One part of my personal creative process I didn't find discussed or mentioned in the post is about having a goal for one's creative endeavor. I've found the idea of sitting down to simply 'write a song' or 'create something' doesn't work for me. What does work for me is having a specific goal and working towards that goal. The goals don't have to be overly complex, but I need at least some nugget of an idea that I can consciously refer to during the process to keep me on track (I'm easily distracted by 'possibilities' and 'choices'). An example of such a goal would be that I wish to write a song that has a verse with a more minor feel, use the I–vi–IV–V progression for the bridge, make the chorus upbeat, have a Joy Division meets the 50s vibe, and write some lyrics that tells a story that starts with driving somewhere.
This method isn't foolproof and sometimes I have ideas that don't work or result in bad songs, but occasionally the final product is good enough that I can introduce it to the band and incorporate the new song into our practice/performance setlist. Having a goal that I write down gives me an idea of what I want the final product to look/feel/sound like while still leaving room for spontaneity, as I'll edit the goal if I think of a better idea. A side benefit of this approach is that it makes it easier to communicate the gist of the song to other musicians when they ask what it sounds like and/or what it is about.
This method isn't foolproof and sometimes I have ideas that don't work or result in bad songs, but occasionally the final product is good enough that I can introduce it to the band and incorporate the new song into our practice/performance setlist. Having a goal that I write down gives me an idea of what I want the final product to look/feel/sound like while still leaving room for spontaneity, as I'll edit the goal if I think of a better idea. A side benefit of this approach is that it makes it easier to communicate the gist of the song to other musicians when they ask what it sounds like and/or what it is about.