John Cleese on creativity

Here’s the gist of what John Cleese thinks helps creativity (video long gone, so you will have to take my word for it):

1. We don’t know where we get our ideas from. But probably not from our laptops.
2. If you’re trying to create something late at night and get stuck, go to bed. You might have a solution by the time you wake up.
3. It can be useful to lose stuff.  Reconstructions from memory are often better than the original.
4. Find a space where you’re not interrupted.
5. Give yourself a starting time and a finishing time to play.
6. People who aren’t very creative often don’t realise this, and might not recognise creativity in other people.
7. Stay away from egotistical people. They want to claim credit for everyone’s ideas and be in control of everything that goes on. They will actively discourage creativity in other people.