At some point in every creative person's life, they experience the dreaded block: the sudden loss of interest, inspiration or seeming ability to express themselves creatively in the ways that use to be as natural as breathing.
Advice on this is as myriad and varied as the people who experience it. As with most things, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and a lot of it is trying different methods to see what works. With that being said, here are some strategies I have found useful over the years. Since my primary art is writing, I am going to refer to writer's block throughout, but I often use the same strategies when it is a different kind of block.
One of the biggest things to remember if you are experiencing block is that you are not alone. This is a normal part of being a creative person: the ebb will follow the flow.
While maybe not the conventional approach, I actually lean into these times. When one type of inspiration dries up, I give it space. Sometimes it means that things are processing and it will come back later, and stressing about the block has always been a surefire way for me to perpetuate it. In the meantime, I turn my attention to other creative pursuits and fill my cup that way. I find this way of approaching blocks means I not only reduce my mental stress about the block itself, but often cultivate new skills and develop existing ones.
I don't mean to say that if you have writer's block you should just stop writing completely. In fact, I strongly encourage you to continue, just take a gentle approach to it. Instead of writing to "produce", just focus on the writing itself. Some gentle writing types I enjoy include:
- Lists (colours, places, people, things I want to try, flowers or plants I love, music)
- Quotes from songs, shows or things I have read
- Journal (just brain dump, no editing or censoring)
- "Dictionary" entries - exploring new, interesting or favourite words and their definitions
- Fictional conversations
Honestly, even when I am feeling very creative and motivated, I still often write these kinds of things, as I find they help clear the clutter in my brain a bit.
But what about this "leaning into" a creative block?
For me, that looks like easing back on that type of activity. Like a sore muscle, I rest it. In the meantime, I turn more to other activities. Which ones depend largely on what I am experiencing in a broader way at that time.
Suggestions?
- Learn a craft - origami, sewing, knitting or crocheting
- Paint, doodle, sketch
- If you can, play an instrument
I also "consume" more when I am blocked ("fill the cup")
- Listen to music
- Read (try to squeak in a variety)
- Go for walks in nature, pay attention to the little things and the large
- Look at art
- Watch movies, shows or plays, especially ones that evoke a lot of feeling or thinking
- Take a class or course
I should, at this point, emphasize that I am talking about a creative block. However, I have also experienced full creative burnout. This has only ever happened in conjunction with other major factors, such as depression and burnout in other areas of my life. If you have ever experienced burnout, you know that once you are there, there is nothing left. If you hit this creatively, regardless of reason, the only thing to do is rest and "consume". Fighting burnout by forcing more effort is like fighting a brick wall with open wounds--you will just hurt yourself and do more damage. Take the time to rest, absorb, give your curiosity some nurturing and only create when you genuinely feel motivated to do so.
Do you have any strategies you find helpful with creative blocks? I would love to hear them. Share them in the comments below!