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  • Hello, my name is Kayode Ewumi. I am an actor and writer,

  • and here are five ways to help you demolish creative blocks.

  • A creative block is when you're either creating something,

  • making something, and your mind has totally switched off.

  • You feel like any time you go and write that song, that script,

  • you go and make something, you hit a brick wall.

  • Have you experienced that?

  • What I would suggest, and what helps me,

  • is getting a blank sheet of paper, some colouring pencils, pens,

  • and just start to sketch on the piece of paper.

  • Just sketch, and set a timer for two minutes.

  • Then five minutes.

  • Then 10 minutes.

  • Why?

  • Why? Because, as kids, this is what we used to do.

  • And as kids we had this element of play, of fun, of imagination.

  • Colouring down helps you get any energy, any stress, any bad vibes,

  • on that sheet of paper.

  • The paper will then tell you how you're feeling.

  • Draw down whatever you want, however you want.

  • After that, then try again.

  • Try and make that thing again, try and create again.

  • And you'll see, there'll be a change.

  • When you read, watch and listen,

  • why don't you read something you haven't read before?

  • Watch a film you wouldn't normally watch.

  • A different genre or from a different era.

  • Listen to songs you would never listen to.

  • Listen to songs with no words.

  • Listen to rock, rap, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary.

  • Try and see things, hear things that you've never heard or seen before.

  • It will help you and will open your mind to a whole different world.

  • So, this is what you should do:

  • get a notepad, or something you can write notes in,

  • jump on any random train, or random bus,

  • and take it to the last stop.

  • As you're taking this bus or this train, write down what's around you.

  • Write down what you see or, in fact, that idea might just come to you.

  • And make sure you get it down.

  • Because now's the time.

  • Normally, if you're in the same environment, the same room,

  • the same place, you see the same things all the time.

  • And there's no room for inspiration.

  • So get out of there.

  • Get out of your room, get out of your house,

  • and let the world take you on a journey.

  • Learning an instrument requires diligence,

  • patience and concentration.

  • For me, for example, I started to learn an instrument at the age of 22.

  • I'm now 25 and no, I'm not the best.

  • But any time I'm writing a script or trying to create something,

  • and I can't do it, I go away and I play the keyboard for a bit.

  • Or I go on YouTube and I look at how to play chords on a guitar.

  • Why?

  • Because, for example, with the guitar,

  • unless you get the right chord,

  • you will not hear that sound, and that's the same with writing.

  • Unless you get the right thing,

  • the right characters, it will not be what it needs to be.

  • So instruments teach you diligence, how to keep on going,

  • and keep on going till you get what's right.

  • So learn an instrument.

  • I'll say the guitar, it's nice. It hurts your fingers though, but hey.

  • The vomit draft is always the first draft.

  • And it looks terrible, it smells horrible.

  • But this is what you need to begin your journey.

  • If you don't get it down and it stays here, it's not helpful.

  • You don't have to show anybody,

  • just keep it to yourself, but make sure you get this draft down.

  • Forget about what people think.

  • Forget about what your mind is telling you.

  • And just do what's right.

  • Get it down and begin your journey.

  • Thanks for watching.

  • Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell to receive notifications for new videos.

  • See you again soon!

Hello, my name is Kayode Ewumi. I am an actor and writer,

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