Raphael Bob-Waksberg Quotes

Most people have their best ideas when they take their minds away from problems they're trying to solve.

I often find that having an idea in my head prevents me from doing something else. Working is therefore a way of getting rid of an idea.

If I'm stuck in the midst of a story, I take a nap. It often works, and if it doesn't, I still feel better.

I write about two hours a day, and I write in fits and spurts - 45 minutes here, a half-hour there - and when I get stuck, which happens often, I take the dogs for a walk. But during the time when I'm not actually writing, I'm thinking.

If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don't just stick there scowling at the problem. But don't make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people's words will pour in where your lost words should be.

There are definitely times - and I think this is pretty common among cartoonists - where you spend an entire day trying to think of an idea, and you're like, 'I give up.' And then you go and take a shower or run an errand, and halfway there, you get an idea.

I'm not very good at writing songs when I have a lot of clutter in my mind.

If I get writer's block - this is going to sound funny - I take a shower. Something about the water feels like I'm cleaning my brain as well as my body.

I'll just drive around if I'm stuck on something or have a case of writer's block.

Writing music is hard if your head is full of waste.

Never listen to music when you're trying go come up with a Big Idea.

To create well I have to be in a good mood, happy and cool.

I don't generally listen to music while working, but sometimes music can help me get past minor writer's block.

Weirdly, often the more I write, the more ideas I have.

Occasionally, if I'm in a rut, I find changing location helps.

Take naps. Often new ideas come together when you are half asleep, but you have to train yourself to remember them.

You don't have to work for Google, or any of the other firms encouraging staff to pursue personal projects on company time, to use slowness to unlock your creativity. Anyone can do it. Start by clearing space in your schedule for rest, daydreaming and serendipity. Take breaks away from your desk, especially when you get stuck on a problem.

You have to allow a certain amount of time in which you are doing nothing in order to have things occur to you, to let your mind think.

I don't listen to music when I'm writing, but I often do when I'm reworking, editing or when I need to relax.

The brilliant thing about swimming is that, while you're doing it, there's nothing else you could be getting on with, like the ironing or sorting out the children. My mind goes into free-float mode; some of the best ideas for plots come into my head while I'm ploughing up and down the pool.

Your best ideas, those eureka moments that turn the world upside down, seldom come when you're juggling emails, rushing to meet the 5 P.M. deadline or straining to make your voice heard in a high-stress meeting. They come when you're walking the dog, soaking in the bath or swinging in a hammock.

Creating something I can use is the best stress reliever.

I hate thinking about writer's block! I don't have writer's block much, knock on wood, but if I do, I think it's usually because I haven't done enough research and am therefore unable to create a fully realized world.

Inspiration is some mysterious blessing which happens when the wheels are turning smoothly.

You can't really think about more than one movie at a time. You're thinking about it consciously, and the subconscious is working too, and if you cram too much into your head, you don't get any ideas in the shower.