Creative brainstorming groups
I was at a gallery with an artist friend recently, and as usual, our conversation turned to “the creative process.” Hers is so different from mine: how she goes about painting versus how I approach writing a short story or novel. But also, there are similarities.
I don’t fully understand exactly how she goes from the image in her mind’s eye to the final product of a scene rendered on canvas, with all the emotion and storycrafting that comes naturally to me with the written word, but which I could never recreate with paint or pencil.
Still, there’s plenty for us to discuss—our creative minds are very aligned.
There are established formats for creators of the same discipline, and often the same format, to discuss their work. Critique groups are not only helpful to developing strong stories, but I consider them essential to forming creative community.
Critique groups, however, have their limits. They only represent and serve one facet of the creative process—the evaluative, the corrective, the retrospective. And they are siloed. I’m not a part of critique groups that focus on young adult fiction or poetry, because that’s not what I write. That’s not what I need a critical eye for.
Chatting with my creative friends, colleagues, and the creators who I work with, I began to consider what I do need. What we all need, as we create whatever kind of art we do.
Creative brainstorming groups
I think there’s room for more in how we gather and talk about our work and projects, which might be found in creative brainstorming groups. These operate on a fundamentally different principle than critique groups: instead of examining what has been created, they focus on what could be. They lean into the messy, nonlinear nature of inspiration and provide structured spaces for ideas to grow and evolve.
To me, creative brainstorming groups could function with a “yes, and” mentality. The central question could be, “what if?” Ideas could spiral outward with exploration, rather than analysis. Every comment could be a starting point, without judgement.
Genre and technique explorations
Thinking of possibilities, one way to approach craft and community is from an experimental, rather than corrective, angle. An exploration group might spend a session discussing different ways to approach story structure, character development, scene work, perspective, and more. This could be a way to share unique strengths with others, while also expanding the creative bubble that artists often find themselves in when they tend to work alone.
Business and strategy salons
Working in children’s books, I see firsthand what a challenge it can be to manage the practical aspects of building a career around creativity. Traditional critique groups rarely address the logistical questions of being your own business while also trying to create meaningful art. Brainstorming gatherings with these topics in mind could allow for honest, vulnerable discussions that offer practical solutions, forecast common issues, and provide camaraderie around the realities of the freelance life.
Cross-pollination gatherings
I could talk about children’s books all day, and thanks to my job, I sometimes get to. But whenever I have the chance to bond with creatives in different fields, working in different formats or mediums, I get so energized. My perspective broadens, I usually learn something new, and I always feel creatively recharged, in quiet awe of the many different forms of self-expression we, as humans, are drawn to. What if writers were in more active, regular dialogue with visual artists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, actors, and more? What if we all were? I can only imagine how these conversations would produce surprising insights, expansion of worldviews, and fulfilling connections.
Getting started
No one needs permission to begin a group. The overhead could be low—a coffee shop, a living room, a Zoom room. Timing and scheduling are always factors, and some structure would help to get a new group started on the right foot, building in a positive direction with momentum. Ground rules or principles would probably be useful.
And I think the benefits would be extraordinary. Gatherings like these, which model different ways of being creative, can emphasize collaboration, curiosity, vision, and exploration. In a creative landscape that can so often feel like a lonely grind, brainstorming groups could offer something precious: spaces that begin with wonder, where ideas are welcomed, celebrated, and allowed to grow like wildflowers.
Are you already a part of a group like this? Are you planning on starting one soon? What would that ideally look like for you and the other creatives you know? I’d love to hear all about it!