Hello to all my creatives, this post is for you. I mostly write and am working on a new novel. This is slow going, because I am still working on how to structure a story and keep it going till the end. It is much harder than it sounds, but all writers are constantly getting better… what we like to call ‘perfecting our craft’. I imagine many creatives have a similar stance. So, today, I want to talk about a few ways I like to spark, or even reignite, my creativity.
- Change of scenery. I work at a desk in my home office and by office, I mean the corner I keep my computer and desk in. Because of have young kids, this doesn’t always lend itself to productive actions. It also means a lot of my writing gets done in the evening, especially during the summer. When I really need to keep going with the story, I like to grab my laptop and try the park or even the ubiquitous coffee shop. Some like it for the people watching, that they then use in their writings. But mostly, I use it as an opportunity to zone out to the sound of my keys and the voice of the story.
- Change of story. This might sound counter to what you are trying to accomplish at that time. Yet, often putting down your current project to start or continue another, gives your brain a chance to stretch in a different way. Then when you come back to the current work, your words may flow a bit better. As a writer, my brain is often thinking about characters in the background, so leaving and returning often has given my brain time to work on any problems without me being totally present. It is like when you get those flashes of insight and great ideas when you are in the shower. Mostly, that’s because you are not laser focused on the problem and have moved on. So, then your brain can work out the sticking points.
- Change of background. This one sounds weird and really similar to changing your scenery. But I use it in a different manner. Background for me is often the sounds of a home with kids arguing, televisions going, and interruptions even though I am supposed to be in a ‘no talk to Mommy’ zone. Some people write with music and have whole play lists devoted to their book. Or they just use it as white noise so they can focus. If you usually work to background noise, maybe try working in a place where there is no noise. Maybe you will hear that character who couldn’t get through your background. If you normally work in a mostly quiet environment, you can try music, or the television on a channel that doesn’t distract you but, can focus you. You don’t have to have a work in progress (WIP) play list, you could just put on a music genre you enjoy. The different stimuli may spark a new idea or direction, or just focus the one you are on.
- Put it down and pick up a book. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the story we are trying to create for the page that when we get stuck, we feel like we can’t stop. We have a goal and are adamant about reaching it. Yet, that isn’t always realistic, so when all else fails me, I pick up a book. Most writers I know love to read, and they don’t just read the types of books they write. Going off into a new world provided by a book just gives me a respite from the work of writing.
Now, these four ideas are certainly not unique and you may have heard of one or all, but I hope you got some new ideas about how you can avoid the occasional burn out of perfection. These are mostly ideas for writers, but I can see where others could adapt the ideas for their own use. Let me know what types of things you use to spark your creativity and keep it alive. I look forward to hearing from you.