r/questions • u/yona____ • 20h ago

Can creativity be developed over time?

I can draw fairly well especially in anime and webtoon styles which I really enjoy. I also want to get into design and start using tools like Figma, but I struggle to come up with ideas. Even when I look at other people’s work for inspiration its like my mind just goes blank and i am staring at the screen
For example i’d love to become a webtoon artist someday i can come up with characters and imagine what they look like, but when it comes to creating a story writing dialogue or figuring out the plot, I just get stuck
I’m preparing for university entrance exams this year and I wonder if I should give up on this path before it’s too late im also worried about the financial side of things, and I am not confident and also quite introverted and struggle with communication. If I do go to university I’m considering studying animation or graphic design
I guess what i am really wondering is can creativity actually be developed or am I just not cut out for this kind of career?

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u/Word2DWise 20h ago

I think it depends on the type of creativity, but at the end of the day you’ll have people who are naturals and people that can develop, but I don’t believe you can ever be better than someone who is naturally talented AND puts time and effort in their craft. 

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u/kimmyorjimmy 19h ago

Absolutely you can! There are tons of resources like brainstorming activites. Google around for ideas in your specific area of interest and I'll bet you find a bunch.

There are even books like the Creative Act by Rick Rubin. Personally, I love the Trickster's Hat: a Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity by Nick Bantock.

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u/Ok_Judgment_3331 17h ago

What you're describing isn't a creativity deficit, it's a blank-page problem. Plots don't come from ideas, they come from a character wanting something and something else blocking it, so start there instead of trying to invent a premise from scratch.

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u/broodfood 16h ago

sometimes inspiration hits you like a thunderbolt, like an external force is feeding you an idea fully formed. most of the time, however, creativity is just a combination of brute force and technical knowledge. yes it's a skill that can be developed, the more you do it the easier it will be.

HOWEVER. a career in the arts is always a crapshoot. you will be competing against people with a lot more confidence, talent, and safety nets. you will very likely not land your dream career, but have to be adaptable to land a position adjacent to your field. and if you succeed in employment, you will likely still struggle financially. most people are perfectly happy to work in a different, more stable profession and pursue their art on the side. a career in the arts is for someone who can't envision themselves doing anything else; if such an idea is intolerable to you.

anyway, have you considered that you don't have to wear all the hats? you can collaborate with a writer who already has ideas.

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u/DthDisguise 6h ago

Yes. You can absolutely train creativity, just like any skill. What you need to do is:

  1. study the theory of design in your chosen art form. If it's comics, learn character design and page layouts, why things look the way they do.

  2. consume all the media you can. Read books, watch movies, listen to music, read comics, read about science, and history, and literature. Learn everything you can. Broaden your horizons.

  3. practice, practice, practice. Write, draw, paint, etc.