I believe that every creative act is an application of problem solving. That doesn't mean that it can't be fun as well; it can and should be enjoyable. Here are some of the best creative thinking strategies:

Wallis formulated his theory way back in 1913. It may be old, but it's still one of the best there is.

1. Preparation: the research phase during which information is gathered on the subject; the hard grind part of the process, requiring one to become very knowledgeable about the area of concern.

2. Incubation: the period following the grueling process of preparation in which one engages in other activities, not consciously working on the problem, but permitting consideration of the problem in the subconscious mind (often overlooked, but essential   in the formation of many creative ideas).

3. Illumination (sometimes called the "aha'." or "Eureka!"): that moment when a possible viable solution to the problem occurs to one.

4. Verification: the testing of the solution; involves the organization of data and conducting of experiments.

This is a five-step process.

1. Fact-finding

2. Problem-finding

3. Idea-finding

4. Solution-finding

5. Acceptance-finding

Each Step has two phases.

1. Divergent thinking processes (curiosity, inventiveness, activity)

2. Convergent thinking processes (knowledge, decision, valuation)

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
--William Blake

· Feedback:   Reconsideration of previous stages occurs

· Branching:   The order of the stages may be revised ac being considered.

This is the use of simple questions to trigger creative thinktn2 and offer alternative solutions. In this strategy, one begins with an already existing object or idea, and searches for ways it can be altered to provide possible solutions to a problem. Some of the transformational of manipulative verbs that can be used to activate 'creative thinking are: transform, translate, transmute, transpose, magnify, mini minify, multiply, divide, concretize, abstract, distort, disguise, animate, fragment, dissect, rearrange, adapt, modify, combine, unify, integrate, manipulate, restate, repeat, reverse, substitute, and eliminate.

Sociodrama

This strategy involves a seven-step model.

1. Defining the problem

2. Establishing a conflict or situation

3. Casting characters

4. Warming up actors and observers

5. Acting out the solution

6. Cutting the action

7. Evaluating situations

Brainstorming
(developed by Osborn)

Brainstorming is a technique for finding alternatives, which can be used at all stages in the creative problem solving process. As it is entirely a divergent thinking strategy, convergent thinking must be provided at later point within each stage.
There are four rules of brainstorming.

· All criticism is forbidden to allow for free exploration of any and all ideas.

· "Freewheeling" is encouraged with zany ideas welcomed, as it is easier to later refine ideas than to make them more unique.

· Quantity of ideas is sought, as the more ideas are expounded, the better the likelihood becomes that useful ideas will be generated.

· Combining, improving on, and expanding on previous ideas is encouraged to allow for the best possibilities.

"But what we think is less than what we know; what we know is less than what we love; what we love is so much less than what there is. And to that precise extent we are so much less than what we are."
--Laing

This process involves listing ways of achieving a goal opposite of the one actually desired. What is most interesting about this process is that the ideas proposed using this technique are very often the ones currently in practice.

There are many other creative thinking strategies. The ones I summarized here are my favorites, the ones I use most often when teaching, writing, painting, singing, acting, or just living my daily life. But perhaps some others would be more useful to you. Here is a quick list of some other well-know  strategies.

· Speculating/"what if' questions

· Attribute listing

· Attribute analogy chains

· Guided and unguided imaging

· Visual connections

· Clustering>

· Free writing

· Synaesthesia Checklists

· Gestalt

· Bionics

· Idea files

· Spectrum policy