creativity tapped out? i think not
Tell me if this is familiar to you. Sometimes I can’t hear what I want to write. I have a story or poem that’s blocked and I have trouble reaching through to pull it out.
In these times you may hear no ideas, feel like you have no creativity, but look a little closer. The problem may be that you’re stuck in a different gear.
In life we often have things that require our attention—not only your writing ideas. You need to know what’s on your plate, what distracts you when you want to write. After all, how else can you dismiss it without knowing what it is?
Why So Empty?
You’re not really. It feels like there’s nothing there, no words come. It’s rarely the case that there are no words. Your ideas may be mired in thoughts of bills, laundry and work.
Proper rest and random writing help a lot. Proper rest gives me a much better handle on my writing. This is because when I’m sleepy, little distractions loom large and foreboding over my small plan to write. Rested and alert I can plan my attack to get everything done. Then, I can see that there can be laundry after writing.
Random writing helps because getting started can draw you into the process. Unless things are very much overwhelming, it can distract you from the things that seek to lay claim to your attention. If you work as a writer, that work can overshadow your current writing. In that circumstance, writing can help to bleed it out and call up the writing you’re intending to do.
Unearthing Your Creativity
Following are a few things that have pulled my creativity out. They have a way of clearing my mental pallet, of blasting away the distractions, leaving free, the thoughts that I was looking for.
Option 1 - Allow the distractions. It sounds counter-productive but it helps when you can’t ignore a thing. I indulge myself and address the concerns that won’t leave me alone. If it’s housework, I will do a little work to appease my guilt and remove that obstacle to my writing session.
Option 2 - Read something. My favorite inspiring blogs inspire me with their great writing and topics. I am inspired and motivated to participate. A book of poetry is always close at hand; or a novel or magazine to take my thoughts.
Option 3 - Meditation helps. Quieting my thoughts and concerns helps me to dismiss them for a writing session. Sometimes I’ve actually fallen asleep; which means I was tired in the first place.
Option 4 - Organize something. It could be folding clothes, rearranging the closet, or putting dishes away. This practice of doing something physical can take me out of my head long enough to regroup. Or, if I’ve been lazy about the way I’ve saved files, I’ll re-arrange my hard drives—which reminds me, it’s time to make some changes on that front.
You’ve Still Got It
Creativity is present all of the time. It’s not tapped out; only it requires that you tap in to hear it. It’s the voice that comments when you’re watching a movie, or the gesture you make to get someone to smile. I find it in my responses to things I’ve read when I say I could’ve written it better.
Usually, when I want to tap into my creativity, it rarely works to force it. Instead, encouraging it to speak gets me what I need. It’s present and audible, we just have to remember how to dig it out from the muck of distractions so we can hear its instructions.
There are many things that you can do to release your creativity. Tell me some things that work for you. I’d love to hear your experiences.
