Is there a succinct word for the 'itch' to do something creative? For example having a niggle in your brain where only doing something creative can make it go away?
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Define "be creative". How does an urge to be creative differ from a more general urge to do something? Does "Learn French" count as a "creative act"? How about "Listen to an opera"? (and would that be any different to "Listen to a radio talk show", or "Watch daytime TV"?).– FumbleFingersAug 7, 2014 at 12:41
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Not a real word in the sense you want it to mean: procreative.– jxhAug 7, 2014 at 23:38
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"Insanity" is probably the word you're looking for.– Hot LicksAug 8, 2014 at 0:51
5 Answers
One might also refer to being "stricken by the muse" if there is a specific creative idea demanding that you implement it.
Inspiration
can do that to you.
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2Inspiration might lead to a sudden desire to be creative, but I believe these are two different ideas.– talrnuAug 7, 2014 at 20:33
While it isn't a single word, the phrase creative frenzy is often heard. By itself, frenzy means
A state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior [Oxford Dictionary Online]
Other similar terms are creative fervor and creative fever.
fervor: great intensity of feeling or belief; ardour; zeal [Collins]
fever: A state of nervous excitement or agitation [Oxford Dictionary Online]
The terms could be used by themselves if the context reflected the source of the agitation, as in
He was in a frenzy that only a full day of writing could relieve.
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1A creative frenzy might result from the sensation @Sal is describing, but it doesn't describe the sensation itself.– talrnuAug 7, 2014 at 20:31
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"And across the surface of the infinitely adjusted yet somehow effortless mechanics of the feathers, played idle designs of color, no two alike, designs executed, it seemed, in a controlled rapture"– Dan BronAug 7, 2014 at 20:38
The term "creative drive" comes to mind.
"He really possesses a creative drive; he spends 2 hours after work painting every day!"
Alternatively: "She's really creatively driven; even her shoes are homemade."
It's often called a creative urge: a sudden and strong compulsion to just create something. I'm not aware of a more succinct term.
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Yes, that's also quite poetic (though rarer, according to Google's Ngrams: books.google.com/ngrams/… )– Dan BronAug 7, 2014 at 20:53