First of all, give yourself a break. This isn’t a planned writer’s retreat, this is a stretched-out crisis full of anxiety-provoking issues. If you are struggling with your creativity because you can’t keep your head clear, be kind. Talk to yourself like you would a friend, not a broken toaster. You don’t have to emerge from your shelter with a masterwork in your hands.
Things to try:
- Go for a walk, preferably in nature. A lot of parks are still open- keep away from other people and look at trees, flowers, grass, and sky. Remind yourself the world is out there.
- Write around the thing you are stuck on. Journal about what you want the outcome to be, skip the bit that’s frustrating you and stick in a filler “EPIC SCENE HERE”.
- Try a different creative outlet. If you usually paint, try sewing.
- Collaborate: work on something together with a friend online, give each other prompts or projects.
- Try the Pomodoro technique- use timed sessions to make your creative project less intimidating.
- Read about your art: pull that book off your shelf, borrow an ebook or audio from the library, read blogs on creativity.
- Give yourself permission to make bad art. Remember, someone was brave enough to make multiple Sharknado movies.
- Set up a schedule. If every day at 7 PM you sit down and look at your project, and do a few minutes working on it, eventually it will get easier to keep going. Also, setting aside time means you aren’t beating yourself up on it other times.
- Figure out your “prime time” when you have the most creative energy, and schedule your creative time then.
- Ask good questions. Instead of “Why can’t I do this?” ask “What would make this more fun?” or “What do I need to make this easier?”
- Have a creativity ritual. When it’s time to write, turn off your wifi, sit in your writing space, play your writing music, wear your writing slippers…associate certain things with your creative time.
- Picture the perfect target audience for your art and imagine that it makes them happy. They aren’t seeing the flaws, they see the whole thing and love it.
- Reach out- talk to someone about your feelings, your ideas, your struggles. You are not alone.
Reading recommendations:
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage
- Keep Going by Austin Kleon
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
- Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
- Writing Excuses podcast (I need to try this one, haven’t yet)
- Insecure Writer’s Support Group website
