How to Awaken Your Creativity When You’re in a Rut
The global pandemic is probably considered one of the worst conditions for hone creativity. Contrary to what the bravest of us may have argued in the early weeks of COVID-19, more time doesn’t mean more inspiration. We are tired, depressed and unmotivated, all seasoned with occasional bouts of anxiety. At least I and many of my fellow creative friends find themselves in the same nervous state. The question is, how do you keep your creativity alive when you are actually the representative of the“okay” meme ?
Instead of giving in to despair, the key is to embrace the philosophy of creating your own inspiration through curiosity and daring experimentation. Don’t wait for the muse to slide over your shoulders and give you creative energy – instead, embody it.
Start in your comfort zone
One wise, casual quote from Tumblr read, “Your comfort zone will kill you.” If I have learned anything over the past ten years, stumbling through the world of words as a writer, it is that writing alone will truly kill my creativity. He’s warm, familiar, safe and cozy – and that’s why he will die.
To keep my craft from being lonely, I periodically dip my tentacles into both neighboring and conflicting disciplines. I’ve performed in front of thousands of people, shot music videos on a zero budget, and shot poorly composed 35mm shots with a dusty Konica C35 film camera.
At first glance, it might seem like some creative effort has little to do with writing, but it can make a difference. Making music allows me to comprehend the intricacies of tempo, rhythm and cadence; fine art makes me show, not tell; live performances scare the hell out of me, fueling my creative confidence.
If you are an artist, try your hand at making music to better understand structure. As a singer, dancer, or writer, you might want to take up photography or videography to learn your craft through your telescope. What if your work has nothing to do with art? Try all of the above. We’re stuck at home these days anyway, and you may find your new passion in the process.
Think of art forms as a color wheel and always look for those reckless complementary tones. Deconstruct disciplines. Integrate ideas. Rebuild your main ship. And repeat.
Turn on all five senses
When I, for example, sit to skip a new story, I set up a kind of temple for total sensory immersion. It sets the tone, blocks out the real world, and locks me in from different angles to the story.
For rendering, I drape my office with LED strips and adjust the neon hue to match the atmosphere of my story. Blue means melancholy, red means rage, purple means serenity. I create visual mood boards for my characters, plot and setting. Likewise, you can frame any creative project, setting an emotional tone for you, the writer, and transfer it to your work.
When it comes to adjusting the auditory mood, I make playlists for the stages of the story and listen to them carefully as I write. If my protagonist is a nervous, early 2000s suburban teenager , I use emo and alternative music to match my mood. Hear your imagination and trap your muse in sonic hypnosis.
The scent works too, which for me is a strange mixture of smoke and scented candles. For you, it could be lighting incense or spreading essential oils. Either way, choose the battle-like scents and invite them to dive into your craft.
What you put into your body is highly personal (for me it’s hard liquor or coffee – there is nothing in between), but take that into account and do what works for you. Drink hot cocoa if it causes childhood nostalgia while writing your memoir. Drink green tea if your song says so. Try your way into your project.
If you’re aiming for a cozy feel, quilts and plush pillows can create a warm mood, while silk, satin and lace can be added for sensuality. Paint with large brushes in sweeping strokes to add drama, or clap your typewriter keys to feel the relevance of your story. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere that you exude in your creation.
Embrace spontaneity with creative cues
As Stephen Pressfield once said, “It’s hard not to write. What’s hard is sitting down to write. What prevents us from sitting down is the Resistance. ” (If you haven’t read Art War yet, do it. As if now. You will thank yourself tenfold later.) To challenge the Resistance with big heck, grab the reins and experiment with random creative clues.
Take the first book next to you, turn to page 37, drag your eyes to the third paragraph, and stop at the second sentence. Write, dance, compose, paint, create – starting with this very sentence. Alternatively, close your eyes and place your finger in the middle of any page, as if you were spontaneously choosing a destination on a map. Or use a random word generator . This particular word is your creative clue. The crazier it seems, the better.
Set a timer and resist the urge to judge the process or the quality of the work being done. The result could be purely visual or verbal diarrhea – or it could be the beginning of a new masterpiece. It doesn’t matter, but the fact that you did it does matter.
Armed with this mindset, I wrote love letters to fictional characters and wrote imaginary stories behind photographs and paintings on dark nights. Overcoming creative blocks is possible, no matter how much we writers moan or moan about it when we have drunk too many glasses.
You are in control of your inspiration; And not vice versa. To use your creativity is to challenge it. Today may not seem like a good day to experiment, and that’s okay. Maybe tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or later this weekend. Maybe right now. You will never know if you don’t try.