A close friend who recently suffered a major family
loss as I did is doing her best to re-spark her creativity. I confess it’s been
very difficult for me as well. She reminded me of an article I’d written on
this this topic previously. I thought rewriting it would be worthwhile for
myself and others.
What to do
when you need to spark your life force, rev up your engine? I’m not just
talking about the creative arts. Every human being needs revitalization at some
point. If we become discouraged, suffered a loss of productivity in our field
of endeavor, there are ways to deal with it:
Get started by making some life changes. Get out of
your normal rut or routine. Consider doing things you’ve never tried before or
haven’t done lately. They don’t have to be dangerous or extreme either.
Here’s one suggestion:
One health-booster is Meditation. Not something new
but certainly beneficial. It’s referred to as “mindfulness.” Apparently, it
creates “body-building for the brain.” It is both “anxiety-busting” and “attention-boosting”.
I would refer to it as awareness and focus. By its very nature, meditation
encourages creativity.
Here are some suggested activities that increase
mindfulness:
·
Breathe deeply concentrating on the act itself
·
Hug someone, focusing on the interaction
·
Eat slowly while paying attention to what you are
eating
·
Take a walk somewhere—engaging in awareness of your
surroundings
The key is to keep focus on the activity and not let your mind wander or worry, concentrating
on positive thoughts.
This is just one method of increasing creativity
which can lead to increased productivity.
There
are times when my creativity dries up like a plant in a parched desert. Writer’s
block is something most authors face at one time or another. We lose that sense
of purpose or inspiration. Sometimes it happens while we’re working on a story,
article, or book. It’s happened to me when I get discouraged collecting rejection
slips—a fate common to many writers. There are ways to get back on track.
Get
away from the computer and go for a walk. If it’s too cold or nasty outside,
use a treadmill or drive over to a mall and walk around inside.
Visit
a bookstore and browse. Buy a book that you’d like to read.
Visit
a library and browse. Borrow a book that looks interesting.
If
you’re a fiction writer, read some nonfiction: books, magazines, and
newspapers, in print or online. If you’re a nonfiction writer, pick up a novel
to read. Try to read something you wouldn’t ordinarily peruse. Broaden your
horizons.
Talk
to friends and family. Communicate with other people. Listen in on conversations
you overhear in restaurants and at gatherings.
Visit
a museum. Study the displays. Take notes on those things that interest you.
Go
to an art museum or gallery and study the paintings there for inspiration. Put yourself into a painting. Who are you? Where are you? What are you doing?
Take
a trip somewhere you’ve never been before.
Memory
writing is a useful resource. You don't have to be famous to write an
autobiography. However, many well-known writers have used memories effectively
in their writing. Some examples are:
JAMES
JOYCE--A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A
YOUNG MAN
TRUMAN
CAPOTE--A CHRISTMAS MEMORY
EUGENE
O'NEILL--LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT
Here's
a writing exercise guaranteed to produce results:
WRITE
THE FOLLOWING:
1. YOUR FIRST MEMORY.
2. YOUR BEST MEMORY OR A GOOD MEMORY.
3. YOUR WORST MEMORY OR A BAD MEMORY.
DESCRIBE
IN DETAIL. TRY TO RECREATE EACH MEMORY
SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN EXPERIENCE IT.
Another
suggestion: keep a journal or diary. With this kind of writing, there is a
sense of immediacy. We can capture feelings and impressions that might
otherwise be lost. This can serve as excellent material for future work.
3.
From Biblical times, dreams have been thought to be prophetic. Freud certainly
found much to analyze. Keep a notebook and pen beside your bed. When waking
after a particularly vivid dream, describe it in as much detail as possible.
Whenever possible, read magazine and newspaper
articles and clip those you find of particular interest. You can obtain many
ideas and inspiration for your own writing from them.
There's
an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. A good picture is worth
at least that and probably a lot more. Inspiration for writers can come not
only from reading newspaper and magazine articles but also from looking at the
photos. Interesting photographs are all around us and are worth saving as a
resource.
There
are many ways to improve your skill or writing technique. If, for instance, you
have trouble creating good descriptive passages, try doing some sense imagery
exercises.
Select
a piece of fruit like a lemon or orange. Describe in writing what it looks
like: color, shape, etc. Hold it in your hand. Describe the feel or texture of
the fruit. Cut the fruit in half. Now describe the smell and taste.
Music
and sound can create mood and stimulate writing. Try writing stream-of-consciousness
technique while listening to music. Play three different types of instrumental
music for at least ten minutes. Pause between each. Possible musical
choices: classical, jazz, rock.
Be
curious, interested in the world around you, and you can't help but find
inspiration and ideas for your writing. Writer’s block is only temporary. Most
important, never give up, not if writing is what you really want to do.
Publishing success will come if you keep perfecting your craft.
Now
it’s time for me to take my own advice! How about you?
