I don't think anyone can tell you when to be creative. You need to decide. If you want to do so for years on end because you have the gift to, more power to ya.
When to be creative: Right now. Not later. Later will never come. I'll be creative later is the excuse we make for not just putting our heads down and creating what we want to create.
Here's an example of what I mean:
Ask any writer who has written a book how they did it. They will answer by telling you they did it by sitting down and writing, day after day, until the book was finished.
Now ask anyone who wants to be a writer but has not written a book why they haven't done it. Their answers will all be different in detail, but will reduce to the same thing: they did not sit down and write, day after day, until the book is was finished.
Looks like we have radically different philosophies on creativity. I like your description Ryan (and admire dedication towards a goal you care about).
But I can't help but feel you can burn yourself out if you're not careful. I find my own work effectiveness to vary. Sometimes I'm a machine, cranking out great code/ideas but at other times my brain really does prefer other input/stimuli. Of course spending time with my fiance is always energizing. Going for long walks is my reset/refresh, checking out a museum or movie helps to. Browsing HN or other social shares is great to.
I don't think my philosophy is radically different from yours. My experience is similar to yours, and in fact I'm only really productive when I have a lot of (too many?) projects on the go.
I'm not suggesting you should commit every waking moment to a project until it's completed (if I did, I'd be guilty of the worst hypocrisy). Rather, I'm suggesting that if you want to complete a creative project, you need to commit to regular work on it, starting now and not at some unspecified point in the future.
Right on. Looks like we have more in common than I first guessed.
Once you are "ready" you've got to spend your time and effort (over sometimes very long periods) into transferring abstract concepts into concrete/shareable products.
It's not about someone telling you when to be creative, it's that you can take charge of the creative process through intentional practice. The best authors don't wait around hoping they'll have a breakthrough, they sit down every morning and work.
