Revamping Creativity And Unlocking Inspiration

Stuck in a writing rut? You’re not alone. It can be an exhausting struggle to put pen- or key– to page when you’re feeling creatively stuck. But, as writers, even when we feel stuck, we’re still driven by a desire to write. George Orwell said it best when he said…

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” — George Orwell

So, how can we improve the situation? The key is in revamping creativity and unlocking inspiration.

Here are five ways to do just that:

Way #1: Set aside time for free-writing. This is a designated window of time that you give yourself, unencumbered by outside distraction, to simply let your thoughts flow. [In the past, I’ve set a timer for increments of 5 or 15 minutes. You’d be amazed at what the mind can come up with in just a few minutes when let loose to explore!] Examples of ways to use this time: It could be coming up with new characters, jotting down fun book titles, playing with plot ideas, etc. Remember: During this time, there are no rules to adhere to. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, formatting, etc. All those things can be edited later. There’s much truth in what Jodi Picoult said…

“You may not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” — Jodi Picoult 

Way #2: Give yourself mental breaks between writing. If writing feels like an agonizing chore with no end in sight, that will come through in the voice of your story. So, when you’re feeling unmotivated, unglue yourself from the chair and do something to put your mind at ease. It could be taking a walk in the fresh air, grabbing a hot shower (or bubble bath), doing some yoga, etc. Whatever it is, allow yourself that time to recharge.

Way #3: Remember why you write. What does writing mean to you on a personal level? This could be any list of reasons. Perhaps it’s therapeutic. Or maybe it’s a form of connection. Or maybe it’s for a greater purpose beyond yourself… to help share or teach a moral conviction you’re passionate about and want to help spread awareness of. Whatever it is, remind yourself of why. Once you remember the purpose of writing and what it means to you, it will help you regain a clear objective and joyful mindset.

Way # 4: Revisit projects that bring you joy. There’s no one better to help remind you of your creativity than yourself. Pull out old story ideas or manuscripts that have brought you true joy. Whether they are stories that are complete or ones that were never finished. If they are stories that you completed, maybe they can spark new inspiration for something yet to come. If they are stories you placed in a drawer for a rainy day, why not take them out for a creative run and see where you can get them?

Way #5: Celebrate creative wins. Whether it’s within the last few days or years, why not take a trip down successful avenue and celebrate some of your creative wins? What projects have you worked on that received some word of commendation, positive feedback in the form of a critique or review, or maybe even won a contest or award?