If you’re trying to find original content and storytelling inspiration, you may have already discovered Austin Kleon. His book, Steal like an artist- is not a conventional choice for our work. But it’s a brilliant book, if you’re creating original content and stories. It will make you question your ideas and get you thinking about the need for analog desks!

Why original content and stories need an analog desk

We don’t know where we get our ideas from. What we do know is that we don’t get them from our laptops- John Cleese, as seen in Steal like an artist

1. Physical movement generates reactions– as also described in the several books and research, makes us more receptive and active. We see more, and we share more. Kleon talks about using your hands and being creative, in tangible, physical ways. It works!

2. Analog desks create infinite creative possibilities– Analog worlds do not come up with a delete button. You can spend a whole morning painting and drawing, and one idea leads to another and it stays in your sketch-book. You can think of multiple and infinite ways to design or use the efforts of your creativity. It is easy to keep sitting on the same page, one delete after another on a computer.

3. Analog desks are less distracting– It’s easy to go on writing an article or blog post and then find a Wikipedia-styled link from one social network to another, in the end losing your chain of thoughts. In the form of red-colored notification and emails, the digital desk can really decrease productivity by being distracting. Usually, your sketch book will not talk back in distracting ways. It will somehow, lead you to action, and a creativity focus instead.

4. Analog desks enable you to imagine the results– Drawing or doodling solutions gives you a far greater tangible sense of things at times, instead of missing something on the screen. At our storytelling workshops for kids and adults, we prefer to have tangible materials, books and prints. This creates a more immersive experience, and usually generates higher quality and creative outputs.

5. Analog desks promote originality– In your notebook or a piece of paper, the likelihood of a copy-paste error, as well as a copy-paste creativity policy is negligible. Even if you take an inspiration from a great artist, putting it down in your own words or with your own hand, makes it unique and original. How cool is that!

What do you do to keep your inspiration and creativity going? Which other books would you recommend? Do share!