativity, so why not mix them both! Plus, May 30th observes National Creativity Day.

You know the saying, “dance like no one is watching” ? Same thing applies here, let your creativity dance just for yourself, forget about everything else for the moment, and just be… be creative.

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So here are…

5 Ways to Let Your Creativity Dance!

From spark → idea flow → challenge → flexibility → expression.

🌀 Curiosity – The First Twirl

Curiosity is the opening move—the spark that says, “What if?” or “Why not?” It’s the childlike wonder, the fuel that sparks curiosity, and turns sand into castles, and a plain rock into a fossil, a word into a story, a question into a quest. This is where the dance begins—it’s the movement that nudges us toward wonder.
✨ Try this: Keep a “why?” or “why not?” or a “what if…” notebook. Or follow your next rabbit-hole thought all the way down. I know I do this often, like with this post, which is why it took longer than it should have to make its way out to you!

💃 Fluency: The Rapid-Fire Footwork

Fluency is the rhythm that doesn’t stop. It’s generating idea after idea—not worrying if they’re good, just letting them flow like an improv or a JAM session. Oh, how I dreaded going up in front of everyone during those ‘just-a-minute’ competitions we had ages ago when I was in high school, but looking back, I am glad of the experience.
✨ Try this:

• List as many alternate uses as you can for a spoon, a shoelace, or a paperclip. Just go with the flow!
• In 2 minutes, write down as many silly questions as you can think of. (If you want inspiration, check out any of the ‘Would You Rather’ books, like this one. But then, on the other hand, There’s No Such Thing as a Silly Question!)

🧠 Problem-Solving: The Challenge

Problem-solving is creativity as strategy—where imagination meets a challenge and asks, “Now how might we…?”
✨ Try this:

• Pick a small, nagging problem in your space or routine and brainstorm at least three fun or unusual ways to fix it.
• Build a boat out of cardboard (like these high school students that I just saw in the news a couple days ago)

🌊 Openness: The Flow Step

Openness is about saying yes to odd ideas, letting go of the need for control, and letting surprise take the lead. It’s how you find joy in detours. It is the ‘giving yourself wiggle-room’ part of creativity—the ability to shift gears, pivot, and see things from a fresh perspective.

✨ Try this: Change one habit today—your route, your breakfast, your playlist—and see what it stirs up.

💫 Expression: The Joyful Leap

The finale move! It’s that moment when the creative energy spills outward—messy or polished, loud or quiet, shared or private. It’s yours.
✨ Try this: Make something today—a quick sketch, a few lines of poetry, a dance in your kitchen. Just make.

Each of these movements brings something different to the creativity stage. And when you dance between and through them, you can feel the creativity within. Which makes me see the truth in Rick Rubin’s statement: “Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human.” Aka creativity is simply a way of being.

Now Playing in My Bookish Five: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

“We’re not here to replicate what we already know. We’re here to surprise ourselves.”

(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.

3 Friday 56

THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne at HeadFullofBooks. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up and visit others in the linky. 

4 Book Blogger Hop

The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.  

Have you ever wondered why a passionate book blogger might suddenly stop posting or delete their blog without notice?

Yes, I have. At times, it has been sad news where the blogger passed away, and at others, I wonder if it is burn-out or simply life. I know I have had other aspects of life take over which meant blogging took a back-seat for a while. So stop publishing makes sense for all these, but deleting their blog – that does boggle my mind. And I wonder why?

5 Other Creativity Posts From Moi

• The Edge of Creativity: How to Find Words When Wordless
• Scribbling Our Way to Creativity
• Playing With Prompts Or Ways to Better Creativity
• Daily Inspiration: 13 Ways to Be Creative Everyday
• Five Fun and Creative Ways to Reuse a Paper Bag

And Now, the End of This Creativity Post

Dear reader, which of the ideas here inspires you? Which one will you be trying? Any other suggestions for me? What is your creativity outlet?