To make your work more interesting, make yourself more interesting
There is no formula to create interesting work. If there were, everything would be interesting, which is clearly not the case. So, how do you align the stars for interesting to happen? How can you improve the chances that it will come out of you consistently and often?
“Interesting” often happens at unexpected intersections, two disparate things crashing into each other to create a new thing. Based on that, the more interesting bits you put into yourself, the better the odds they will collide in new ways and result in creative, original output. And the more varied the input, the more unique combinations that become possible. It helps to draw from as many different sources as possible. Be an intense student of your particular industry. Digest all there is, soak in all the trades, study all the past greats, read all the current stars, but also reach out well beyond your chosen field, because often times, this is where the most powerful inspirations come from. You get to more interesting, not by copying the way of your industry, but by introducing new influences that take your industry to new places.
When you randomly juxtapose unlike elements it usually generates interesting results. So in your waking, working hours, push them together, line them up next to each other, the odd, short one with the tall, conservative one. Pair the Krav Maga with the Barber for Strings. Seat the E*Trade Baby next to Confucius. Hang the Goya next to the Successory. Mix the Oscar Meyer jingle and Post Malone. See what happens. Do they suddenly and strangely get along? Spark something never seen or heard before? Now go to sleep and let them dance together in your dreams, then wake to their magical amalgam.
You are a crock pot. Put all kinds of assorted ingredients in there and let them stew and cook together. Create your own unique concoction, Original Recipe You, then serve it up in helpings of interesting work.
