---
title: "Oblique Strategies (Breaking Through Creative Walls)"

description: "Back in 1975, musician/artist Brian Eno and multimedia artist Peter Schmidt published a card-based method for promoting creativity. Let’s unpack why it works and how you can use the method behind the game to increase your own creativity. Let’s take a wrecking ball to the writers’ block!"

status: complete

date: 2024-10-22

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Oblique-Strategies-Breaking-Through-Creative-Walls-e2pbuh9"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oblique-strategies-breaking-through-creative-walls/id1567355195?i=1000673962383&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kRt62OerYDCxZuq0o673j"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Creativity"
  - "Music production"
  - "Oblique Strategies"
  - "Breaking Writer's Block"
  - "Brian Eno's Influence"
  - "Challenging Constraints"
  - "Innovative Thought"
  - "Personal Anecdotes"
  - "Artistic Exploration"
  - "Creative Freedom vs. Restrictions"

hostNote: |
  Writer's block isn't a mystery, everyone gets it, except apparently John Mellencamp. The question is whether you go through the wall, around it, or dig under it. Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt's answer was a deck of cards subtitled "over 100 worthwhile dilemmas."
  
  I unpack why constraints work as a creative catalyst: when a prompt forces you sideways, you stop defending your original idea and start following something new. The oblique move isn't avoidance, it's a deliberate reframe that gets you back to making instead of stalling. That includes using AI as a prompt-generator rather than an answer-machine.
  
  You leave with a practical method for the next time you're stuck: find a constraint, external or internal, and let it do the heavy lifting.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introduction to Oblique Strategies"
    startSec: 90
    note: "I introduce the concept of Oblique Strategies and its purpose in aiding creativity."
  - label: "The Role of Constraints in Music"
    startSec: 227
    note: "I describe how constraints can enhance the creative process by forcing artists to think differently."
  - label: "Finding Creative Solutions"
    startSec: 318
    note: "I discuss various methods to overcome writer's block by utilizing challenges."
  - label: "Real-life Application of Creative Constraints"
    startSec: 361
    note: "I share personal experiences of using creative constraints to spark inspiration."
  - label: "Encouragement to Experiment"
    startSec: 451
    note: "I discuss the importance of experimenting with creative processes."
  - label: "Using AI as a Creative Tool"
    startSec: 767
    note: "I talk about leveraging AI in the creative process without losing artistic autonomy."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "So what is Oblique Strategies, subtitled over 100 worthwhile dilemmas?"
    startSec: 137
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Finding some other constraints internally or externally through a book or through a card game is a nice oblique strategy towards good and interesting creative output."
    startSec: 230
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Everyone does [get writer's block] except for John Mellencamp. And when you have writer's block, you need to find a way through that wall or around that wall or dig below the wall."
    startSec: 320
    reviewed: true
  - text: "...I learned this when I was...being guided by a Sherpa up the mountain top of music."
    startSec: 272
    reviewed: true
  - text: "So when you find that you are stuck, you might need to do something drastic."
    startSec: 449
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Instead use the machine to challenge you, or as another voice, or as something that can prompt you in a different and unexpected way."
    startSec: 769
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What are Oblique Strategies?"
    answer: "Oblique Strategies is a card-based method created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt to help artists break through creative barriers by presenting challenging dilemmas."
  - question: "How can creative constraints help artists?"
    answer: "Creative constraints can inspire artists by forcing them to think differently and find innovative solutions to challenges, thus enhancing their creativity."
  - question: "Who is Brian Eno and what is his contribution to music?"
    answer: "Brian Eno is a renowned producer and artist known for his influential work in music, particularly in ambient music, and his collaborations with artists like U2 and Coldplay."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---