i find that when a professor gives as "free range" on an assignment or "lets us come up with our own ideas" it takes me a while to get started. I do projects a lot faster when the instructor actually tells me what they want!
That does not mean I lack "creativity", it means I don't know what the professor is looking for and will debate with myself until i come to an acceptable conclusion as to what he/she is looking for. And then go from there. Generally, I find that this technique does not result in my best work. too much time, energy and brain power is wasted in trying to figure out what the teacher is actually wanting us to do, leaving me too frustrated to really make it creative.
I find myself doing some of my better work when there are actual guidelines as to what is wanted. I cover those and from the basics, i get helluva creative!! (for example: A P-Point presentation on a modern genocide. The prerequisite was 5-10 minutes long, covering the basic time-line and events. simple right? well I got all that and then some!! 30+ minute presentation with over 60 slides!! :crazy: and, yes, I got 100%! one cannot say that I am not thorough)
OWL