Of course, that often isn’t the case, it’s just the most obvious and - apparently - reliable method. If you’re in a panic, you tend to take the head-on approach because it seems to be the one that’s going to yield the best results. The Oblique Strategies evolved from me being in a number of working situations when the panic of the situation - particularly in studios - tended to make me quickly forget that there were others ways of working and that there were tangential ways of attacking problems that were in many senses more interesting than the direct, head-on approach. According to Eno, in a 1980 interview with Charles Amirkhanian of KPFA radio: The two friends realized their individual efforts overlapped so much that they decided to collaborate. Oblique Strategies came from separate attempts by Eno and Schmidt to find ways to solve creative problems and unleash their creativity. Although it was developed for solving problems in a recording studio, I thought its lessons were worth consideration for writers. Recently, one of my favorite podcasts, ( Omnibus! With Ken Jennings and John Roderick), highlighted a method developed in the ‘70s by musician Brian Eno and artist Peter Schmidt, called Oblique Strategies. But that’s not a healthy way to live and not every project has a deadline, so I’m always searching for (healthy) ways to break through creative blocks and attain that state. I’ve written before about one sure-fire method for me to get there: panic due to approaching deadlines. The books start writing themselves I’m merely taking dictation from some inner boss.Īs exciting as that feeling is, it’s a state of mind I’m not always able to achieve. For me, there’s nothing better than being in that Zen state where I’m creating to the best of my ability without trying. I’m fascinated by the creative process and am always searching for ways to ignite the spark of creativity. Why not try Oblique Strategies, the I Ching, or a coin flip? Changing your mental approach might lead to a side-door solution you didn’t see before. Sometimes, taking a problem on head-on isn’t the most creative solution.

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